Posted 2006-January-16, 12:26
A minor quibble, and one that may be invalid for the partnership, but I prefer 5♦ to 4N: it seems to me that I am committed, with this hand, to at least 6♣, so I would make my grand slam try with an unambiguous 5♦: showing both red aces and the good 6+ ♣ suit that I showed with 3♣. If partner cannot bid grand over that, I don't want to be there.
But that is a quibble, and depends for its validity upon what 4♦ shows. To me it shows a solid opener... not necessarily extra hcp but (if minimum) a pure hand. I would not expect a splinter on AJxxxx QJx x Kxx for example, but AKQxxx xxx x Kxx is an easy splinter.
In any event, the auction worked out okay, since my 4N did not force to slam and my partner accepted while showing the ♠K and (I assume) denying the ♥K.
Before predicting the hand, I need to know if he would rebid 2♠ with AKQxx xxx x Kxxx? I would: 2♣ is often a stall.
So I will 'guess' that he would and therefore I predict AKQxx xxx x Kxxx or AKJxxx xxx x Kxx as minimum holdings. He could have a little more, either by way of a wasted ♥ honour or by way of AKQxxx of ♠.
Grand rates to be at least 68.5% and that is good enough for me: it will often be better.
'one of the great markers of the advance of human kindness is the howls you will hear from the Men of God' Johann Hari