Zelandakh, on 2012-December-17, 03:39, said:
I think this hand is tough even with a 1♥ opening, after 2♣ it is as good as impossible. Say it starts: 1♥ - (1♠) - 2♣ - (4♠). Should North really bid 5♥ here, presumably the same as they would without the ♦AQ and ♠Q? And should South know to bid on with 3 aces and nothing else? If you are playing the method where a direct 5♥ is a slam try/good hand and bidding 4NT followed by 5♥ merely competitive/weaker, then fine. But I would hope that would be stated.
So the question remains, assuming a 1♥ opening and the start above, what should North rebid over 4♠, and how should N-S proceed to find out whether to look for slam or not?
You can also look at this with respect to a strong artificial opening by assuming N-S play Precision. I assume North would then open 1♣ and after a 1♠ overcall and South making the systemic bid showing a game force with clubs, West again raises to 4♠. This gets us to a somewhat similar situation to the OP without having misbid.
I agree that it is tough. My views run something like this: If you are Meckwell, you have previously discussed this situation and you do whatever you have discussed. And anyway the opening would have been 1
♣. For the rest of us, as N, after 1
♥-(1
♠)-2
♣-(4
♠)-?, I bid 5
♥ because I think that I can probably make it ( the five level belongs to me, isn't that the saying?
), and this leaves South with a tough choice that I think he has a fair chance of getting right. And, most certainly, a chance of getting wrong.
I really have no idea how, if I were South, I would take 4NT over 4
♠. I think that my preference would be that it is standard Blackwood, not rkc. But undiscussed, I would prefer that North not do this. Your post suggests you agree that without discussion, the meaning is vague at best so I think we are on the same page here.
I think opening 1
♥ gives North the best chance of coping with anticipated trouble from the opponents, and then, for most of us, we just fall back on bid what you think you can make and hope we land on our feet. If South raises 5
♥ to 6, maybe West will double! We can always hope.