What's the 4NT here?

[EricK]

He already bid fourth suit forcing and then diamonds. How many times does he have to raise diamonds?

It's not raising ♦, it's simply not making a quantitive NT raise, and so implicitly confirming ♦ as the trump suit (and denying a ♣ cue). i.e. The only way to make a quantitive raise in this sequence is 4NT, there are other ways to confirm ♦ before asking for aces. Hence, logically, an immediate 4NT is quantitive and going some other route to 4NT (if not playing Minorwood, or some such) is the way to ask for Aces with ♦ agreed.

[stansllee]

That depends upon the partnership agreement.

 

 

 

No. The diamond declarer was fixed with the opening bid. Choosing whether to cue bid hearts or spades first has no effect on the declarership. In diamonds, it doesn't matter which hand declares. Why would you ever want to play slam in notrump on this hand?

 

NT was first bid by East (2NT over 4SF) as well, so I never want to play slam in this hand, all I concerned is how high to go?

[stansllee]

To my way of thinking, 4NT should be quantitative. If responder wants to set ♦ as trumps, he should take 3NT out into 4♦.

 

This is good point! If partner then bid 4H over 4D, is it a cue-bid or implies a tolerance or even a mild fit for responder's hearts?

[Finch]

I am happy to answer the question of what 4NT meant just by looking at the auction - it's quantitative. If all responder wants to do is keycard in diamonds, bid 4D over 2NT to set trumps unambiguously. I agree 3D shows diamond support, but it doesn't commit the hand to playing in diamonds. In particular, if I play that 1D-1H-2C can be 5-4 either way round, then it's definitely the case that 3D can't set trumps, because responder might only have 3 of them.

 

Now I've seen both hands, all I can think is that you are playing some non-standard methods so I've no idea what the auction means.

I can't believe that 1D is the correct opening bid in any vaguely natural-based system. Playing standard Precision I'd open 2C (or possibly 1C). Playing a natural method I open 1C, and rebid 2C over 1H. Why on earth should I be embarrassed about rebidding my AKQ10x suit? If you tell me that shows a 6-card suit, I'd still rather do that than open the hand 1D.

 

Easy auction:

1C - 1D

2D - 3S (splinter)

keycard

[WellSpyder]

Playing standard Precision I'd open 2C (or possibly 1C).

I hope you wouldn't consider a Precision 1C if you were playing in your home country, Frances - the EBU doesn't allow this hand to be treated as a strong 1C.

[aguahombre]

I hope you wouldn't consider a Precision 1C if you were playing in your home country, Frances - the EBU doesn't allow this hand to be treated as a strong 1C.

This has a KNR of 17.8 and a DK of 16+. Hope everyone remembers EBU doesn't allow a strong 1C with this hand, when they are extolling the silliness of ACBL regulations (if what WellSpyder says is true).