Dispatch from the Front #1

[daveharty]

This one is an ATB:

 

[hv=pc=n&w=skqha2dkqj84cj765&e=saj532hk54da96ca4&d=s&v=e&b=3&a=p1np2hp2sp4nppp]266|200[/hv]

 

+720 is sort of a silly score, especially when it's there on any lead. Who dunnit?

 

EDIT: 1NT=15-17.

[wyman]

west has 2 honors in partner's suit, a 5-bagger of his own, and 16 real, but declines an invite? West all the way for me.

[phil_20686]

Are you playing a 16-18 NT or something?

 

Do not understand how west can pass playing the usual (14)15-17 style.

[gnasher]

I agree that West should accept, but I think East should drive slam himself. He has a lot of aces, and he has a five-card suit too.

 

None of this helps us to get to the grand slam, of course. 1NT-2♥;2♠-5NT;6NT looks normal.

[han]

Agree that west should accept, this has turned into a very good 1NT opener.

[ggwhiz]

West 100%. In my partnership style we super accept freely with 3 or 4 spades. Lacking that, East is only worth 4nt (an unclear source of tricks in their suit) but West has a clear accept to 6.

[wyman]

Yeah re: east, I know his hand is awesome, but in a potential misfit opposite a range that includes a handful of 14s [i'm making assumptions here], I'm not driving to slam at any form of scoring, but certainly not at MPs.

[Phil]

Of course West should accept. The question is - can the grand be reached? If 5♦ = source of tricks, and East can cue the ♥K + ♦A, they will get close, but what seals the deal is the ♠J, so it might be too tough after 4N.

[Cyberyeti]

I can bid the grand using my weak NT system, but starting with 1N it's difficult to pinpoint everything required. Clearly the 4N invite should have been accepted in your auction.

 

For us:

 

1♦-1♠

1N(15-bad 19 bal)-2♣(asking)

2♦(2♠,2-3♥, 15-16)-3♦(F)

3♠(nice doubleton)-4N(keycard ♠)

5♠(2+Q)-6♥(all keycards, K♥, no lower K)

7N (partner's inviting 7♠, he must have at least AJxxx as he knows I have exactly KQ doubleton so that's 5+5+2+1)

[Fluffy]

I can find the grand using my strong 1♣ system whenre I would end up asking about ♠J but that's not the point :)

[MrAce]

Wyman said it all imo.

[daveharty]

Okay, thanks for the reality check. I was East and was just making sure I wasn't too close to the problem to see it clearly; my partner asked how we could bid the slam, and I tried to be as diplomatic as possible when I told her I thought she had an obvious accept. I loved my controls but the horrible spots convinced me to just invite, I wondered if people would think I should have been more bullish on the hand.

[y66]

With so many controls and a semi decent 5 card suit, 4N feels like an underbid.

 

I don't understand passing 4N. That hand really came to life when East showed 5 spades.

[BillPatch]

I disagree that responder should force to slam after jacoby. If opener denies support,

according to my simulation slam is only 43%. well shy of 50% required at IMPS.

Responder has 16 HCP and value of about 17, only about 32 opposite a 15 point minimum NT opener.

 

EDIT-If opener convert to spades, slam shoulb be acceptable.

[whereagles]

West, unless east knows pard is an underbidder.

[Zelandakh]

I can find the grand using my strong 1♣ system where I would end up asking about ♠J but that's not the point :)

Me too (except the ♠J part):-

 

1♦ = 10-17, 4+ diamonds, unbal

... - 1♥ = INV+ relay

2♣ = max, 4+ clubs, GF

... - 2♦ = relay

2♥ = 5+ diamonds, 4 clubs

... - 2♠ = relay

2NT = 5 diamonds

... - 3♣ = relay

3♥ = 2254

... 3♠ = relay (switching to RKCB would also work)

4♣ = 4 controls

... - 4♦ = relay

4♠ = diamond control, no club control

... - 4NT = relay

5♠ = controls in both majors, 2 of top 3 in diamonds, no ♣Q

... - 5NT = relay

6♦ = 2 of top 3 in spades, 1 of top 3 in hearts

... - 7NT

 

I am obviously old-fashioned (and used to a weak NT) but the West hand just looks like a 1♦ opener to me. After that I daresay most pairs will get to at least a small slam. Anyway, it is clear that West made the key decisions that led to the poor score.