[gwnn]

A
KQxx
AKQJT98
x

RHO opens and we are favourable in a team match.

1S-x-4S-5C
p-?

[Jinksy]

5♦. P doesn't have to have any aces for his NV sac, and the opps probably have at least one outside to go bidding a vul game with no other values in any of the suits.

I don't suppose P will always know when to raise me, but he'll surely take me Xing then coming in at this level seriously.

[whereagles]

5♦ as well. There may be a slam but I'm not getting jerked into bidding it when we might be off 2 aces.

[billw55]

Jinksy, on 2014-September-05, 02:06, said:

5♦. P doesn't have to have any aces for his NV sac, and the opps probably have at least one outside to go bidding a vul game with no other values in any of the suits.

I don't suppose P will always know when to raise me, but he'll surely take me Xing then coming in at this level seriously.

True, but why do you think partner is sacrificing? I think it is plausible that LHO is the one jamming things up, and that partner bid to make.

I still only bid 5♦ though. Even a strong club suit, but lacking the ♥A, may not bring the slam home.

[gwnn]

Pard had xx xx xxxx KJxxx and of course I bid 6D, going 1 down. Not a great call but it is what it is.

[whereagles]

sht happens.

[PhantomSac]

Gambling on an ace is one thing (I think it is a bad gamble personally), but it's not like you are cold opposite the ace of clubs, you have KQxx of hearts to deal with. Even if you buy the jack of hearts you may well need 3-3 hearts if partner has 3 hearts (not an unlikely thing to happen). You even have solid enough diamonds that you will never be able to cross in trumps and lead hearts up twice, so if you happen to buy the club ace and a doubleton heart you are in bad shape, probably needing Axx of hearts onside and no trump lead (unless you happen to buy lots of diamonds in dummy like you did)

In general my feeling is if you need to gamble just on an ace, eg if your hand was A KQJT AKQJT98 x you should not do it but it is whatever. However if you need to gamble on more than that it is just ridiculous. Here even if you buy TWO things, like the CA and the HJ, or the CA and a doubleton heart, you are still not home by any means though you're getting close. That means you are gambling on like 2.5 good things happening, that is way too much.

[gszes]

5d

There is a pretty good chance that the opps may consider 5s (not far above 4s:) and
if your p can x a good case can be made for 6d. Guessing 6 is just that some days
great dome days not but that extra chance if you bid 5d seems to make that bid a better
choice.

[Jinksy]

billw55, on 2014-September-05, 06:21, said:

True, but why do you think partner is sacrificing?

What stops him from just having a weak hand with long Cs? At this vul, he doesn't need much more excuse to bid than that he thinks 4♠ is probably making.

[billw55]

Jinksy, on 2014-September-06, 15:01, said:

What stops him from just having a weak hand with long Cs? At this vul, he doesn't need much more excuse to bid than that he thinks 4♠ is probably making.

Agree it is possible. Just saying it is not the only possibility.

[the_clown]

gwnn, on 2014-September-06, 12:08, said:

Pard had xx xx xxxx KJxxx and of course I bid 6D, going 1 down. Not a great call but it is what it is.

I dont understand bidding 5♣ with this. If partner has a minimal takeout double we are headed for a big number. If he has sufficient extras he will act again and I can then bid 5♣ with a hope to make on a good day. (It could still be right to pass with this balancish hand)

I would personally bid 5♣ but wouldnt critisize 6, could easily be right.

[Jinksy]

billw55, on 2014-September-08, 06:09, said:

Agree it is possible. Just saying it is not the only possibility.

Sure, but when he knows we've bid 5♦ without him really offering a trick for it, he can surely raise us on a lot of single-ace hands.