Bidding Cold Slams - 2

[broze]

[hv=pc=n&s=sq6hqjt97dt853cq2&n=sat2hak4da7cakj95]133|200[/hv]

 

North dealer; Matchpoints.

[Zelandakh]

The opening hand looks a lot like 24-25hcp to me. An upgrade to 25 would probably get almost everyone there, so better to look at treating the hand as 24. This auction is not perfect but would work:

 

1♣ = 15+ nat/bal or 18+ any

... - 1♦ = (almost) any non-GF

1♥ = 18-20 any or 23+ bal

... - 1♠ = relay

2NT = 23-24 bal

... - 3♦ = 5+ hearts

3♥ = most hands

... - 3♠ = cog(3NT/4♥); or 4+ clubs; or strong slam interest with 6+ hearts

4♣ = 3 hearts and 4+ clubs

... - 4♦ = slam try

5♣ = accept slam try, 2 or 5 key cards (♥) without ♥Q

... - 6♥

 

The real answer on this hand is to play the "flags" system of superaccepts, where North would bid 4♣ over the transfer to show a control-rich hand with 3 hearts and a very strong club suit. After that it is really easy because South can see that the ♣Q is working overtime. I have not incorporated that into my system as yet although I believe there are some BBF posters that play variants of the idea.

[Finch]

The opening hand looks a lot like 24-25hcp to me. An upgrade to 25 would probably get almost everyone there, so better to look at treating the hand as 24. This auction is not perfect but would work:

 

The real answer on this hand is to play the "flags" system of superaccepts, where North would bid 4♣ over the transfer to show a control-rich hand with 3 hearts and a very strong club suit. After that it is really easy because South can see that the ♣Q is working overtime. I have not incorporated that into my system as yet although I believe there are some BBF posters that play variants of the idea.

 

Yes, 2C - 2D - 2NT (say) - 3D (game forcing transfer) - 4C (3 hearts, 5 clubs) etc

Getting to 6NT at matchpoints would be good biding.

[kenrexford]

If playing Kokish, I agree with the general idea of both responses but would have upgraded the opening hand:

 

2♣-2♦(GF)

 

2♥(Relay)-2♠(forced)

 

2NT(24+ equivalent)-3♦(transfer)

 

4♣(super-accept of hearts; if I had opened 1♣ I would have been able to cue clubs)...

 

 

 

 

FWIW, my own "definition" of the 4♣ super-accept might be explained better. When you open a balanced 1NT, 2NT, or higher, you have lost the nuance of having been able to open a minor first. The parallel auctions of, say, 1♣ (natural) opening, hearts agreed, and then cuebids allow you to show that your suit (clubs) is good. When I open the notrump call and then cuebid, as in this sequence, the auction becomes parallel to:

 

1♣(natural)-1♦(GF waiting)

 

2NT(24+)-3♦(transfer)

 

4♣(two of the top three clubs)

 

Thus, I am not just cuebidding but also indicating which minor I would have opened with a different structure/range.