bidding question

[GrahamJson]

Looking again at the bidding I think I now understand it. 3C was presumably puppet Stayman, after which 3D showed at least one four card major. North’s 4C bid showed both majors and asked south to bid his major, which he did with his 4S bid. Thus it was established that they have a 4-4 fit in spades, making 4NT unambiguously KKRB (or is it RKKB? I can never remember which.)

 

Incidentally I disagree with the comment that it should be the hand with most of the controls who should do the asking. In general it is the hand without the controls who has the filler cards and would benefit most by control asking. Taking the current hand as an example, what useful information would South gain by using RKKB? North on the other hand will find out that his two KQs are worth four tricks and should allow him to bid the grand.

[barmar]

Looking again at the bidding I think I now understand it. 3C was presumably puppet Stayman, after which 3D showed at least one four card major. North’s 4C bid showed both majors and asked south to bid his major, which he did with his 4S bid. Thus it was established that they have a 4-4 fit in spades, making 4NT unambiguously KKRB (or is it RKKB? I can never remember which.)]

It's RKCB: Roman Key Card Blackwood. I'm not sure what your second K is for, Kard?

Incidentally I disagree with the comment that it should be the hand with most of the controls who should do the asking. In general it is the hand without the controls who has the filler cards and would benefit most by control asking. Taking the current hand as an example, what useful information would South gain by using RKKB? North on the other hand will find out that his two KQs are worth four tricks and should allow him to bid the grand.

But sometimes, as here, the timing of the auction doesn't allow much choice in who does the asking. If you can't establish the trump suit until opener bids 4♠ there's no room for any cue bidding before Blackwood.

[GrahamJson]

RKCB. Of course it is. Goodness knows where I found the extra K.

[aawk]

Assuming 4nt is RKC for ♠ bid 7♠ you got all the key cards and Q of ♠. If that is not enough your partner should not have asked.

[gszes]

From the diagram, I find it hard to see how 7♠ can make Its difficult to see how declarer can avoid at least one loser

 

look again picturing south ruffing 2 clubs in dummy 6s 1c 3d 3h

[sfi]

3C was presumably puppet stayman, so 3D says he does have a 4 card major. Not sure what 4C was meant as, probably asking for preference (though 4D usually asks for that). 7S is an excellent contract and does make on the lie of the cards (so does 6NT, but that's a little tougher to see).

 

Most likely 4C shows both majors and a slam try. Then 4S cooperates in the slam try and sets the suit.

[miamijd]

From the diagram, I find it hard to see how 7♠ can make Its difficult to see how declarer can avoid at least one loser

 

Ruff two clubs; draw trump; and claim. WTP?

 

Cheers,

Mike

[miamijd]

About the only way to reach 7 here is to upgrade opener's hand and start with 2C. I would. How can you get a better 21 point balanced hand than this?

 

2C 2D(1)

2NT(2) 3C

3S 4NT

5H(3) 7S(4)

 

(1) waiting

(2) 22-24 ostensibly

(3)All five and the Q

(4) Hmm -- sounds like four spades three hearts three diamonds a club and two club ruffs. If the opponents really have a ten-card club fit, even then partner has a Jack that hasn't been accounted for (22-24), so unless he has AJ tight of clubs, there is trick 13.

 

If you play some form of Puppet Stayman, the auction is a little different in the middle, but eventually the same.

 

Cheers,

mike

[fromageGB]

A basic tenet of using RKCB is that the response can never be ambiguous. If that is possible, you do not know enough about the hand to be launching a slam investigation

This is rather an implausible statement. Of course the responses are ambiguous. If you are saying this is not a good method to use when the bidding has deprived you of the space to make exploratory discoveries first, then I agree with you, but surely the problem is with your choice of ace asking methods.