[gwnn]

Scoring: MP

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2♥-p-p-3♦;
p-6♦-all pass

+1; 89%. normal action would have been X by North and probably pass by south in absence of X by North.

question 1: Is X by north really very obvious? How would the auction progress?

question 2: Grand looks to be about 50% (yes bad trump break can spoil it, but OTOH East rates to have the ♦K), so it should probably not be "found" especially as there will be people @ MP with 5m.

HOWEVER, change the Q of ♦ to the K and it's a very good grand. how could it be found?

[bid_em_up]

I think X by North would be a very poor choice. This hand is not strong enough to be willing to defend 2H x'd, and partner is going to strive to play in spades (not a minor suit). Spades is unlikely to play well, with dummy being forced in hearts and holding 2 spade honors. If N/S happened to be playing a style where 2N is not natural but for the minors instead, then a 2N call would be acceptable.

I think South must bid 3D, after 2H p p. Partner is marked with some values.

I don't concern myself with finding auctions to unlikely grands, especially when you have already done well to reach the small slam on these holdings. Since being in 6+1 is effectively 90% of the matchpoints, why risk being in 7, minus one, if trumps behave poorly?

[pclayton]

I'm fine with a double by North. The hand with shortness must get in.

I think the question you should be asking yourself is how to avoid this slam if pard has only the QJxxx of ♦ after the balance, and say a heart card.

But 6♦ is a reasonable blast, and it worked.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

Assuming North reopens with a double,
South will never pass. South looks at
how many trump tricks? 0 or 1?

Most likely I would bid 3C with the North
hand and South will have a hard choice, either
bid 3NT direct (unlucky, for what ever reason
the oppoenents are very friendly with their 10
card fit) or he will bid 3H or underbid with 3D.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[inquiry]

Double with north is not the worse bid every made. And pass really should have had risked your lunch money. East should have a four card heart fit here, can could have very easily tried some tricky think like a strong 2NT or a psychic 3NT (at these colors), and there is a good chance NS might never get into the bidding. Can North really afford to back in latter with unusual 4NT?

As it was, East left the door open with a timid pass given the vulnerabilty and his sure fit. I think over 3♦ by south, as North I might try some sort of Exclusion 5♥ in case partner has the same kind of hand with the diamond KING too.. I am thinking...

5H - 5S (3 key cards== if he had A AK)
6C - 7D (6C asking bid looking for king of clubs)

This gets you to 7 if partner is Axx Jxx AKxxx Kx

[mike777]

1) Strongly dislike x by North here.
2) I would have just overcalled 3clubs.

Btw where are all the hearts, it seems EW forgot to bid something here?

[the hog]

X by Nth is ok. North is the one who is short and needs to take action - agree with Phil and Ben. Actually I think 3D is a pretty poor bid - you have a moth eaten 5 card suit and 3 bad Hearts. If you pass against good opponents it would not surprise me that you never enter the bidding.

[whereagles]

I would be happy to reach 6. Diam K or no diam K

[Edmunte1]

I also think that double is OK, in the passout seat, partner, with length in hearts may easily pass with 13-14 hcp. Also, You should happy that East was asleep and didn't preempt. Possible bidding after 2♥:

dbl - 4♦ (GF with ♦ playing lebensohl)
4♥ - 4♠ (cues)
5♣-6♣ (k♣ and 2 top honours in trumps)
6♦-pass

Also possible after 4♠ to use exclusion 5♥, as Ben sugested

[mike777]

ok...wow ..surprised so many x with north...so few bid 3 clubs..ok........

[the hog]

mike777, on Apr 17 2007, 03:38 PM, said:

ok...wow ..surprised so many x with north...so few bid 3 clubs..ok........

Why surprised Mike? You have 3 places to play. A C bid is pretty unilateral.
Also, what happens if it goes (2H) P (4H) P They have a 10 card fit after all.
Isn't a 4NT bid now far too dangerous? Far better to come in BEFORE the opps have defined their strength.

[mike777]

The_Hog, on Apr 17 2007, 03:54 AM, said:

mike777, on Apr 17 2007, 03:38 PM, said:

ok...wow ..surprised so many x with north...so few bid 3 clubs..ok........

Why surprised Mike? You have 3 places to play. A C bid is pretty unilateral.
Also, what happens if it goes (2H) P (4H) P They have a 10 card fit after all.
Isn't a 4NT bid now far too dangerous? Far better to come in BEFORE the opps have defined their strength.

Yes...I repeat ..very surprised..shocked..about x on void at 2 level in direct seat.

I will still bid 3 clubs here

I got to admit....thought 3c=easy..but nope....nope