[Jstroke]

Vul vs NV

You dealt and are playing with a pickup partner.  They have lots of stuff in their profile, but you have no agreements.  

        T9x
        Axxxx
        Ax
        KQx

Bidding is  
                 1H p 1S p
                 1N p 4S p
                   ?

You suspect that partner would have bid 2S with a 6 card Spade bust, but you don't know how they will respond to 4N or 5D.

Do you pass or bid?

I suspect the only right answer is to keep smiling, and resolve to play some known system standard in the future.

[inquiry]

You have a very good hand for this auction. You have two things to decide. First, if having limited your hand with your 1NT rebid are you EVER invited to bid again? After all, your partner become captain after that rebid. And, Second what different kind of hands can your partner hold for the two auctions.

1H - 4S   and, your

1H-1S
1N-4S?

With your hand, I would pass this auction. It simply isn't worth destroying partnership confidence with any action after partners jump to 4S. He didn't invite your participation. Who knows, he may have S QJ87xx  H-K  D-QJ C-JTxx.

If partner has some slammy type of hand, one hopes on his profile was "NEW MINOR FORCING" where he could bid a minor then 4S to invite your particpation in a slam try. BTW, I believe most of the times I would raise to 2Spades. Generally I like 3 to an honor to raise with three, but my heart suit being all xx's. But the lack of the immediate raise should not be a problem with decided what to rebid on the given auction. You should pass here.

[keylime]

Pass happily here...partner didn't do anything to encourage a slam exploration and partner can't play anywhere else and doesn't want any further bidding.

[Jstroke]

I thought pass was prudent but didn't think it was a no brainer.   I think it depends on the interpretation of the 4S bid.

If 4S is a gambling bid opener must pass, stop reading now.  Everything below is totally irrelevant.  Only when 4S is based on values is there any judgement question.

Can you ever make an unforced bid after the 1NT?  
I thought the answer would be rarely.  This hand has possible magic cards.  If this hand can't bid, no hand ever can.  I visualize that the 5 level is safe and a slam possible.

What should a 4S bid which is based on values show?  

Is QJxxxx K QJ JTxx good enough?  It sure makes a good hypothetical.  Partner can visualize openers hand for 2(3) spades and 5 hearts and 3-2 or 3-3 in the minors.  No second suit was shown, no major raise.  

There is a lot of bidding room and the opponents are silent.  With defensive values why not give the opponents a chance to make a mistake.   Shouldn't 4S mean more offensive values but some quick losers.

Where does the 4S bidder think the 10 winners are?  Why is NT not an option?  Is there a second suit?  

Either the spades are solid and there are holes in the other suits or there are minor suit tricks in a hand that doesn't want to play 3 NT because of fear that the Spades won't set up quickly enough.  

Maybe 2 Aces and a KQ will help.    

[easy]

lets assume 15-17 nt opening range. You have shown 12-14 pard has bid game. unless you have found a missing ace there is NO reason to consider bidding over 4s. Partner is the captain of the team. you limited your hand by rebidding 1nt. You have no idea what partner has in his hand and no reason to speculate.


One thing i feel very strongly about is that when one has limited their hand they leave all decisions about game/slam  to their partner.......unless pard asks for input.

[keylime]

I could not have said it better myself - easy's accurate post is a lesson to be learned by all players. Once one of the player's hands are limited, any slam try comes from the other side of the table.

[redguard2]

pass

If I am your P, I will not bid 4S with such a hand
S AK*****
H *
D K**
C **


or else, maybe you bid 5S? (or 4NT? if the SK equals A)

Then PRAY if your contract reaches 6S!
Hope god will let OPP lead H when your P has such a hand

S AK******
H *
D **
C J *

or OPP will NOT lead H with such a hand
S AK******
H **
D *
C J *

BTW:
When your P or you have a long &strong suit, it is possibily meaningless to count the points (see above hand).