[Kalvan14]

Scoring: IMP

2D*-2H-2N**-3C***-3D^-3H^^-4S

---

• (*): Multi
  
• (**) 21-22 balanced
  
• (***) Puppet Stayman
  
• (^) at least one 4-card major
  
• (^^) four spades, denies four hearts

3♠ by opener would have been a mild slam-try; OTOH, you hold 2 Aces, and a second 4-card suit with some intermediates (and not a bad hand after the first 2♥). Do you pass or make a slam try?

[mike777]

Kalvan14, on Dec 8 2005, 08:05 PM, said:

Scoring: IMP

2D*-2H-2N**-3C***-3D^-3H^^-4S

---

• (*): Multi
  
• (**) 21-22 balanced
  
• (***) Puppet Stayman
  
• (^) at least one 4-card major
  
• (^^) four spades, denies four hearts

3♠ by opener would have been a mild slam-try; OTOH, you hold 2 Aces, and a second 4-card suit with some intermediates (and not a bad hand after the first 2♥). Do you pass or make a slam try?

I must admit I would have just bid 3nt over partner's 2nt bid.

[Kalvan14]

Actually, I was considering the chances for a slam since 2N.
3N or 4M do not make a lot of difference. 6 is better played in a suit.

[pbleighton]

Pass. The opps have 8 or 9 hcp, and neither you nor your partner have a five card suit.

Peter

[Robert]

Hi Kalvan14

When in doubt 'trust partner' if partner could have bid 3S as a mild slam try, this hand will likely be a disappointment for him. Your total assets are 31-32HCP and partner 'does not' think that he has 'extras' so he either has an average 31 or a 'non control rich' 32.

Your two aces are good slam cards, however, the Q is not 'supported' by a higher honor. Picture AO109 opposite partners Kxx as three tricks and a possible fourth 'if the suit breaks' or the Jack drops.

My CONFIT bidding with two balanced hands starts at a minimum of 31 HCP. This was the lowest total that appeared biddable from my testing. There are 'perfect'
fits that can bid slam with less than 31HCP, but they are not all that common and the risk/reward ratio is very unfavorable.

Your partner suggested that he was not slammish, so trust him. I do not start CONFIT auctions with
31-32HCP 'if' I hold many Jacks and Queens. Your partner suggested something in this kind of a hand when he bid 4S rather than 3S.

I do also play BABY CONFIT(for balanced hand minor slam bidding) starting with 29+HCP, however, that auction carried a warning to sign off 'if' any jacks and/or many queens(except the trump Queen) were held. It is supposed to be only used to create 'swings' if the match was in serious doubt.

I just switched my methods to play a multi 2D. My 'strong' version is a bit stronger than your range.
27-28HCP bids 2D-2M-2NT. I play a Big Club system and that was the lowest unbid range for my methods.

Regards,
Robert

[000002]

even though north hold a poor hand like this:
KQxx
AKx
Kxx
Axx
19hcps only,6♠ has 1/4 chance to make.

A wariness seeking under 5♠ if N-S have method.

[Kalvan14]

My personal experience is that aces are pretty good card for playing a slam
The ♣Q has a couple of good intermediates, and, provided that partner is not 4-3-3-3 slam might still have a chance. 5♠ should be playable in any case.

Suppose you want to go forward: what would be your bid?

[Robert]

Hi Kalvan14

If a gun was placed at my head, I bid 5D to suggest a slam.

RKC without any idea of how high to bid is "not" a consideration.

My normal method over any strong 2NT opening(or strong rebid) is to use CONFIT
asking for total controls, suits and high trump honors in that order.

If you are off two Aces, you bid all the way to 3NT.

I rarely bid higher than 4M unless I bid a slam. Last Train* and CONFIT* allow me to make slam trys and still stop in 4M.

Regards,
Robert

[Kalvan14]

My dear Robert,
bridge is not an exact science. If it were, it would loose most of its flavor.

I obviously bid 4N (RKC), did you have any doubt?
I'm going to play slam, if I am not off 2 KC or 1KC + ♠Q.

I may be off AK in hearts or clubs, agreed. Tough luck.

Partner's hand was:

KQJx KQ QJ9x AKx, which means that his 4♠ could not be faulted. Equally the slam is on a finesse in diamonds, and the finesse holds.

[mike777]

Kalvan14, on Dec 9 2005, 01:29 AM, said:

My dear Robert,
bridge is not an exact science. If it were, it would loose most of its flavor.

I obviously bid 4N (RKC), did you have any doubt? 
I'm going to play slam, if I am not off 2 KC or 1KC + ♠Q.

I may be off AK in hearts or clubs, agreed. Tough luck.

Partner's hand was:

KQJx KQ QJ9x AKx, which means that his 4♠ could not be faulted. Equally the slam is on a finesse in diamonds, and the finesse holds.

At my age my math skills seem weak, but this slam seems worse than 50%? Cannot some voids in side suits or extreme trump break make this less than 50%?

any event I ended up in 3nt so congrats to those who bid and made the slam

[Fluffy]

Partner got rid of my headache after some cuebids, thx partner. Pass

[bearmum]

Kalvan14, on Dec 9 2005, 02:05 PM, said:

Scoring: IMP

2D*-2H-2N**-3C***-3D^-3H^^-4S

---

• (*): Multi
  
  
  
• (**) 21-22 balanced
  
  
  
• (***) Puppet Stayman
  
  
  
• (^)  at least one 4-card major
  
  
  
• (^^) four spades, denies four hearts

3♠ by opener would have been a mild slam-try; OTOH, you hold 2 Aces, and a second 4-card suit with some intermediates (and not a bad hand after the first 2♥). Do you pass or make a slam try?

MAYBE I don't understand multi 2♦ BUT over the 2NT bid I would ONLY bid 3NT as IMHO we do NOT have enough points for 6NT (or imho sufficient major fits for six of major) so WHY go looking for a contract better than 3NT

[joker_gib]

I suppose that 4♠ by partner was discouraging --> pass

Alain

[Free]

joker_gib, on Dec 9 2005, 02:25 PM, said:

I suppose that 4♠ by partner was discouraging --> pass

Alain

Absolutely agree. When partner can see some opportunity for slam opposite a slam invite hand, he'll bid 3♠.

[Robert]

My dear, dear Kalvan14

We agree 100% that bridge is not an exact science.

We appear to also strongly disagree that 'following' the bridge odds will get better results. Each to his own.

I agree with Mike777 comments so I will not repeat them. I might 'restate' his position since it is such an accurate post.

Well done, Mike777!!!

Well done, Jlall. A WC viewpoint jumps into the thread.

I will 'of course' repeat your comments about a possible 'cashing' AK of either hearts or clubs, when using 'your' bash into RKC and bid the slam methods.

I use a lot of LT=last train and cuebidding methods. I rarely use RKC, except, when it is the best bid available.

I will state that this slam is less(much less?) than 50%, so I will continue to avoid bidding 'these kinds' of slams. If you chose to do, so I most certainly 'strongly' support your decision.

Several decades ago I played a lot of bridge with a lady that 'never' missed bidding any possible slam. She bid a lot of slams that were sub(hopeless?) 50% slams. As I played more bridge, I found other partners, who did not object to my 'not bidding' sub 50% slams.

We both agree that being off the AK of clubs or hearts 'might' be bad. You regard it as 'tough luck', I regard it as simple justice.

Bidding a slam on a finesse that also requires 'normal' suit breaks in addition to 'no cashing' AK or Hearts or Clubs is certainly below 50%.

I had 'xero'(repeat 'zero') doubt that you would either bid the slam or just jump into RKC. None! Nada! Nein! Never any possible doubt! Zero Doubt!

Thanks for posting this example of your slam bidding style and methods.

I often post my disasters, however, I rarely address non females as 'dear.'
If that is your custom, please feel free to address me as 'dear' on the net.

In person, I would strongly suggest that it was highly unwelcome.

Please let me congratulate for your success in bidding to a 'sub' 50% slam.

If you ever get to the tri state area around Maryland, USA, please let me know so that I can offer to play against these wonderful slam bidding methods and watching your excellent slam judgement in 'action.'

It is rather boring to play against people who avoid bidding less than 50% slams.

My warmest possible regards,
Robert

[Winstonm]

Not enough shape and legnth to go slam hunting undercarded.

Pass.

Winston

[mikeh]

Once again, this is a question of trusting partner. When partner says "I'm not interested in slam if you have a slam-invitational hand" why are you bidding? You play a method that conveys this specific information and yet you ignore it

You reached a bad slam: any slam that requires both a finesse and no extreme breaks is below 50%, and slams are not the same as games: they need to be 50% or better to be worth bidding. Getting lucky when slam makes is not a sign of superior bridge judgment

[Winstonm]

mikeh, on Dec 9 2005, 10:51 AM, said:

Once again, this is a question of trusting partner. When partner says "I'm not interested in slam if you have a slam-invitational hand" why are you bidding? You play a method that conveys this specific information and yet you ignore it

You reached a bad slam: any slam that requires both a finesse and no extreme breaks is below 50%, and slams are not the same as games: they need to be 50% or better to be worth bidding. Getting lucky when slam makes is not a sign of superior bridge judgment

Or you can follow the rule of Inverted Proportional Slam Bidding: As shape increases, HCP rquirements decrease; as shape decreases, HCP requirements increase.

Partner's bidding says he didn't have either requirement - neither does responder.

Winston