[Cyberyeti]

Partner opens a 12-14 1N, you hold (MPs qualifier)

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You can either transfer to spades or bid 3♠ single suited, GF at least minor slam interest

Where are you going from here ? If it matters you're not doing very well in the event at this point, bumbling along below average with top 1/3 qualifying.

If you transfer

Spoiler

The auction will proceed 1N-2♥-2♠-3♣-3N, now what ? this is what I actually did.

[DavidKok]

I'd pick the route you chose, and then

Spoiler

bid 4NT quantitative. I expect the spade suit to produce enough tricks in 6NT if partner likes their hand for slam, and we still get to beat the pairs in 4♠ a good fraction of the time if partner passes. With partner showing both red suits I'm not too worried about spades taking an extra trick over notrump.

[mycroft]

I am biased by my location, as everyone knows. I don't want to win this one in the auction, especially given everyone else's auction (at least in my game) has started 1♦-1♠; 1NT. I'm not going to go any more out of my way to not do the "standard thing".

I don't know how "mild" mild slam try is, or how easy it is to turn off the "mild", or whether OP and partner have some sort of Texas to go with the two-level transfers. My options would be 4-and-pass, 4-level-transfer-and-pass, 2-transfer and jump to 4 ("mild slam try"), 2♠ (ART range ask)-2NT (minimum)-4♠ (give up. Right?), or 2♠-3♣ (max)-3♠ (KC for spades. Fully expecting 3NT "small doubleton", at which point I ask again), which is a serious slam try.

Spoiler

I could do the Yeti's line (although I would have to jump through a bunch more hoops about it, because his auction promises 5=5 in my system). However, is it important for slam that partner has clubs, or is the important bit if he has ♣AK?

Spoiler

I am concerned about David's idea. In the auction given, slam takes tricks (of which you have 7) and aces (of which you need at least one). Misfits do not develop tricks well in NT, whereas with a 3-2 break, you have opportunities to set up the fifth diamond or the ♥QJTx or KJTx in spades. I don't think David's auction says "If your hand is tricks, go; if it's just cards, don't"; I think it says "if you're 14 go even with the misfit; if you're 12 don't". You're off 10-12 HCP; never mind if they're AA, they could easily be AKK or A K QJ (or A KJ Q).

Having been thinking through my previous response (esp. "points vs tricks"), I'm wondering if

Spoiler

I shouldn't bid 2♠, and if partner shows a max, bid 4♣ Keycard for *clubs*. Here's hoping I can get out in 4♠ or 4NT if the answer's wrong...

[mikeh]

It’s unlikely that a 4-4 club fit generates a better score than does a 6-2/6-3 or even 6-4 spade fit. We only have two red suit losers so if partner has, say, AKxx in clubs, he rates to be able to hold our red suit losers to 1 in spades. 980 for 6S making beats 940 for 6C making 13 tricks.

Given our methods, I doubt that we can find 7C opposite xxx xxx Axx AKJx

So I’m ignoring clubs as a possible strain but that’s not the same as saying I won’t bid clubs….it would be nice if partner showed that he liked clubs, as one example. I can always keycard….say 1N 2H 3C 4C…whatever my keycard is here (for me, 4D), I’d bid it and then place the contract in spades.

I don’t use these methods…for me, 1N 2H 2S….I show clubs via 2N, which allows partner to accept or reject clubs at a low level….we don’t transfer into spades with a 5 card suit and invitational values…we go through stayman. Also 1N 2H 2S 3H is a strong slam try in spades.

So, given the constraints, I bid 2H then 3C.

If he bids 3R, I bid 3S. If he bids 3N, I bid 5S. He ‘should’ infer solid spades, needing help in clubs and controls, not Quacks, in the reds

[Cyberyeti]

I felt getting the clubs in was important as xx, Qxx, Qxxx, AKJx makes 5♠ but 6♣ even more so with the hands with a 5 card club suit.

Partner's actual hand was

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Not sure where you want to be knowing this, looks like spades

Both 4♠ and 3N make 11 tricks double dummy on a heart lead against NT and there's a club ruff in spades, but in practice either contract played by S will make 12 as W won't find the right lead from ♥Kx ♣Axxxx.

What happened at the table ? I passed 3N, opening leader had a choice from ♥Q10xxx ♦xxxxx and chose the more passive diamond to the JK. Partner played the ♣9K ducked twice and then claimed 13 as everything else disappeared on the diamonds.

[mw64ahw]

Playing Texas transfers would show 6M no interest in slam so going the slow route and bidding 4♠ after 1NT-2♥-2♠-3♣-3NT would show 6♠ SI and partner is expected to take things forward. I use 5♣ in this instance showing a single(3/5) keyboards and ♣ control.

[DavidKok]

How do you bid 6♠5♣ without SI? Or even 6♠4♣ but you're not sure of strain?

[mw64ahw]

DavidKok, on 2022-October-18, 05:04, said:

How do you bid 6♠5♣ without SI? Or even 6♠4♣ but you're not sure of strain?

I tend to favour ♠ so still a Texas transfer unless the suit is v. poor.