Slam-worthy?

[bd71]

[hv=pc=n&w=sqj6h6da9632cqj73]133|100[/hv]

 

Matchpoints.

 

Partner has shown a balanced 22-23 (2C-2D-2N). Your agreements are that 20-21 or stronger "balanced" hands can be somewhat off-shape.

 

Your options are described in the above poll.

 

What do you think is best?

 

NOTE: Edited to show the 4th club/13th card.

[ArtK78]

I think it would be best if I had a 13th card.

 

Show me another card and I will revisit the problem.

[bd71]

I think it would be best if I had a 13th card.

 

Show me another card and I will revisit the problem.

 

Edited now to show the 4th club/13th card.

[neilkaz]

I'm the 9th vote for minor suit slam try with longer ♦ than ♣. If you have that method, it makes sense to use it here.

[Cyberyeti]

I'm the 9th vote for minor suit slam try with longer ♦ than ♣. If you have that method, it makes sense to use it here.

 

My suspicion is that partner has 5 spades and it's now difficult to find 6♠, but not impossible particularly if you have 5N pick a slam available later.

[ggwhiz]

Can you not bid puppet stayman followed by 4♦ followed by 6♣? In a pinch 6♠ on the moyse might be better than 6nt and remotely possible to plutz into it.

[gszes]

the main reason for abandoning spades vs going for the 2 minor suit approach is

because it is still plausible to reach a grand slam in 2 suits looking for minors and

only in 1 suit if u look for spades.

[Cyberyeti]

the main reason for abandoning spades vs going for the 2 minor suit approach is

because it is still plausible to reach a grand slam in 2 suits looking for minors and

only in 1 suit if u look for spades.

 

Not true, 2N-3♣-3♦-4♦ puts 2 suits in the frame just a different 2 suits, although putting your 5 and 4 card suits rather than 5 and 3 looks better.

 

What does 2N-3♣-3♦-4M show ? If you use these as 3 cards in a major 54 in the minors maybe you can get all the suits in.

[bd71]

the main reason for abandoning spades vs going for the 2 minor suit approach is

because it is still plausible to reach a grand slam in 2 suits looking for minors and

only in 1 suit if u look for spades.

 

At matchpoints with a combined 32-33 and a hand that includes lots of soft values, are you really letting the possibility of a grand dictate much of your bidding strategy?

[bd71]

Thanks to folks for responses. Not everyone explained their reasoning, and I was hoping people would discuss how they valued the QJ combos in this hand (better NT holdings) vs. the A and singleton (better suit contract holdings).

 

I thought my partner made a reasonable blast to 6N, which went down after they found the right lead and a finesse was off. My hand was...

 

AKx

AJx

KQJT

ATx

[Cyberyeti]

Thanks to folks for responses. Not everyone explained their reasoning, and I was hoping people would discuss how they valued the QJ combos in this hand (better NT holdings) vs. the A and singleton (better suit contract holdings).

 

I thought my partner made a reasonable blast to 6N, which went down after they found the right lead and a finesse was off. My hand was...

 

AKx

AJx

KQJT

ATx

 

If you're going to be in 6N, you might as well be in 7♦. In this case, the no trump hand can see the potential problem as soon as you show both minors, so it works well. I think you should be looking for the suit slam always with the small hand as your suits are not great, and you need 2 stops in hearts unless partner has AK/KQ in the minors, and it's easy to see hands where you just don't have 12 tricks in NT without a finesse but do in a suit, Axx, AJxx, KQJ AKx for example or Axx, AKQx, KQxx, Ax where 6♦ needs one finesse, 6N needs 2.

[Zelandakh]

What do you use the sequences 2NT - 3♣; 3♦ - 4M for? I play these as showing 54 in the minors. This method would allow you both to check for a 5-3 spade fit and a minor suit fit.

[Vampyr]

Can you not bid puppet stayman followed by 4♦ followed by 6♣? In a pinch 6♠ on the moyse might be better than 6nt and remotely possible to plutz into it.

 

I like this simple approach, and would probably go this route, though it does give up on the possibility of a grand.