[sceptic]

Scoring: IMP

---

West North East South

 -     1♣    2♣    2♦
 4♠    5♣    Pass  Pass
 5♥    Dbl   Pass  Pass
 Pass  

[paulg]

You have bid the hand sensibly. Partner will often not be this good so just focus on a reasonable contract.

In terms of contemplating an immediate 6♠, consider a 'typical' reasonable hand for partner:

♠AQxxx
♥AQxxx
♦xx
♣x

Now slam is on a finesse and break. And partner could be weak/worse than this (♥KQJxx for example and slam has no play). So bidding 6♠ is a real gamble.

Bidding a slam requires partner to have a strong Michaels and he would have done something over 5♣ with that.

Paul

[hrothgar]

cardsharp, on Jun 3 2006, 11:27 PM, said:

You have bid the hand sensibly. Partner will often not be this good so just focus on a reasonable contract.

In terms of contemplating an immediate 6♠, consider a 'typical' reasonable hand for partner:

♠AQxxx
♥AQxxx
♦xx
♣x

Now slam is on a finesse and break. And partner could be weak/worse than this (♥KQJxx for example and slam has no play). So bidding 6♠ is a real gamble.

Bidding a slam requires partner to have a strong Michaels and he would have done something over 5♣ with that.

Paul

Playing good/bad Michaels, this hand is impossible

[cherdano]

Paul, I think you miss the point of bidding 6♠ -- it will often be a good sacrifice against 6m when it goes down.
I would probably bid 5♠ since there is a good chance 6♣ isn't making (on partner's singleton diamond lead), but I wouldn't criticize 6♠.

Arend

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

the adv. of bidding 5H / 5S, that you may
buy the hand on the 5 level, which will be
cheaper than buying the hand on the 6
level.

Another point: just hide the dbl fit, simply
repeat your spade suit.

Be certain to make up your mind, how high
you are prepared to go, before you bid 4S.

With kind regards
Marlowe

PS: In the end, you have to get it right, any sensible
strategy can work, the slow approach / the fast
approach.

[han]

I second Arend's comments.


I don't see any reason to introduce hearts. This tells the opponents that we have a double fit, which can only help them. If I just bid 5S directly, I will likely make it. After this auction they might find the ruff.