[paulhar]

You play fourth suit forcing, ostensibly to game.

Which of the following auctions express an interest in slam (showing extra values beyond those required for game)?

a. 1D - 1H - 1S - 2C - 2D - 3D?

b. 1D - 1S - 2C - 2H - 3C - 3D?

c. 1D - 1H - 1S - 2C - 2D - 2S?

Thank you!

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

I voted A&B, but slam interest is also still
possible with C.
The 4th suit seq. created a game forcing
situation.
In seq. A&B, 5D is certainly the game to
play, but you need only power for one
more trick, so slam interest is obvious.
In 6, it depends a bit on the meaning of
the direct jump sifht to 2S, is it weak, strong
reverse flannery (...).
Responder could hold a strong 6 card spade
suit with +15HCP, and still be interested in
slam. But this hand type may be not possible
anymore.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[mikeh]

Assuming that the question was which sequence unambiguously announced slam interest, I voted C.

A and B certainly could be based on hands with slam interest, but they could also be used when responder is unsure of strain as well as level... agreement on a minor does not preclude 3N at these levels.

C, otoh, has to be at least mild slam interest, since responder could have shut the auction down via 4♠ over either 1♠ or after the 4sf bid.

[cherdano]

mikeh, on Aug 30 2006, 12:48 AM, said:

C, otoh, has to be at least mild slam interest, since responder could have shut the auction down via 4♠ over either 1♠ or after the 4sf bid.

Don't you think responder could have a 35(32) hand with a partial club stopper, trying to find out whether to play 3N or the 4-3 fit? Slam interest could be announced by jumping to 3S.

Arend

[mike777]

cherdano, on Aug 29 2006, 06:15 PM, said:

mikeh, on Aug 30 2006, 12:48 AM, said:

C, otoh, has to be at least mild slam interest, since responder could have shut the auction down via 4♠ over either 1♠ or after the 4sf bid.

Don't you think responder could have a 35(32) hand with a partial club stopper, trying to find out whether to play 3N or the 4-3 fit? Slam interest could be announced by jumping to 3S.

Arend

I would think rebidding 3d would make sense with that hand.

1d=1h
1s=2c
2d=3d

Axx,,,AKxxx...Qxx..Kx

In any case 4sf auctions are going to be messy and confusing often.

[Codo]

Hand a: Opener showed 0-2 Spades, no heart stopper, 5+ Diamonds 4 clubs and no significant extras. If I want to explore a game, which game is likely?
Not 4 Spade, as I did not show a fifth spade. Not 5 clubs, as I did not support them. So the choice is between 3 NT and 5 Diamond. For 3 NT I need a Heart stopper. PD does not have one. If I have one, I can bid 3 NT, not 3 Diamond. If I need help in hearts, I can ask with 3 Hearts, but I did not. So 3 Diamond has just one message: Slam Interest.

Hand b: Pd showed 0-2 spades, 5+ Diamonds, 5 clubs, nothing in Hearts.
If I want to offer game in spades or clubs, I can simply bid this suit. If I want to play NT, I can simply bid it. If I need help in heart I can ask, so again, I see no reason why 3 Diamond shouldtell aynthing besides: Slam interest in Diamonds.

Hand c: Same resoning. If 3 NT depends on the club stopper, you can ask for it. But if you don`t do, you just want to investigate for slam.

[paulg]

A & B seem to be showing interest in the minor suit game rather than 3NT, so will tend to have potential for slam interest.

C appears to be struggling to find a fit rather than expressing an interest in slam!

Paul

[FrancesHinden]

I sort of agree with mikeh, but I don't really see the point of the question: I would say slam is possible on all of them, because responder is unlimited on all of them.

The only sequence where we absolutely know responder has slam interest is C where he has announced 4-card spade support and a hand too good to bid game.

But on both A and B responder could have a 25-count and bid like this.

[whereagles]

In all auctions, responder might be trying to know more about opener's hand (e.g. extra shape, location of high cards, controls or quacks), so as to know whether to try for slam without bypassing 3NT. (This is why he might not want to bid a clear-cut slam-bound 4♦ on AB.)

Probing for stoppers is a possibility, but since hands with minor suit(s) usually end up in 3NT rather quickly, so I'd say there's a good chance responder is slammish on all cases ABC.

[flytoox]

WHen a minor fit is found, your priority is 3N not 5/6m. So both A/B could be slam interest but still too early to say. Only if you find you have stoppers in all suits and bypass 3N then you show slam intereest.