Missed slam, how should we have bid?

[AL78]

[hv=pc=n&s=sqj864h6dakq85cqt&n=s5hak3d63cakj7653&d=w&v=0&b=8&a=p1cp1sp3cp3dp3nppp]266|200[/hv]

 

MPs, I was North. The diamonds split 3-3 and the defence failed to cash their spades at trick 1 so I made 13 tricks, which was a good score at the time as only one pair had found the cold 6♣. With a slam this rock solid, I feel we should have been able to find it. How should we have bid it?

 

Our system was 5 card majors, strong NT, weak twos in majors, 2♣ = Acol strong 2 hand or 22-23 balanced, 2♦ = GF or 24+ balanced. The slam investigation tools we have available are RKCB and cue bidding.

[LBengtsson]

I do not think it is easy to bid, but South must bid 4♣ here after 3NT. The ♣Q10 are good cards. Partner has bid 3♣ on the second round. You have a good hand and good controls so I feel you must go on. (Some players may have gadgets here where 4♦ or 4♥ here show controls and agrees ♣ suit, but that will be few. 4♣ is what most players will bid imo.)

[mw64ahw]

After 3♣, which says 6+♣ and and a modified loosing trick count of 6 or less, South's hand with 6.5 losers, an 8-card fit in at least one suit, singleton, Ace, and Q trumps in the known eight card fit screams slam try for me.

 

I'm OK to ignore a potential 2nd minor suit fit and I would use 2NT to show 1 of 3 hand types including 6+♣ with 3M support. In this case straight to 4♥ using Kickbo showing an odd number of keycards and ♥ control. North responds 4♠ showing the ♠ control and continued slam interest. South then places the contract in 6♣ or can continue cue-bidding looking for the grand.

 

Even with RKCB I would make the 4♦ bid and move to 6♣ even being blind on the ♠ control.

 

Moving from 3NT to 4♣ is also a slam try for me and I would again use Kickbo to establish controls and keycards, with South's 3♦ bid retrospectively also being used as a control bid with a grand potential

[apollo1201]

I think S is a bit too heavy, even at MPs, to pass. The trump Q, the singleton and the promising D suit are good factors for slam. Just hope partner doesn’t have xx S!

[bluenikki]

I think S is a bit too heavy, even at MPs, to pass. The trump Q, the singleton and the promising D suit are good factors for slam. Just hope partner doesn’t have xx S!

A bit?

 

The ace and queen of diamonds are unbid so far.

[Lovera]

With 4 ♦ as cue to agree on ♣ the other cue of 4 ♥ will probably start and then with 5 ♦ (= King) by S you should close the discussion by jumping to 6 ♣ with the single in ♠. I cannot understand how this slam can be lost after opener has jumped to 3 ♣ indicating a hand of 16-18 points and with 6 / + cards at least and then with S's hand there should be no doubt about where to go.(Lovera)