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Another Slam Decision


ArtK78

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12 board match. IMPs converted to VPs.

 

[hv=pc=n&n=sj732hat4dkqj73ca&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=4sp]133|200[/hv]

 

At this vulnerability, partner would open 1 with 10 or more HCP. In addition, you play NAMYATS, with the following requirements:

 

8 1/2 to 9 playing tricks.

No more than one side suit with two quick losers.

 

So, partner has less than 10 HCP and his hand does not meet our requirements for a NAMYATS opener. By the way, if he opened NAMYATS, his HCP holding would be irrelevant.

 

Do you pass, move towards slam or bid slam?

 

Edit: Nonvul (the hand diagram would have a red field under the compass directions if one or both sides were vulnerable).

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What is the vulnerability? I'm going to assume NV for NS.

 

Partner has at least 7 spade tricks, assuming he holds the generally accepted 8 spades for the 4 opener. He might have only 7 spades to the KQ if at favorable, but even then, that adds only 1 more loser.

 

Even with 8 spades he might have 2 losers in hearts and 1 in diamonds. It is actually possible to fail at 4 if he has something like KQxxxxxx 9xx x K.

 

Meanwhile I can't imagine a ton of 4 openers that would give slam a good play. Maybe KQxxxxxx x Ax xx.

 

It's a borderline decision IMHO to investigate slam. I'd estimate as many hands that make 4 but go down in 5, as there are hands that are safe at 5 and have a play for 6. Really close.

 

Something to note, though, is that there's a good chance the opponents can make 5 or 5. So investigating slam maybe a good way to shut the opponents out if one of them has a hand they really like. You might get a top with 5 doubled or undoubled down 2.

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I'm not used to preempts on 2 aces, so pass for me.

 

True, but assuming we have enough keys, slam will

 

1. Make when partner has a stiff heart;

2. Usually make when partner has a void diamond;

3. Sometimes make when he has neither.

 

All in all it doesn't seem like a bad shot. To me the only question is trying to sucker the lead by not going through RKC, but at the table I am sure I would bid RKC.

 

By the way, I do not like the idea of 5 as an asking bid on this hand, because I cannot properly look for keys, and I lose some of my equity when 5 gets doubled.

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My take on this kind of situation is to balance my assessment of the likelihood of slam against the likelihood of failure at the 5-level.

 

While slam might make...might even be laydown....opposite only 1 keycard.....picture AQxxxxxx x xx xx....I think most would agree that we go to slam only opposite 2 keycards.

 

Opposite 2 keycards, even assuming, as seems reasonable, that they are the AK , slam is excellent. It may be cold (stiff/void in hearts) or it may be on the lead...and there is no reason to expect that they will lead hearts more often than not.

 

So I think we have to try. I was thinking that maybe just blasting would be the most effective, but keycard can't hurt.....LHO isn't making any lead directing doubles in a 4N auction, and he isn't likely to be bidding 5 either. So 4N it is.

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6

 

Our 1st seat 4M preempts would be 8 cards and NO outside A ... ( and usually no K as well ).

 

Keycard will do you NO good unless partner has the A K. And you still won't lose a if he only has the Ace and not the K .

 

As has been pointed out, a lead may put you in jeopardy... missing the Ace as well.

 

But maybe it won't be led, so I'll just blast.

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6

 

Our 1st seat 4M preempts would be 8 cards and NO outside A ... ( and usually no K as well ).

 

Keycard will do you NO good unless partner has the A K. And you still won't lose a if he only has the Ace and not the K .

 

As has been pointed out, a lead may put you in jeopardy... missing the Ace as well.

 

But maybe it won't be led, so I'll just blast.

I doubt that you will find many experts who agree with your contention that a 1st seat nv v nv 4 promises 8 trump. AQ109xxx x x QJxx would get a lot of votes, I think.

 

Btw, I think you'll get to a few more making slams than my 4N will, but you'll also reach a few more failing slams than I do.

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Partner's hand was:

 

AKTxxxxx

Jxx

x

x

 

So slam depended on not getting a heart lead.

 

I chose to pass after thinking about this at the table for a good 2 minutes.

 

A club honor was led against 4. It is quite possible that the lead would be the same against 6.

 

The board was a push at 4 +480.

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Art, when you said the hand was a push --> was the format Teams play? i.e., 2 tables of 4?

 

In spite of all of your occasionally good analysis when you say a comment like this, it appears like you have studied bridge in a cave for ten years and just walked out.

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