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You Can't Handle the Truth


daveharty

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[hv=pc=n&s=sjthk86dat84c9532&n=sakq5haq93dkq96c4]133|200[/hv]

 

Matchpoints, North deals.

 

The field in a recent club game couldn't handle the truth; nobody bid slam. What's your suggested route to 6?

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Even if both players take rosy views, I cannot reach the slam in my favourite natural system at the table. Here at the forum it is easier, but who cares about bidding wiht both hands known?

 

 

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A specialised 3-suited gadget can help on these hands:-

 

1 = 15+ nat/bal or 18+ any

... - 1 = most non-GF

1 = unbal GF or 18+ 3-suited

... - 1NT = 6-8

2 = 3-suited

... - 2 = relay

2NT = club shortage

... - 3 = relay

3 = 20-21, 4441

... - 4 = relay

4 = 6 controls

... - 4N = Q ask

5 = no Q or K

... - 5 = Q?

6 = Q, Q, Q, nothing extra

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Here comes another one of those posts that says that it is easy to reach in his favorite system. (Consider that a "I don't have a clue how to reach 6 in any normal system".)

 

1-1 17+ - 8+ Bal (no 5M), 4441, 5m440 or 5m422

1-2NT Relay - 2=3=4=4

3-3 Relay - 8-10 HCP

3-3NT Relay - 3 controls (A=2, K=1)

4-4 Relay - A/K, no club A/K

6 Then you must have the K

 

The difficult decision is whether you should try 4. Given that 4NT still has play if South has AK and that slam is still decent if South has the K, I think you should.

 

The even more difficult decision is whether you should play this system to begin with.

 

Rik

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It seems you might have a fighting chance after 1 - 1N - 2 - 3 - 3. Now, South might Bluhmer (5?) and North can kick it in.

Prefer that order of major suit bids by North, rather than 2H first. The JT of spades, the Heart King, the diamond holding all put it on South to take the plunge. Am all for Bluhmers, but don't think one is necessary this time (How about 4H-not kickback?). It is rare for a slam probe after 1m-1N...but here, it is possible. At least we would stay out of 3NT and play diamonds even if we don't reach 6.

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If we are giving our favorite systems, maybe gnasher plays unbal 1D?

 

I agree with disliking a mixed raise in standard methods but even then it can't be that bad.

 

1C 1H (strong, 8-11 any)

2S 2N (4441, asking for shortness)

3C 3D (short clubs, diamond fit)

 

should make it pretty easy.

 

Playing a standardish system in MP I really don't think 1D 1N 3N is that bad, partner rates to have club values and I don't want to help them with the lead. But if you bid around clubs you should find slam obviously.

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Why do you want to use a mixed raise? Seems like it would be very sad to end up in 3 at matchpoints opposite 4432, and possibly even opposite 4 diamonds.

Sorry, I sometimes forget that half the world plays 3-card diamond openings.

 

Anyway, the OP did ask "What's your suggested route ..." My suggested route involves playing a 1 opening that guarantees four of them.

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Maybe the truth is that it isn't a great slam?

 

Even if your system will describe 4=4=4=1,

AND your system will not count any honor in clubs describing a 20-23 point hand,

and you can figure out that P has the 3 queens,

 

you need diamonds 3-2 68% (or the jack falls singleton + 7%),

and you need to pick up the hearts missing the JT (48%, I think)

 

 

So if I got the above correct, you have 75% times 48% = about 38%?

 

Better if partner has a jack or two, but...

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Maybe the truth is that it isn't a great slam?

 

Even if your system will describe 4=4=4=1,

AND your system will not count any honor in clubs describing a 20-23 point hand,

and you can figure out that P has the 3 queens,

 

you need diamonds 3-2 68% (or the jack falls singleton + 7%),

and you need to pick up the hearts missing the JT (48%, I think)

 

 

So if I got the above correct, you have 75% times 48% = about 38%?

 

Better if partner has a jack or two, but...

You don't need hearts to come in, and you may not need diamonds to break either.

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You don't need nearly all of that.

 

If diamonds are 3-2, you are home (you have 4 spades, 3 hearts, 4 diamonds, and a ruff). If diamonds are 4-1 with the stiff jack, you are home barring losing a ruff (you simply ruff a club then draw trumps). If diamonds are 4-1 with Jxxx onside you are home barring losing a ruff (again, you just ruff a club and pull trumps via a marked finesse).

 

So you are at least 80 % or so. You even have significant play if trumps are 5-0 onside.

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Playing 4 card suit openings it could go

1h -1nt

2d* 3d**

* 1 round force **8-10 4+D (we use 2 as a wk bid with )

 

If 5c is a splinter looking for 6 south has the goods IMO.

 

However if it's voidwood you play then North has to bid 4 to get south to cue, over 4 North can then wheel out keycard, hearing 1 he bids 6.

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