Do you have an agreement here?

[ErnieT]

You Hold: Void ♥10 ♦AQ10843 ♣AJ9876 in fourth seat. Nobody is vulnerable and you hear: 1♠ 2♥ 4♠ ?

 

What do you bid? Are there any standard agreements here?

[mcphee]

I like double for take out and that sure looks like what I have.

[ErnieT]

I like double for take out and that sure looks like what I have.

[ErnieT]

What do bid if partner bids 5♥?

[ahydra]

Should 4NT be minors (or at least two places to play) here? I'd imagine it's more useful than RKCB, but then again I've hardly experienced an auction where I've been at the 4-level and needed either.

 

ahydra

[gszes]

X

 

Sort of easy as 4n needs to remain RKC in case we have heart slam aspirations. The

x showing the minors will also guarantee significant length with 55 being the absolute

minimum since we are introducing our suits at the 5 level.

 

There is some risk p may convert the x to penalty but that would be mainly because they

hold "wasted" spade values thus decreasing the odds of us making something at the 5 level.

P should also be aware that we introduce the minors with some serious heart shortness.

 

Our x here allows p to choose which minor to play or bid 4n to show slam interest in which

case a nice 5n bid asking p to pick a slam or take the more speculative route of 5s which would

look for the nebulous grand slam while promising 1st round spade control. Opposite something like

xxx AKxxxx Kxxx void a bid of 7d should have great chances.

[helene_t]

way too extreme shape for a double. I really want partner to chose a minor. So 4NT it is.

[neilkaz]

X

 

Sort of easy as 4n needs to remain RKC in case we have heart slam aspirations. The

x showing the minors will also guarantee significant length with 55 being the absolute

minimum since we are introducing our suits at the 5 level.

 

There is some risk p may convert the x to penalty but that would be mainly because they

hold "wasted" spade values thus decreasing the odds of us making something at the 5 level.

P should also be aware that we introduce the minors with some serious heart shortness.

 

Our x here allows p to choose which minor to play or bid 4n to show slam interest in which

case a nice 5n bid asking p to pick a slam or take the more speculative route of 5s which would

look for the nebulous grand slam while promising 1st round spade control. Opposite something like

xxx AKxxxx Kxxx void a bid of 7d should have great chances.

 

Nice post, and I agree.

[helene_t]

X can't promise both minors. You'd have to double with a 2236 also, for example. Partner should pass with balanced hands

[Cyberyeti]

For me, 4N would be blackwood, I don't fancy X as partner will pass with some really unsuitable hands. Our overcalls are sounder than most, I would bid 5N which for us would be pick a minor rather than pick a slam.

[WellSpyder]

X

 

Sort of easy as 4n needs to remain RKC in case we have heart slam aspirations....

Well of course it would be nice to be able to show two places to play and still be able to ask for key cards with other hands, but you are limited for space and saying you "need" RKCB makes no sense to me. I have a clear agreement with most partners that 4N here is not RKCB.

[whereagles]

Not sure what pard would make of 4NT, so I'll just bid 5♦ and follow up with 6♣ (if it comes round to me, ofc).

[EricK]

2 places to play is surely more common than slam aspirations opposite an overcall. Especially slam aspirations where all I need to know is partners number of key cards.

 

But even so, wouldn't 4nt followed by 5H after partner's 5m show some slam aspirations? Ie a better hand than an immediate 5H bid?

[Trump Echo]

... I'll just bid 5♦ and follow up with 6♣ (if it comes round to me, ofc).

 

This was my plan too

[Zelandakh]

I think 4NT is the standard inversion - 2 places or competitive in hearts - and a direct 5♥ a slam try. Seems an easy decision from there.

[ErnieT]

I left 5NT off the poll list. I have just added it. Does 5NT ( two places to play) pick a slam apply here? It can't be hearts? You should/could use 4nt as Keycard. 5♥ should just be competitive.

[whereagles]

I suppose 5NT should be pick a slam. Just hope pard doesn't pick hearts lol.

[Fluffy]

Last time I had a 6-6 after partner and RHO showed the other 2, I bid 4NT quickly and confidently. Partner took it as keycard, and RHO saved against our slam. Don't show your doubts!

[P_Marlowe]

I cross checked with partner.

 

4NT over their bid is either 2-places (first priority), or Good-Bad (second priority), RKCB (lowest priority),

since hearts is partners suit, 4NT will be interpreted as 2-places, so partner will choose a minor, but wont be

suprised, if his minor will get corrected to his suit, showing SI.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[Zelandakh]

Reverse 5♥ and 4NT followed by 5♥ Marlowe. That way you can correct 5♦ to 5♥ with the rounded suits without partner getting excited. This is the inversion I was referring to earlier.

[P_Marlowe]

Reverse 5♥ and 4NT followed by 5♥ Marlowe. That way you can correct 5♦ to 5♥ with the rounded suits without partner getting excited. This is the inversion I was referring to earlier.

We play direct raises as competitive.

 

We play reverse good-bad 2NT, i.e. the good hands go through 2NT, the weak hands raise direct, and we just

do the same when 4NT is good-bad. We follow Marshall Miles, who is not known, to always recommend the standard

practice, but it works (... at least reverse good-bad 2NT / I dont have lots of experience with good-bad 4NT,

very rare).

[gnasher]

I'm surprised that there seems to be some uncertainty about the meaning of 4NT. I'd assume that it's two places to play even without any discussion. I probably won't live long enough to ever need it as Keycard.

 

I think 4NT is the standard inversion - 2 places or competitive in hearts - and a direct 5♥ a slam try. Seems an easy decision from there.

 

In this auction I think it unwise to invert 5♥ and 4NT..5♥. If you bid 4NT and the next hand bids 5♠, partner won't know whether he's facing primary support or not, so he'll have no idea what to do. The inversion should only apply in situations where the oppnents are unlikely to bid again.