[Vilgan]

What would you open (3rd seat), and what would you plan to bid after interference on:

void AKQJx AJT98x AT

I decided to open 1♦. I had some problems now when the auction went 2♠ P 3♠. I tried 5♥, hoping partner would pick a red suit at the 6 level. She did prefer hearts, but chose not to bid 6 on xx Txxxx xx Qxxx. What would the common interpretation of that 5♥ bid have been, and given that interpretation, does it call for a raise to 6?

Otherwise, what is a better way to bid the hand? If I open 1♥, I don't have any problems forcing the auction to the 6 level (can bid 6♦ whenever I want). However, I could get a preference back to hearts if partner holds 3 small in both.. while the hand will be less painful in diamonds. Also, if partner has 2 small in both red suits.. 6 could be too high.

Alternatively, I could open 2 clubs... then bid 4NT over 3 spades. If partner bids clubs, I can correct to diamonds which (I believe) should show a strong 2 suiter in the reds. However, will either of us be able to bid 6 on the given auction? Its also a bit riskier with her playing hearts as well since a club lead through me is more likely imo (Obviously not worried about spades).

Anyways, would appreciate advice on opening and agreements for the followup bids. Not exactly an obvious slam that the whole field was in, but would like to deal with this situation better in the future.

Eric

[pbleighton]

I would open 1D.

I would interpret 5H as pick a red slam, but this is dicey if you haven't discussed it. It's also pretty aggressive, with 3 losers.

You open 2C on this hand (and many good players would), you're in worse shape.

Opening 1H is terrible IMO.

Peter

[cherdano]

I would have started 1♦. Over 3♠, it is not so clear. I might just bid 4♥, but your 5♥ bid is a reasonable gamble. I think your partner had a raise to 6 in this auction.

[Cascade]

5♥ must be forcing.

After all if partner hates hearts she will have to bid 6♦ therefore when she likes hearts you are asking her to raise.

Alternatively there is no other way you can bid hearts and force to slam while still keeping 6♦ as a possible contract (unless you have some very special agreement).

[Impact]

I like the 1D opening, but actually over 3S, rather than 5H ( or 4H which is likely to be passed), I would bid 4NT which still lets us out at 5D (if he bids 5C) and it is awful....

I am willing to bet on 1 cover to justify looking for slam and reaching 5 level - but not on 2 (and resonable breaks) to get me to 6 regardless...

regards,

[Codo]

I had bid just 4 Heart. Pd needs the King of Diamonds and the Queen of D or the K of Club to make slam good. Quite a small target.
But if she bids 5 Diamond I may raise this to 6.

[Vilgan]

Codo, on Apr 5 2007, 05:22 AM, said:

I had bid just 4 Heart. Pd needs the King of Diamonds and the Queen of D or the K of Club to make slam good. Quite a small target.
But if she bids 5 Diamond I may raise this to 6.

hrmm... not sure if I agree. slam makes opposite a variety of very light holdings.

For example, give partner:

xxxx Tx xx Kxxxx and 6 hearts is good if diamonds go 3/2

or

xxxx xx xxx Kxxx and 6 diamonds makes if 2/2 or KQ onside 3/1

or

xxxx Tx xxx Kxxx and 6 diamonds is a near lock

or

xxxx xx xxx xxxx makes 6 diamonds as long as diamonds are 2/2 and hearts 4/2 or better

Not saying all roads lead to slam, but there are a TON of 2-3 hcp point hands that partner could have and make 6 of a red suit a favorite to make.

[mikeh]

Vilgan, on Apr 5 2007, 09:56 AM, said:

Codo, on Apr 5 2007, 05:22 AM, said:

I had bid just 4 Heart. Pd needs the King of Diamonds and the Queen of D or the K of Club to make slam good. Quite a small target.
But if she bids 5 Diamond I may raise this to 6.

hrmm... not sure if I agree. slam makes opposite a variety of very light holdings.

For example, give partner:

xxxx Tx xx Kxxxx and 6 hearts is good if diamonds go 3/2

or

xxxx xx xxx Kxxx and 6 diamonds makes if 2/2 or KQ onside 3/1

or

xxxx Tx xxx Kxxx and 6 diamonds is a near lock

or

xxxx xx xxx xxxx makes 6 diamonds as long as diamonds are 2/2 and hearts 4/2 or better

Not saying all roads lead to slam, but there are a TON of 2-3 hcp point hands that partner could have and make 6 of a red suit a favorite to make.

You must get a lot more 3=3 trump breaks than the rest of us do to claim that 6H is good in a 5-2 fit with the marked ♠ lead

I am not knocking your general statement that there are many very weak hands on which slam is good, but consider that QJx xx xx QJxxxx is a much better hand than any of those you gave (in terms of hcp), and slam is ugly. Give him Qxx xx Qx QJxxxx and slam is no bargain... and so on.

This is a glass half full or half empty hand: if your day is rolling along .. you are in Heat One, then slam will make.. if not, then even the 5 level may be too high.

I haven't tried a simulation and won't because the constraints for EW are too difficult to set (note that on the actual hand they preempted all the way to the 3 level on an 11 card fit) and my gut tells me that the good news/bad news divide is about 50-50.

[pclayton]

Cascade, on Apr 4 2007, 06:41 PM, said:

5♥ must be forcing. 

After all if partner hates hearts she will have to bid 6♦ therefore when she likes hearts you are asking her to raise. 

Alternatively there is no other way you can bid hearts and force to slam while still keeping 6♦ as a possible contract (unless you have some very special agreement).

What if pard doesn't hate hearts, but has a weak hand? Must we press this to slam if pard has 3-1 in the reds?

By the way, I'm a 4♥ bidder.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

1D followed by a heart rebid, level
does not matter. Given the choice
between 4H and 5H, ... I probably
bid 4H.

With kind regards
Marlowe

PS: The jump to 5H is forcing,
5H over 4S is a bit different, but
since 4H was available, 5H is forcing.

[P_Marlowe]

Vilgan, on Apr 5 2007, 09:56 AM, said:

<snip>
Not saying all roads lead to slam, but there are a TON of 2-3 hcp point hands that partner could have and make 6 of a red suit a favorite to make.
<snip>

If you really believe this, than you
should have opened 2C.

With kind regards
Marlowe