[whereagles]

Not much worse? 7 is on a finesse. 6 is a must and you can get there if pard realizes 3♠ is GOOD news, not bad. This is because it confirms spade control and no club wastage.

[neilkaz]

dicklont, on Nov 22 2007, 11:59 AM, said:

Call me crazy but I don't understand the commenters above that pass 3NT.
Partner goes through all the trouble of fourt suit forcing
to support my beautiful diamonds
and then he wants to play 3NT all of a sudden?
I think he's is interested in 6♦.

My clubs are no good, and the value of my ♥ void is uncertain but still i bid 4♦ to keep the options open.
Unclear how this will proceed though.

We agree, Dick. PD could have tried to sign off in 3NT over our 3♣ or bid it instead of 2♣ 4sf.

[mikeh]

cnszsun, on Nov 23 2007, 08:46 AM, said:

My partner's hand is here if you are interested:
♠Jx
♥AKQxx
♦xxxx
♣AK

At table, i was thinking of pass or 4D, and finally passed to respect partner's choice. After reading justin's comments, i agree that 4D is a little better because i still have unexposed extras. Anyway, 5D would not be much worse than 3nt.

If this were an assign the blame for missing slam, responder gets 90% in my book.

While I see what all the 4♦ bidders have said, in my opinion at least half of them simply don't understand what partner's sequence (to 3N) should show. Some, such as Harald and Justin do, and see the decision to move as close and vote to move while I see it as close and vote to pass.

But there is no way in the world that I would even consider responder's 3N with that hand of his!

I admit that the diamonds could be better, but so what? Partner did not bid 3N over 3♦: he bid 3♠, which he would not have done with, say, AQxx x QJxx QJxx: he'd have bid 3N at the speed of light.

It may well be that, when responder cues 4♣ rather than making that silly 3N call, the partnership is committed to slam or 5♦... it may be impossible to stop in 4N.. but I don't see how responder should be so scared of going down in 5♦ that he underbids his hand by an Ace!

Wouldn't we all bid 2♣, 3♦ and 3N with, say, x AKxx Kxxx Kxxx?

I would hope so.. since partner might hold xxxx void AQJxx AQxx... drive to 3N right away opposite that and then try to brag about your bidding skills While if he held AQ10x x AQxx Jxxx, you'd like to reach 3N (not that it is great, but what is?).

[mike777]

cnszsun, on Nov 23 2007, 08:46 AM, said:

My partner's hand is here if you are interested:
♠Jx
♥AKQxx
♦xxxx
♣AK

At table, i was thinking of pass or 4D, and finally passed to respect partner's choice. After reading justin's comments, i agree that 4D is a little better because i still have unexposed extras. Anyway, 5D would not be much worse than 3nt.

3nt is horrible by responder. 100%

I am looking for a grand slam with this hand, not bidding 3nt.

[ArtK78]

As if this has to be factored in, the scoring is IMPs. So, getting to 5♦ as opposed to 3NT is not an issue (assuming 5♦ makes, which is hardly much of a concern).

Responder's 3NT call was extremely wimpy. Opener showed a good hand with real diamonds and real spades. RKCB is in order however you play it. Quite frankly, responder should bid it over 3♣.

It is hard to construct a hand for opener that is consistent with the auction that will go down at 5♦ (KQTx -- QJTxx QJTx is a possibility, but it is very remote). I am much more concerned with getting to a good 6♦ or 7♦ than I am in getting too high.

[mikeh]

ArtK78, on Nov 23 2007, 02:14 PM, said:

. RKCB is in order however you play it. Quite frankly, responder should bid it over 3♣.

while I agree with most of your post, this point is mistaken. 4N over 3♣, if it is keycard at all (and there is some merit in it being natural and quantitative), it is keycard in clubs... responder has to set diamonds as trump first.

[skjaeran]

mikeh, on Nov 23 2007, 08:29 PM, said:

ArtK78, on Nov 23 2007, 02:14 PM, said:

.  RKCB is in order however you play it.  Quite frankly, responder should bid it over 3♣.

while I agree with most of your post, this point is mistaken. 4N over 3♣, if it is keycard at all (and there is some merit in it being natural and quantitative), it is keycard in clubs... responder has to set diamonds as trump first.

4NT over 3♣ should indeed be a natural quantitative bid.