Anybody's guess

[Cyberyeti]

You liked your hand until partner opened a gambling 3N, at least AKQxxxx in a minor and no side aces or kings, pass to you:

 

[hv=pc=n&s=saq8642hak9753dc6]133|100[/hv]

 

Suggestions ?

[DavidKok]

We've got 10 tricks on top, and if we can establish one of our long major suits that's a possible source of additional tricks. The issue is entries - we likely only have 2 entries to the hand, possibly 3, which might not be enough to establish either major if it breaks poorly. This honestly feels like a 4-or-7 deal, although it is also possible we have exactly 11 or 12 tricks.

 

I'll commit us to game for sure - 3NT isn't making on a lead of the other minor (which shouldn't be that hard to find - there's a good chance the lead is the ace of a minor, revealing our hand), and stopping in 4m is against the odds. I'd like to bid 4♦, artificial game force asking partner for shortness, but we don't know which minor partner has got. I think we might have trouble on the next few rounds when starting with that bid. On the other hand, if we're blasting to game or slam anyway, there's little downside to asking along the way.

 

If partner has heart shortness - the worst holding for us - we are in a 4-or-7 deal. If the spade finesse is on, or partner has a singleton and the hearts split 3-3 (and they don't lead a spade through our holding), we can set up the heart suit and cash 5 hearts, 7 cards in partner's minor and the ace of spades. But once we ask we have passed 4m, plus we won't even know whether partner has a void or a singleton. If partner does show at least two hearts we are reasonably safe for 6, and might try for 7. But if we're going for 7 (or 6) if partner has heart shortness, and are safe for 6 if partner does not, why are we asking?

 

After all the rambling, I think I'll just bid 6♣, pass or correct. The chances at making 7♣ are significant but not terrific (we might have a trump loser, or a bad break in a major suit, or lack of communication), and there is a slight upside of not giving away a potential spade lead if partner corrects to 6♦. Not to mention we have a club loser in 6♦. Perhaps 5♦ should be 'pass or correct to 6♣', paradox style. But for me it's undefined, and I won't risk it.

 

Edit: I just realised that 4NT - bid your minor - might be good, letting us choose between 5♦ and 6♣, unfortunately wrong-siding the contract in the process.

[Cyberyeti]

The problem with your approach is that if partner has 7 diamonds and 3 clubs, you don't have a trump so they take the first 3 tricks playing in diamonds.

 

Nothing's perfect here, not sure there is a right answer.

[pescetom]

I would bid 4NT as DavidKok says.

Partner has denied ♠K so we are not going far unless he has the right clubs.

[DavidKok]

The problem with your approach is that if partner has 7 diamonds and 3 clubs, you don't have a trump so they take the first 3 tricks playing in diamonds.

 

Nothing's perfect here, not sure there is a right answer.

You are always left guessing, one of the first things I said is that I'm not willing to gamble that exactly 4m is the limit. So I'll just accept my losses in this scenario.

[smerriman]

I'm going with 4NT too. I don't really see the point about wrong-siding; if partner's suit is clubs, I'm delighted regardless of who is dummy, and if partner's suit is diamonds, we're probably in trouble on a club lead regardless of who is dummy (and 6♣ pass or correct isn't right-siding).

 

With a greater than 50% chance of partner's suit being diamonds, the 6 level seems too much.

[DavidKok]

If we become declarer we are protected against a spade lead, which might be a crucial entry for establishing the hearts.

[smerriman]

Ah, right, I see. But that *might* be crucial, *if* they find a spade lead against 6♣ over a more likely diamond, vs almost always being too high in the > 50% chance of a diamond contract. [And you still have a backup of an immediate spade finesse.] So too risky for me.

[gszes]

4H

1. 4c POC might be right, but hand is just too good to bypass game possibility.

2. If 4H X (penalty) follow up with 4S and HOPE p does not have void x in the majors and goes back to 5h (I hope they would bid their minor rather than go back to 5h)

3. PASS means you have not spent enough time at the gaming tables in LAS VEGAS.

4. 4S (intending to run to 5H if X) is the right kind of idea but takes on a lot of extra risk when 4h is the place to be.

[Tramticket]

IMPs or MPs?

 

There are plenty of red flags and staying low might work well at pairs.

[Cyberyeti]

IMPs or MPs?

 

There are plenty of red flags and staying low might work well at pairs.

 

Was dealt in practice, so no particular form of scoring but I tend to think teams.

[Cyberyeti]

My first thought was to bid 4♦, intending to bid 4♠ over 4♥, 5♥ over 4♠, 5♣(p/c) over 4N (now I know only 2 clubs cash), and pass over 5m.

[michel444]

very nice hand

as it almost never happend to me I guess I will bid 4♣ p/C

if partner have 7 ♦ and 4♣ even 4♦ can fail

if he have 7 Club he may do an over trick

[LBengtsson]

Luck will play a part here. It is over 4 times more chance partner has 7-3-2-1 or 7-3-3-0 shape than 7-2-2-2 and while the 3-card suit in 7-3-2-1/7-3-3-0 could be the other minor, you could be missing a 9-card major fit. (I hope my partner would not open a Gambling 3NT with a hand that also has a 4♥/♠ side suit. However...

 

While there are clever bids here, I think the sensible bid is just to look for the 5m contract with 4NT. Yes, partner could have three losing ♣, but if he has three losing ♣ what game will make with the hands on best defense? Already we know our hand are distributional, and it is likely that the opps. hands are also.

 

Yes, there may chances of slam where the minor suit can be run, or where a major suit can be established, but we need other things to go right. And yes, where the best contract is "Anybody's Guess".

[DavidKok]

If partner shows clubs over 4NT I plan to raise to 6♣.

[Cyberyeti]

Partner's hand is in fact either J10x, void, AKQxxxx, Jxx or the same with the majors reversed, if you pick a major, you won't be doubled, but if you pick the wrong one you won't make. 5♦ loses the first 3 tricks and as it happens a trump.

[Cyberyeti]

Is this hand a case for inverting the major suit responses to 4♦ ? and what would be the cost ?

 

So 3N-4♦-4♥ shows a stiff/void spade and you would pass and play 4♥, 3N-4♦-4♠ would show a stiff/void heart and you pass and play 4♠

 

Also does everybody play 4N as "bid your minor" rather than 5♣ as p/c, 4N as "I have 4 tricks, bid 6 with an 8th one" was what I was taught

[LBengtsson]

Partner's hand is in fact either J10x, void, AKQxxxx, Jxx or the same with the majors reversed, if you pick a major, you won't be doubled, but if you pick the wrong one you won't make. 5♦ loses the first 3 tricks and as it happens a trump.

 

That is weird, Cyberyeti. I was going to put in my comment above (but did not) that whilst partner should not have 4♥/♠ with the minor suit, even having three cards to the honor jack in either major might disqualify this hand from opening with a gambling 3NT, especially with 7330 shape where you have an automatic ruffing value if you should end in a 4M contract.

 

I guess you can sometimes pre-empt partner - as opposed the opps. - and make life difficult for him. This hand illustrates this, if you have not got any mechanism to end in 4M when partner has the hand as shown. I think that a 4♠ contract will be found by an established partnership if partner opens 1♦ as opposed to 3NT here. Interesting what bidding reaches it though?

[Cyberyeti]

That is weird, Cyberyeti. I was going to put in my comment above (but did not) that whilst partner should not have 4♥/♠ with the minor suit, even having three cards to the honor jack in either major might disqualify this hand from opening with a gambling 3NT, especially with 7330 shape where you have an automatic ruffing value if you should end in a 4M contract.

 

I guess you can sometimes pre-empt partner - as opposed the opps. - and make life difficult for him. This hand illustrates this, if you have not got any mechanism to end in 4M when partner has the hand as shown. I think that a 4♠ contract will be found by an established partnership if partner opens 1♦ as opposed to 3NT here. Interesting what bidding reaches it though?

 

We have history with this, The same hand without the 10 turned up years ago, most of the field didn't open 3N, partner had a flat hand with 3 AKs, we bid 3N-7N most of the field couldn't find the 7th card for the 13th trick and played 6. This basically won us a trophy as it was against the pair that finished second (the +1130 on the other board of the set didn't hurt either)

[pescetom]

Also does everybody play 4N as "bid your minor" rather than 5♣ as p/c, 4N as "I have 4 tricks, bid 6 with an 8th one" was what I was taught

I was taught 4NT as NF "show 8 or a side Q", but we simplified it to "bid your minor" to reduce memory load for such an infrequent convention.

[AL78]

Partner's hand is in fact either J10x, void, AKQxxxx, Jxx or the same with the majors reversed, if you pick a major, you won't be doubled, but if you pick the wrong one you won't make. 5♦ loses the first 3 tricks and as it happens a trump.

 

I thought the gambling 3NT denied a void.

[Tramticket]

Also does everybody play 4N as "bid your minor" rather than 5♣ as p/c, 4N as "I have 4 tricks, bid 6 with an 8th one" was what I was taught

 

Yes, I thought that is was a natural slam try. But 3NT is relatively rare and I have never come across a 4NT raise at the table and would be nervous that there could easily be a misunderstanding. I have bid 4NT in competition, but then the meaning is simply "I can make 10 tricks".

[Cyberyeti]

I thought the gambling 3NT denied a void.

 

Some people play it that way, I would have put that condition in the OP if we played it that way

[michel444]

Partner's hand is in fact either J10x, void, AKQxxxx, Jxx or the same with the majors reversed, if you pick a major, you won't be doubled, but if you pick the wrong one you won't make. 5♦ loses the first 3 tricks and as it happens a trump.

a running minor W/O THE JACK ?

AS FAR AS I KNOW a runing minor is AKQJ xxx and pray partner have some cards

T 987 32 can be Held by 1 oponet on you have 5 trick in suit !!!!

[eagles123]

We have history with this, The same hand without the 10 turned up years ago, most of the field didn't open 3N, partner had a flat hand with 3 AKs, we bid 3N-7N most of the field couldn't find the 7th card for the 13th trick and played 6. This basically won us a trophy as it was against the pair that finished second (the +1130 on the other board of the set didn't hurt either)

 

possibly my favourite hand of all time involved a gambling 3N opening, partner opened 3N and I had something like AKxx Axx - AKQxxx, and we had had no discussion on followups so I made the practical bid of 7D, which fortunately made. A flat board when the other table had a much more intricate relay auction to the same spot! An unusual situation to say the least where my first bid in an auction was grand in an unbid suit where I was void :)