[jillybean]

Scoring: IMP

1♣:1♦
1♥:1♠
2♥:4♥

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Howz this bidding?

I considered bidding 2♠ as a reverse here but in this sequence 2♠ is a jump-shift not a reverse right?

After 2♥ I thought partner was 6/5 or very good 5/4, was 4♥ the best bid?

tyia
jb

[keylime]

Beaner,

Picture opener's hand. They aren't of reverse strength because after your excellent 1♦ bid, they'd rebid 2♥, not one.

No need to rebid 2♠ - many play that rebid as 4th suit forcing, which doesn't help you here. You can force partner easily and naturally with 1♠.

So, you're on the right track. Pard is likely 6-5 and a reasonable hand. Your hand has prime cards: the A♠, the A♦, and the K♣ are all valuable cards for partner.

Without cuebidding agreements here, I might entertain a slam try if playing RKCB.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

1S is ambivalent, basically there are two scools
out there:

1) 1S is FSF, but could be natural
(=> the raise to 2S, would show a 4 card suit)
a jump to 2S would show a game forcing two suiter
2) 1S is natural, but still forcing
a jump tp 2S is FSF

Nevertheless, 2H shows 6/5, with 5/4,
opener should bid 2C.

Depending on the meaning of 1S and how you
play FSF (inv.+, in which partner showed min
or forcing to game), either bid a forcing 3H
or 2S (FSF) intending to support hearts later.

But there is a lot to be said for simply bidding 4NT.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[HeartA]

It's very close. Slam is possible but requires a little too much from a minimal opening hand. Your hearts are weak, and DQ and SJ will probably be wasted. To make slam, you need pd to have (semi)solid hearts plus some good cards, DK, for example. And there would be communication problems. I would stop at game.

[Dwingo]

You can try 4♣ and expect pd to understand it as ♥ support with ♣ cue. The ♣K is a very valuable card, so I am going to try for slam. This is the only encouraging noise you can give you pd. Even if he sign off in 4♥, I would RKC in 4NT. There is a very good chance he will show 3 key cards and then ♥Q, you can settle in Grand. If he shows 2 key cards, settle in 5♥. The only call, you dont want to hear is 2 keys + trump Q. If you hear this, you will need to say a prayer and hope the cards are well placed or he has the ♥J as well.

[pbleighton]

Your bidding is fine.

1. This is the only sequence where the 4th suit isn't artificial, so 1S is right.

2. 4H is conservative, but OK. The alternative is 4C. The problems with this are
a. Pd won't play you for the CK, and will think you have more in the other suits, and
b. Bad trump support.

Peter

[mikeh]

A tough hand.

Keylime is wrong when he says that opener cannot have reverse strength since he did not rebid 2♥ over 1♦. 2♥ there would be a jumpshift: showing game-force values and even strong reversers (like me) play that a reverse need not be game force. So opener could still easily hold 16-17 or even a bad 18 hcp for 1♥.

1♠ is fine. We have had threads on the proper use of 1♠ in this sequence: there is a school that uses 2♠ as artificial gf and 1♠ as always natural. I do not belong to that school: to me 1♠ is artificial game force but does NOT deny 4♠... this only works if you are a 'strong walsh' player in which the 1♦ response denied a 4 card major unless gf or better.

Anyway, after 2♥, partner is known to be 5=6 or wilder: if it turns out that partner has some other shape, then partner has screwed up and I wouldn't worry about what happens next: it's not your fault.

Now consider your hand opposite some minimum but not horrible 5=6 hands.

Partner has NO side losers: your two Aces take care of them. You have the ♣ K and can ruff at least one small ♣. Opposite a good hand such as x AKQxx x AQxxxx you are favourite to make a grand slam. Opposite a lesser hand such as x AQJxx x AQxxxx you might still make a grand and small slam is attractive (altho far from cold).

So bidding 4♥ is conservative, altho it could well work out: x KJ9xx K AQJxxx.. the bidding would be the same and slam is less than good...

If 1♠ created a gf (as it would for me) then 3♥ is the best bid over 2♥. Partner will make a noise on the good hands, since you are unlimited and 3♥ is at least a mild slam try (with a bad hand, you'd bid 4♥).

But if 1♠ was not a gf, you are well and truly stuck. As some have noted, you could try 4♣... but it is NOT a cue-bid as such...it is a splinter. The good news is that it marks your shapoe quite well: you must be 4=3=5=1 on the auction.

The bad news is that it overlooks the power of the ♣K and overstates the strength of the ♥ suit: I'd really like Kxx x rather than xxx K. Maybe these flaws balance out.

As for Keycard, it works when partner has the right hand but not opposite, say...

Kx Qxxxx void AQJxxx and there was nothing about the auction that denied that hand.

I think that on balance, if 3♥ would not be forcing (and it would not be unless 1♠ established a gf), 4♥ is a reasonable call..... but I would (slightly) prefer 4♣... I feel that this hand is worth a mild try.

My scoring: 4♣ 100 4♥ 80 4N 40