Assign the blame

[HeartA]

First time partnership. North and South are BBO "expert".

 

North held: ♠Kxx, ♥AKxx, ♦Axx, ♣Axx

South held: ♠Qx, ♥x, ♦xx, ♣KQJxxxxx

 

West opens 1♠, the bidding went:

(1♠) - 1NT - pass - 5♣.

 

A slam is missed. Who should take more blame?

[eagles123]

I think south to blame surely take it slowly rather than blasting to 5♣

[mike777]

I assume south was unsure of how to gameforce and go slow with a new partnership

also north does have perfect cards.

[billw55]

There are methods for such things, but with a first time pickup partner, it would be risky to assume anything. In this circumstance I would say no blame, maybe talk it over briefly for next time.

[Cyberyeti]

I would bid 6♣ over 5 with the N hand. You didn't specify vulnerability, but certainly vulnerable partner will have a lot of clubs and be expecting to be close to making it. With the ♠A onside, you'd be unlucky not to make it (partner would need to be 1228 or similar, and opener would need to lead a ♦).

[HeartA]

vulnerability is red to white.

[Cyberyeti]

vulnerability is red to white.

If you're red, I'd definitely bid 6♣ with basically 5 tricks opposite a partner who's bid 5♣ to make.

[HeartA]

I was sitting South, holding the hand of long clubs. At the table I just mentioned "I am not sure 4♣ would be asking or 4NT". But I do think North should raise it to 6♣, hold a hand of extra-maximum, full of controls, no wasting hcp.

 

Even if I ask, after one key card is missing, could I expect he had 3 Aces+2 Kings?

[aguahombre]

6C raise seems automatic with that North hand. It not only is a maximum NT overcall, but is totally "pure"; not a quack in site.

[Codo]

The automatic 6 ♣ raise would lose a nice swing if partner has the more likely 2137 hand...

 

I would blame South: He has 7 1/2 tricks opposite a strong NT. I had bid "Gerber" before I had just blast 5 ♣, but I had been able to bid 2 ♠ with all of my partners...

[aguahombre]

The automatic 6 ♣ raise would lose a nice swing if partner has the more likely 2137 hand...

 

Unlikely to bid 5C with QX X XXX KQJXXXX. Must have the eighth club or an outside K.

[lowerline]

First time partnership. North and South are BBO "expert".

 

North held: ♠Kxx, ♥AKxx, ♦Axx, ♣Axx

South held: ♠Qx, ♥x, ♦xx, ♣KQJxxxxx

 

West opens 1♠, the bidding went:

(1♠) - 1NT - pass - 5♣.

 

A slam is missed. Who should take more blame?

 

North. He could have started with a double or he could have raised to 6 with his perfect hand.

 

Steven

[Codo]

Unlikely to bid 5C with QX X XXX KQJXXXX. Must have the eighth club or an outside K.

 

He must? You find a 2137 hand unlikely for this bidding, but a hand so strong normal. I disagree. With the given hand I can simply ask for aces and base my slam descission on the answer. No need to play a guessing game with partner..

[aguahombre]

He must? You find a 2137 hand unlikely for this bidding, but a hand so strong normal. I disagree. With the given hand I can simply ask for aces and base my slam descission on the answer. No need to play a guessing game with partner..

Not familiar with ace-asking while holding QX and XX in two suits with no certainty pard has controls in those. Sometimes, partner figures out she has super controls all by herself and takes a guess that I have the tricks for my bid.

[HeartA]

He must? You find a 2137 hand unlikely for this bidding, but a hand so strong normal. I disagree. With the given hand I can simply ask for aces and base my slam descission on the answer. No need to play a guessing game with partner..

Not guaranteed with 8 ♣. But with North's hand, it is a "must“ to raise to 6♣. If it fails, it would be South to blame. From South's perspective, swith of position of an Ace would be no slam. By the way, West (1♠ opener) did lead a ♦.

 

Start to ask? Would you expect, or image that North had such a pure, more than maximum hand (hcp wise, 1NT can be 18)? Tell me how would you ask and bid slam.

[PhilKing]

I can't think of many South hands that offer no play for slam. My guess is that North did not even bother thinking about it, and then blamed partner for not exploring!

[inquiry]

I would split the blame. I think south s too good for 5♣ and North should at least stongly consider 6♣.

[Zelandakh]

First time partnership. North and South are BBO "expert".

I was sitting South, holding the hand of long clubs.

As an expert, you should know to take some of the blame here. In a first time partnership, any given South might even be bidding 5♣ as a preempt - you just do not know in those circumstances and there were options for South to take things more slowly when slam is in the picture.

[aguahombre]

It never would occur to me that 5C was bid with preemptive intent opposite a NT overcall.

[Cyberyeti]

It never would occur to me that 5C was bid with preemptive intent opposite a NT overcall.

 

Particularly at this vulnerability.

[Zelandakh]

You guys do not play with enough BBO experts! But yes, I missed the vulnerability (it is not in the OP).

[aguahombre]

I have never seen anyone who can spell the word expert attempt an advance sacrifice when his partner has shown a strong hand with cards in the suit behind opener at any colors.

[Trinidad]

Even with papa-mama bidding South could have shown a stronger hand by bidding spades first.

 

1♠-1NT-Pass-3♠

Pass-3NT-Pass-4♣

 

should be forcing and a slam invitation.

 

If South wants to be extremely careful and make sure that partner doesn't pass 4♣ (or take it as 63rb3r, lol), he could bid:

 

1♠-1NT-Pass-3♠

Pass-3NT-Pass-5♣

 

At least he will have shown that he is interested in more than 5♣.

 

As it is now, the direct 5♣ means: "I have good hope that we can make this." (to which North thinks: "That shouldn't be a problem."). It is not a slam invitation of any kind. North, nevertheless has a very nice hand for slam purposes and he should at least be tempted to bid slam, but once he realizes that South could have bid much stronger, he should pass 5♣.

 

Rik

[PhilKing]

I have still yet to see any hand constructions that justify a pass by North - only preconceptions. But here's one to think about:

 

♠xx

♥x

♦xx

♣KTxxxxxx

 

Come on South, make a slam try - you know it makes sense!