[pescetom]

DavidKok, on 2025-September-04, 09:59, said:

1♦-1♠; 1NT (16+ max 3♠ or 11-15 6(+)♦ max 2♠, 3♥, 3♣). Some might play 2♣ (6(+)♦, wide ranging) instead

In all seriousness, the death hand is a system gap. Either you live with the inability to show it or you fix it. Sorry if this is rude, I am not very interested in discussing how exactly to fail to describe the hand. The fact that this hand type has been a documented issue for over 30 years is all the more reason to deal with it (possibly through resigned acceptance).

I quite like the Italian fix.
Meck had a fix too, but I suspect you won't like it much.

[Huibertus]

pescetom, on 2025-September-04, 03:36, said:

The Italian 2♥ was semi-artificial, see the System Notes following the Systems Card: the cheapest reverse may be natural or may show a 6 card minor, the fourth suit (or 2NT if more economical) asks for details.

Yes any slam goes down on a clubs lead, but the diamonds chosen by Meckstroth are doomed in any case. Spades is clearly superior, the questions I think are finding the fit and then deciding whether to risk slam lacking both black Kings. Italy did and thus they became world champions, but I have sympathy with the French who stopped in 5.

You missed the point. This hand is NOT about bidding, it is about having the luck KQTXX of clubs is NOT on lead. Switch the hands of the defenders and 6♦ is superior contract then 6♠ because you don't get a ♣ lead.

[pescetom]

Huibertus, on 2025-September-12, 05:10, said:

You missed the point. This hand is NOT about bidding, it is about having the luck KQTXX of clubs is NOT on lead. Switch the hands of the defenders and 6♦ is superior contract then 6♠ because you don't get a ♣ lead.

Partially yes, in that I wrongly remembered 6♦ was doomed on any lead. But of course avoiding a clubs lead is fundamental, as I said, that is why I wonder if Italy did well to risk that the leader was either looking at KQxxx or might target clubs anyway. Good risks are ones that win medals, I guess.

But the bidding is fascinating and discussion of methods was worthwhile. If anything it lacks explanation of the Meckstroth auction, should someone be capable of that.