[ArtK78]

12 board match. IMPs converted to VPs.

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At this vulnerability, partner would open 1♠ with 10 or more HCP. In addition, you play NAMYATS, with the following requirements:

8 1/2 to 9 playing tricks.
No more than one side suit with two quick losers.

So, partner has less than 10 HCP and his hand does not meet our requirements for a NAMYATS opener. By the way, if he opened NAMYATS, his HCP holding would be irrelevant.

Do you pass, move towards slam or bid slam?

Edit: Nonvul (the hand diagram would have a red field under the compass directions if one or both sides were vulnerable).

[HighLow21]

What is the vulnerability? I'm going to assume NV for NS.

Partner has at least 7 spade tricks, assuming he holds the generally accepted 8 spades for the 4♠ opener. He might have only 7 spades to the KQ if at favorable, but even then, that adds only 1 more loser.

Even with 8 spades he might have 2 losers in hearts and 1 in diamonds. It is actually possible to fail at 4♠ if he has something like ♠KQxxxxxx ♥9xx ♦x ♣K.

Meanwhile I can't imagine a ton of 4♠ openers that would give slam a good play. Maybe ♠KQxxxxxx ♥x ♦Ax ♣xx.

It's a borderline decision IMHO to investigate slam. I'd estimate as many hands that make 4♠ but go down in 5♠, as there are hands that are safe at 5♠ and have a play for 6♠. Really close.

Something to note, though, is that there's a good chance the opponents can make 5♣ or 5♥. So investigating slam maybe a good way to shut the opponents out if one of them has a hand they really like. You might get a top with 5♠ doubled or undoubled down 2.

[rogerclee]

I would just blackwood, even if we're down on a heart lead I want to see them lead it.

[whereagles]

I'm not used to preempts on 2 aces, so pass for me.

[MrAce]

HighLow21, on 2012-February-01, 16:18, said:

What is the vulnerability? I'm going to assume NV for NS.

The bidding diagram shows everyone white. (the top frame of bidding diagram shows in red color if a side was vulnerable, if both then shows all red)

[Phil]

whereagles, on 2012-February-01, 16:51, said:

I'm not used to preempts on 2 aces, so pass for me.

True, but assuming we have enough keys, slam will

1. Make when partner has a stiff heart;
2. Usually make when partner has a void diamond;
3. Sometimes make when he has neither.

All in all it doesn't seem like a bad shot. To me the only question is trying to sucker the ♦ lead by not going through RKC, but at the table I am sure I would bid RKC.

By the way, I do not like the idea of 5♥ as an asking bid on this hand, because I cannot properly look for keys, and I lose some of my equity when 5♥ gets doubled.

[mikeh]

My take on this kind of situation is to balance my assessment of the likelihood of slam against the likelihood of failure at the 5-level.

While slam might make...might even be laydown....opposite only 1 keycard.....picture AQxxxxxx x xx xx....I think most would agree that we go to slam only opposite 2 keycards.

Opposite 2 keycards, even assuming, as seems reasonable, that they are the AK ♠, slam is excellent. It may be cold (stiff/void in hearts) or it may be on the lead...and there is no reason to expect that they will lead hearts more often than not.

So I think we have to try. I was thinking that maybe just blasting would be the most effective, but keycard can't hurt.....LHO isn't making any lead directing doubles in a 4N auction, and he isn't likely to be bidding 5♥ either. So 4N it is.

[TWO4BRIDGE]

6♠

Our 1st seat 4M preempts would be 8 cards and NO outside A ... ( and usually no K as well ).

Keycard will do you NO good unless partner has the ♠ A K. And you still won't lose a ♠ if he only has the Ace and not the K .

As has been pointed out, a ♥ lead may put you in jeopardy... missing the ♦ Ace as well.

But maybe it won't be led, so I'll just blast.

[mikeh]

TWO4BRIDGE, on 2012-February-01, 18:59, said:

6♠

Our 1st seat 4M preempts would be 8 cards and NO outside A ... ( and usually no K as well ).

Keycard will do you NO good unless partner has the ♠ A K. And you still won't lose a ♠ if he only has the Ace and not the K .

As has been pointed out, a ♥ lead may put you in jeopardy... missing the ♦ Ace as well.

But maybe it won't be led, so I'll just blast.

I doubt that you will find many experts who agree with your contention that a 1st seat nv v nv 4♠ promises 8 trump. AQ109xxx x x QJxx would get a lot of votes, I think.

Btw, I think you'll get to a few more making slams than my 4N will, but you'll also reach a few more failing slams than I do.

[ArtK78]

Partner's hand was:

AKTxxxxx
Jxx
x
x

So slam depended on not getting a heart lead.

I chose to pass after thinking about this at the table for a good 2 minutes.

A club honor was led against 4♠. It is quite possible that the lead would be the same against 6♠.

The board was a push at 4♠ +480.

[HighLow21]

Art, when you said the hand was a push --> was the format Teams play? i.e., 2 tables of 4?

[wyman]

HighLow21, on 2012-February-02, 12:44, said:

Art, when you said the hand was a push --> was the format Teams play? i.e., 2 tables of 4?

Yes. See the OP:

Quote

12 board match. IMPs converted to VPs.

[Phil]

HighLow21, on 2012-February-02, 12:44, said:

Art, when you said the hand was a push --> was the format Teams play? i.e., 2 tables of 4?

In spite of all of your occasionally good analysis when you say a comment like this, it appears like you have studied bridge in a cave for ten years and just walked out.

[HighLow21]

Ha! Somewhat true.

I've studied bridge in my home for 10 years and played tens of thousands of hands, almost all of them online, and I have never entered a tournament.

Thus I haven't learned all the nuances of all the competitive formats and was asking for clarification.