30-31 balanced, will you try anything?

[Fluffy]

[hv=d=n&v=n&s=skq109hqxdkxxcqxxx]133|100|Scoring: IMP+BAM

S - W - N - E

1♣-ps-1♠-ps

2NT-ps-???[/hv]

 

1♣ is best minor, 2NT is 18-19 Balanced.

[joker_gib]

I will inquire a little bit by bidding 3♣ which is a forcing relay in my system (not usual but my partner can still have 4♠)

 

Alain

[whereagles]

Unless you have really hot gadgetry, this is a clear 3NT bid.

[Walddk]

I would bid 3♣ (Wolff's sign off) and follow up with 3NT. That would show a balanced slam try with club support as I play it.

 

Roland

[Chamaco]

if 2NT in your agreements denies spades support, 3NT, otherwise use whatever checkback tool you use for uncovering a 44 major fit.

I would not lose my sleep to try going after a potential 44 club fit for a club slam try unless you have a specific tool available like Roland.

[Walddk]

I would not lose my sleep to try going after a potential 44 club fit for a club slam try.

But we could have a 5-4 fit.

 

Roland

[inquiry]

Board a match I certainly don't want to play 3NT if 6♣ is cold, but I even more certainly don't want to play 5♣ by trying to find 6♣. At imps, I would explore 6♣ aggressively, at BAM, I will have to be much more careful. But partner will also know at BAM that 5♣ is not a great contract.

 

The problem here is that if partner has 4/5 clubs and a useful maximmum 6♣ is a great shot. If not, I want to reside quietly in no more than 4NT.

 

So, ask yourself how can you investigate a club slam without getting overboard? What tools do you use? Playing the Wolff convention you can bid 3♣ here, forcing 3♦ then rebid 3NT showing slam invite with exactly four clubs. That sounds just about right.

 

Without that convention, need to find another way to invite. We all know that a jump to 4NT here is quantative. But I wonder if if should show a club fit if the 2NT is 18-19, since 1 hcp is hardly sufficient to make a good go/no good decision on (I generally have 17-19 for my 2NT jumps). If you are not playing wolff or something like it, I would guess that 4NT should be invite to 6♣ or pass to play opposite a 18-19 range. But that is a guess here.

 

One thing for sure, you NEED to show interest in club slam but willingness to stop in low level NT on this hand.... if you don't have the method for that, you need to get one.

 

Ben

[luis]

As Roland said a 3♣ bid followed by 3NT is the best way to suggest a club slam invitation. Without that I'm not sure, I have the feeling that 6♣ should have a play so I guess I would move on but not clear.

[Walddk]

Playing the Wolff convention you can bid 3♣ here, forcing 3♦

Although we seem to agree on 3♣ followed by 3NT, we do not play the same Wolff it appears. For me 3♣ is only a puppet to 3♦ if opener has TWO spades. If he has 3, he should bid 3♠.

 

The idea is that responder must be able to sign off in 3♠ if opener has a doubleton (sub-minimum 1♠ response), but that he will bid game if opener has 3-card support (his hand improves).

 

This matters little here, however, when my next bid is 3NT. Then I deny 5 spades and show a (semi)balanced minimum with 4+ clubs. With an unbalanced (red singleton) hand and 4-5 in the blacks I would bid 4♣ over 2NT.

 

Opener can still sign off in 4NT.

 

Roland

[mike777]

Agree with what others have pointed out, 3nt unless we got some toys.

1) 3d as slam somewhere try or

2) complicated 3c as Baron

[luis]

Agree with what others have pointed out, 3nt unless we got some toys.

1) 3d as slam somewhere try or

2) complicated 3c as Baron

I wouldn't bid 3NT even without the toys. I think 6♣ should have a play.

[mike777]

Is this hand too optimistic or pessimistic?

 

JX

AJX

AJX

AKXXX

 

At IMP or BAM do we want to be in 6C or 3nt assuming board #1?

[Blofeld]

Couldn't partner still be 3433?

 

Certainly unilaterally deciding on clubs seems a bad idea, but if you can retreat to 4nt the investigation might not hurt.

[cherdano]

Playing transfers over 2NT as I do, the bidding would most likely go

3♠ (showing clubs)-3NT (prefer 3NT if 3♠ was COG between 3NT and 5♣)

4NT = slam invite with clubs and a balanced hand.

 

I think this hand is close to act over 3NT.

 

Arend

[Fluffy]

on my agreements after a 3♣ inquiry partner answers 3NT wich shows no ♠ support, no 4♥ and since we open 1♦ with every 2344 it should be 2335.

[Walddk]

on my agreements after a 3♣ inquiry partner answers 3NT wich shows no ♠ support, no 4♥ and since we open 1♦ with every 2344 it should be 2335.

Well fine, then he will surely bid 4♣ on this auction:

 

1♣ - 1♠

2N - 3♣ 1)

3♦ 2) 3N 3)

4♣

 

1) Wolff.

 

2) Doubleton spade.

 

3) Balanced slam invite with club support.

 

Roland

[shanbari]

on my agreements after a 3♣ inquiry partner answers 3NT wich shows no ♠ support, no 4♥ and since we open 1♦ with every 2344 it should be 2335.

Well fine, then he will surely bid 4♣ on this auction:

 

1♦ - 1♠

2N - 3♣ 1)

3♦ 2) 3N 3)

4♣

 

1) Wolff.

 

2) Doubleton spade.

 

3) Balanced slam invite with club support.

 

Roland

hi roland, futher question pls.

 

1♦ - 1♠

2N - 3♣

3♦ 3N

 

 

if i define 3N here as general either C or D slam interst.

...

3D 3N

4C

 

4C shows 44minor, and responder either bid 4D or cuebid with C fit.

 

...

3D 3N

4D

 

responder can cue or 4NT signoff.

 

 

would it improve the method ? (only for 1D opening, doesn't apply for 1C)

 

thank you in advance.

 

SHAN

[Walddk]

on my agreements after a 3♣ inquiry partner answers 3NT wich shows no ♠ support, no 4♥ and since we open 1♦ with every 2344 it should be 2335.

Well fine, then he will surely bid 4♣ on this auction:

 

1♦ - 1♠

2N - 3♣ 1)

3♦ 2) 3N 3)

4♣

 

1) Wolff.

 

2) Doubleton spade.

 

3) Balanced slam invite with club support.

 

Roland

hi roland, futher question pls.

 

1♦ - 1♠

2N - 3♣

3♦ 3N

 

 

if i define 3N here as general either C or D slam interst.

...

3D 3N

4C

 

4C shows 44minor, and responder either bid 4D or cuebid with C fit.

 

...

3D 3N

4D

 

responder can cue or 4NT signoff.

 

 

would it improve the method ? (only for 1D opening, doesn't apply for 1C)

 

thank you in advance.

 

SHAN

I got the opening wrong in my previous post. It has been corrected now. Maybe you want to ask different questions.

 

Roland

[keylime]

Queen of hearts is a little soft. Also, no spot cards. It's about the worse hand I can table in slam.

 

I like 3C followed by 3NT to show a club slam try. Pard might be able to value their holdings appropriately. I don't want to give up just yet, in case pard is on a rich control hand with my spot cards.

[shanbari]

hi roland,

 

i don't have issue with 1c opening, your method is sound.

i am more curious about 1d opening here. (sorry, this is not relative to the original post.)

 

shan

[Finch]

If I play a method, then I would use it to show a mild slam try with clubs.

If I don't play any methods, then I would bid 3C, natural and forcing with clubs (tricky game, isn't it?). I will then make no more slam tries.

[Walddk]

hi roland,

 

i don't have issue with 1c opening, your method is sound.

i am more curious about 1d opening here. (sorry, this is not relative to the original post.)

 

shan

I don't have a problem after a 1♦ opening, because 3♦ is forcing over a 2NT rebid. I have one non forcing bid available: pass.

 

Roland

[Guest Jlall]

I also play wolff forces 3C, although playing you can support or bid 3D is fine too. It doesn't matter much. I would make a slam try in clubs, if I can't systemically and still get to 3N I will just bid 3N.

[HeartA]

I would try slam, too, based on whatever convention is available. Wolf might be the best.

[civill]

How about checkback?