[Echognome]

Scoring: MP

2D (1) - 2H (2)
3C - 3NT (3)
?

---

(1) Artificial, forcing to game
(2) Negative
(3) Denies a 4 card suit outside of clubs

You are playing Benji Acol, where 2♣ shows an 8 playing trick hand and 2♦ is a big hand forcing to game.

What is your call now?

[jchiu]

DELETED

[hrothgar]

Partner is (probably) 3=3=3=4. (In theory, he could be single suited with primary clubs).

I'm willing to risk playing 5♣ at IMPs in order to explore slam. Slam needs VERY little. (Give partner Qxxx in Clubs and slam looks very good). For that matter, 5♣ looks a lot safer than 3N which could easily be down if partner tables xxx in Spades.

I'd like to be able to bid 4♣, hoping that partner can show something.

In theory, given that 2♥ is very weak, it might make sense for responder to show 3rd round controls. With this said and done. I certainly wouldn't expect this to hold true without discussion.

[hrothgar]

jchiu, on Jul 10 2006, 06:14 AM, said:

Pass, WTP?

The problem is that partner has at most 3 Spades....

Even at MP you need to give serious consideration to a Club contract.

[jchiu]

Scratch that. I read the question too fast. Since partner necessarily has a four-card club suit, 4♣ seems clearer (barring misreading it again).

[Grypho]

I bid 6 clubs. partner has 4+ clubs so at worst I expect slam to be on 2-2 trumps. Partner likely has 3 spades since nobody is bidding them so there is no diamond loser. I would expect a positive with an Ace so there is no grand. I agree that there is no problem on the hand but pass is IMPOSSIBLE.

[Winstonm]

I don't know this system yet you state 3N shows no 4-card suit outside of clubs, meaning the worst shape would be 3334 - this indicates that slam is no worse than 52% (2/2 clubs or singleton Q in either hand) and may be cold if partner holds the club Qxxx. If partner is 3235 slam should also be virtually cold.

If I could use 4C as RKCB and then ask for the Q of clubs I would - without that I'm bidding 6C.

Winston

[han]

Congrats on playing this wonderful system Matt.

How negative is 2♥, does it deny a king?

I'm with Winston, 6♣ seems a practical bid.

[whereagles]

yeah.. 6♣ should have some play

[inquiry]

Winstonm, on Jul 9 2006, 10:49 PM, said:

If I could use 4C as RKCB and then ask for the Q of clubs I would - without that I'm bidding 6C.

Opposite 2♥ response, 4NT (or 4♣) as RKC is either not possible (if 2H denies a king), and certainly never will have a king and queen. So if you use it as rkc, the initial response will have to be none, queen, then maybe king (if it can be included).

6♣ is obviously the practical bid since even if partner lacks a fifth club and lacks the club queen, it is a reasonable if not perfect slam.

[mcphee]

I, going to reach 6C and will need the 2-2 split or stiff Q to drop. Passing 3N is clearly not even going to be considered. The real issue with this hand is what the field is going to play. This looks to me like a hand that I am will to risk going for all the marbles with 6. After all I do not expect to score zero even if slam fails as some will also be there with me and some (heaven help them) will play 3N going down.

[SoTired]

6C - wtp? Partner is showing 4+ clubs. Partner's worse hand is xxx xxx xxx xxxx, which requires CQ to drop. Dummy's 3rd diam goes on our 4th heart and we ruff the 3rd diam from our hand.

This is a no brainer.

You are playing the perfect system to bid 6C confidently.

[Echognome]

Hannie, on Jul 10 2006, 10:16 AM, said:

Congrats on playing this wonderful system Matt.

How negative is 2♥, does it deny a king?

I'm with Winston, 6♣ seems a practical bid.

I thought you might be cleverer than that, especially as you know what systems I play.

This is actually a UI question as North bids a slow 3NT. South chose to bid 4♥ and then 6♣ over his partner's 5♣.

The question is whether at MPs, pass is an LA. I'm not sure if it is.

[hrothgar]

Echognome, on Jul 10 2006, 04:00 PM, said:

The question is whether at MPs, pass is an LA. I'm not sure if it is.

!!!!!!!!!!!

This is the right way to frame these sorts of questions!
We've been able to perform a reasonable poll without any UI.

From what I can tell, no one believes that passing 3N is a logical alternative in the absence of UI. There's a bit a debate whether is reasonable simply to bash to 6♣ or to try to have a bit more controlled auction, however, everyone is pulling 3N.

[han]

Oh, I thought Darren and you might have switched to relay-Benji-Acol.

I think that passing 3NT is not an alternative if opener was a somewhat reasonable player. If not then the answers here are not relevant.

[Apollo81]

Echognome, on Jul 9 2006, 10:07 PM, said:

Scoring: MP

2D (1) - 2H (2)
3C - 3NT (3)
?

---

(1) Artificial, forcing to game
(2) Negative
(3) Denies a 4 card suit outside of clubs

You are playing Benji Acol, where 2♣ shows an 8 playing trick hand and 2♦ is a big hand forcing to game.

What is your call now?

6♣ seems obvious. Surely partner will bid 7 with the ♠A.