[zenko]

Scoring: MP

pass-pass-LHO opens 3 ♥ -dbl-pass-3 NT-pass-4 ♠-pass-?

---

[TylerE]

Cueing 5♥ feels right. I want to make a move, and after my 3N bid then cue, partner will have a better handle on where we should be.

[ArtK78]

Considering that there may be one or two out of 1000 participants in this Forum that would not have opened this hand, it is certainly worth a move. 5♥ is the only one that seems appropriate.

[whereagles]

I'm going with 6NT now and focus on the play...

[cherdano]

whereagles, on Nov 12 2008, 03:10 PM, said:

I'm going with 6NT now and focus on the play...

I basically agree but I would bid rkcb first. If partner is going to 7 over our subsequent grand slam invitations that can hardly be wrong.

[mikeh]

cherdano, on Nov 12 2008, 04:16 PM, said:

whereagles, on Nov 12 2008, 03:10 PM, said:

I'm going with 6NT now and focus on the play...

I basically agree but I would bid rkcb first. If partner is going to 7 over our subsequent grand slam invitations that can hardly be wrong.

I don't think that it is the least bit clear that 4N is keycard. I am not saying that it isn't, or that it shouldn't be, keycard.. but there is a school of thought that believes that a 4N bid by a player who tried to play 3N is a natural, regressive move. I can see arguments why that might not be best in this particular auction... it is tough to construct hands that want to pull 4♠ to 4N, but I don't think that I would take any chances here.

Moreover, and perhaps more importantly, I don't see how knowing how many keycards partner has will help very much.

I'd rather engage in a dialogue than assume captaincy. 5♥ is unambiguous... 1st round control, no 1st round minor control, and slam interest. And I have an easy, informative, 6♦ over a grand probe of 6♣, and can bid 7 if partner now bids 6♥...

[jdonn]

I would bid 5NT and see what partner chooses. I pass 6♣ 6♠ or 6NT if he does that, or I bid 6NT over 6♦.

[cherdano]

mikeh, on Nov 12 2008, 04:05 PM, said:

cherdano, on Nov 12 2008, 04:16 PM, said:

whereagles, on Nov 12 2008, 03:10 PM, said:

I'm going with 6NT now and focus on the play...

I basically agree but I would bid rkcb first. If partner is going to 7 over our subsequent grand slam invitations that can hardly be wrong.

I don't think that it is the least bit clear that 4N is keycard. I am not saying that it isn't, or that it shouldn't be, keycard.. but there is a school of thought that believes that a 4N bid by a player who tried to play 3N is a natural, regressive move. I can see arguments why that might not be best in this particular auction... it is tough to construct hands that want to pull 4♠ to 4N, but I don't think that I would take any chances here.

Moreover, and perhaps more importantly, I don't see how knowing how many keycards partner has will help very much.

I'd rather engage in a dialogue than assume captaincy. 5♥ is unambiguous... 1st round control, no 1st round minor control, and slam interest. And I have an easy, informative, 6♦ over a grand probe of 6♣, and can bid 7 if partner now bids 6♥...

Fair enough about the meaning of 4N, but if it is keycard I think it will be more practical than trying to cuebid your way to 7. If you cuebid 5♥ and 6♦, don't you think partner will sometimes play you for a trump honor higher than the J? Are you sure he will always play you for cooperating with a grand try with ♥A and ♦K as the only controls?
With RKCB, I can show ♥A and ♦K (4N 5C 5D 6C 6D) with grand slam interest, and make sure we never end up in a grand missing a keycard or the king of clubs.

(Oh and of course I think this hand is worth forcing to a small slam.)

[jdonn]

I know I bid slam too, but I'm surprised everyone is so confident in this hand. Isn't partner typically a 5143 18 or so as his minimum? We have no fit yet, no spot cards, and overall dull shape. Plus the queen of hearts is wasted assuming they aren't foolish enough to lead one if our hand declares. It really doesn't matter for our current decision that most of us would have opened this hand.

The reasons I forced to slam were I wanted to focus on strain and there was no good way to invite. But I am sure not brimming with the same confidence as everyone else.

[Codo]

jdonn, on Nov 13 2008, 11:41 AM, said:

Isn't partner typically a 5143 18 or so as his minimum?

What about passing 3 NT with such a hand where slam chances opposite a passed partner are remote and you have a nearly typical take out double?

[zenko]

QUOTE (jdonn @ Nov 13 2008, 11:41 AM)
Isn't partner typically a 5143 18 or so as his minimum?

Quote

What about passing 3 NT with such a hand where slam chances opposite a passed partner are remote and you have a nearly typical take out double?

The way I see it there are a few potential issues with this slam that are not easy to address,
a) If partner does not have AKQ of spades (say AK10xxx(x) is quite possible holding) we are likely lose at least 1 trump trick
If partner has xx (which is possible in these circumstances) in hearts ,he likely has no way to get rid of it
c) It seems likley that minors will produce one losing trick

Overall I think it is pretty close between inviting slam or going for it, thx to fourth heart that I have. If I have say AQx, then I think the dilemma would be between passing and inviting (I think I would invite then , but I fine with passing too)