cold slam missed

[Cyberyeti]

Agree.

 

Standard, I hope:

 

1♦-1♠; 3♦-?:

 

(...)

3♠ = 6+ S, GF

3N = to play

(...)

 

which leaves

 

3♥: what Responder has to bid with precisely 5 S and GF values whether he has a heart stopper or not.

 

 

What does responder do 5-5 in the majors ? given most people don't play a system bid over 1♦ for this, and how do you tell this apart.

[nullve]

What does responder do 5-5 in the majors ? given most people don't play a system bid over 1♦ for this, and how do you tell this apart.

 

3♥ over 3♦, and then if Opener rebids 3♠ or 3N, maybe

 

(...)

4♣ = catchall, slammish

...4♦ = 2-S7+D

......4♥ = 5+ H, slammish

......(...)

...4♥ = 2-S3H

...(...)

4♦ = D support, slammish

4♥ = 5+ H, NF

(...).

 

If "standard" extends to the fourth round of bidding, that is. (I think not.)

[Cyberyeti]

3♥ over 3♦, and then if Opener rebids 3♠ or 3N, maybe

 

(...)

4♣ = catchall, slammish

...4♦ = 2-S7+D

......4♥ = 5+ H, slammish

......(...)

...4♥ = 2-S3H

...(...)

4♦ = D support, slammish

4♥ = 5+ H, NF

(...).

 

If "standard" extends to the fourth round of bidding, that is. (I think not.)

 

This is great until partner bids 3N and it's the last making spot

[SteveMoe]

On MSC these hands always seem to start:

1♦ - 1♠

3♣ - 3♦

 

Then it's off to the races.

 

THIS!

The races:

3♠ - 4♦

4♠(0-3) - 5♣(♦Q?)

5N(Yes and ♣K) - 6♦

 

Bidding less than 3♣ at our 2nd turn is a gross underbid with this 4-loser.

[jogs]

 

 

1♦-1♠; 3♣-?:

 

3♦ = D support (not ideal, but standard)

3♥: what Responder has to bid with 5 S whether he has a heart stopper or not

3♠ = 6+ S

3N = to play (unless...)

(...)

 

So a better start would either be

 

1♦-1♠

3♣-3♥

3♠-4♦.

 

if 3♠ can be as few as 2 without a heart stopper, or

 

1♦-1♠

3♣-3♥

4♦,

 

if Opener thinks he can rule out 3N after 3♥.

 

Of course, by now we should all realise that "standard" doesn't really exist and switch to conventional rebids over 1♦-1♠.

 

Not 3♥. When 3 suits are shown, the chances of the 4th suit being the best strain is remote.

 

1♦-1♠

3♣-3♦

 

AJ in support is much better than xxx. Also holding the AJ increases the odds of pd's diamonds being 6 long.

 

1♦-1♠

3♣-3♦

3♠

 

This strongly implies a singleton heart. Also implies 3=1=5=4. Can't have everything. With indifferent spades responder must not insists on spades as trumps.

[jallerton]

West is just a bit too heavy for 3D. I'd say the new school dictates the call a stiff and a very good suit.

 

1D 1S

3C 3H

3N 4D

 

Looks like the right start to me.

 

I don't understand why you think Opener would bid 3NT. Isn't 3♥ 4th suit forcing? Over 3♥, Opener should bid 4♦ to show additional length in the suit.

[helene_t]

I don't understand why you think Opener would bid 3NT. Isn't 3♥ 4th suit forcing?

I think 3♥ should be 5-5 majors (although it is probably better to swap it with 3♠ so 3♥ shows 6+ spades while 3♠ shows 5-5 majors). I suppose it has some merits to play it as a club raise.

[jogs]

I don't understand why you think Opener would bid 3NT. Isn't 3♥ 4th suit forcing?

NO. 1♦-1♠, 3♣. That's already forcing to game by momentum. Opener cannot have 4 hearts. With 0=4=5=4, opener would rebid 2♥ before jumping in clubs. Because of the poor fit in spades, opener may even choose an underbid of 2♣. Even with 1=3=5=4, opener would be reluctant to jump in clubs.

 

After thinking about this board for two weeks, I have concluded slam can only be reached if West decides to push it. East will not know West has 10 cards in the minors. East must co-operate by showing diamond support immediately. The auction must start 1♦-1♠, 3♣-3♦. Any other start would require one partner overbidding to reach slam.

[jallerton]

I think 3♥ should be 5-5 majors (although it is probably better to swap it with 3♠ so 3♥ shows 6+ spades while 3♠ shows 5-5 majors). I suppose it has some merits to play it as a club raise.

 

The problem with using 3♥ for such a specific shape (whether or not you swap it with 3♠) is that you render a whole lot of ordinary hands unsure of the correct strain difficult to bid. The "preference" to 3♦ will have to cover a wide range of hands; those with decent support (not suitable for jump preference to 4♦) plus lot of hands with a doubleton; maybe seriously false preference if 5=4=1=3 not suitable for 3NT. Yes, 3♦ is cheap, bur there's a lot to untangle on the next round.

 

NO. 1♦-1♠, 3♣. That's already forcing to game by momentum. Opener cannot have 4 hearts. With 0=4=5=4, opener would rebid 2♥ before jumping in clubs. Because of the poor fit in spades, opener may even choose an underbid of 2♣. Even with 1=3=5=4, opener would be reluctant to jump in clubs.

Indeed. Hence the chance that we belong in the 4th suit is relatively low.