[Al_U_Card]

Once again, the wednesday night money pairs local club extravaganza!

Here is the hand and the sequence (sitting in North). I am looking for a better sequence, if it is applicable. 2/1

Scoring: MP

P -1♥- P - 1♠
P -2♣- P - 2♦
P- 3♣- P - 3♥
P- 4♥- P - 4NT
p- 5♠- P - ???

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Unable to resolve the situation, how can I (should I?) continue. Is there a better approach with this hand?

[mr1303]

Well, don't put 8 solid down as dummy. You'd bid this way with a balanced 15 count with 3 card heart support.

How about this:

1H 1S
2C 3S (natural forcing)
4C (cue) etc etc

[skjaeran]

3♠ over 2♣ would be inv for me.
IMO you should rebid 3♠ on the 3rd round, not 3♥.

But there's an easy solution to your problem; just pass 5♠.

[whereagles]

skaeran, on Nov 22 2007, 08:19 PM, said:

But there's an easy solution to your problem; just pass 5♠.

indeed.

[Winstonm]

I am more inclined to simplicity with this hand.

1H-1S
2C-4S.

I think that pretty much expresses my values - partner has to make the next decision based on his hand and controls.

[jdonn]

Winstonm, on Nov 22 2007, 05:12 PM, said:

I am more inclined to simplicity with this hand.

1H-1S
2C-4S.

I think that pretty much expresses my values - partner has to make the next decision based on his hand and controls.

I think we are on the right track

I would say 1♥ 1♠, 2♣ 2♦, 3♣ 4♠ shows something a lot like this. Maybe he won't imagine this much shape or indeed this particular shape, but I don't see any other auction being more accurate.

[Halo]

1H - 4S appeals to me.

[brianshark]

Well the jump to 4♠ seems right. But directly, I'd say we have something like KJ to 7/8 and nothing else. After a 1♠ first, more like KQT to 7/8 and an outside honour. After a 1♠ and then 4th suit forcing, I'd say it's a solid suit with a few controls outside as well. I think this hand fits better into category two.

So put me down for:

1♥-1♠
2♣-4♠

Edit: The more I think about it though, maybe this isn't doing the hand justice and maybe after 4th suit forcing is better after all. I'm undecided.

[FrancesHinden]

Yes, you have 4 ways to show a long spade suit (assuming that 1H - 1S- 2C - 3S is non-forcing) which are, in ascending order of strength:

1.
1H - 4S

2.
1H - 1S
2C - 4S

3.
1H - 1S
2C - 2D
(something) - 4S

4.
1H - 1S
2C- 2D
(something) - 3S

THis hand is somewhere between (2) and (3)

The 3-card heart support is an embarrassment rather than anything else, not something I'd want to admit to during the auction.

[whereagles]

I think at matchpoints one can afford to be practical and bid 1♥-4♠ and have opps lead in the dark. This isn't optimal, but a hand like this is so hard to bid that it probably doesn't pay to muddy the waters.

If I wanted to get scientific, I would have used the original auction but bid 3♠ instead of 3♥. Now if pard bids 3NT there's diamond waste (very likely) and I'll just sign off in 4♠. As it went, I'd pass 4♥.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

I would suggest to bid 3S instead of 3H.

Having bid the way you did, and I think
4NT is an overbid, I would pass.
You may loose money not bidding the slam,
but you may loose more, if you bid it and
go down.

With kind regards
Marlowe

PS: Having read, the suggestion to bid 4S
instead of 3H, I agree, 4S is better than 3S.

[Fluffy]

the 3 card heart support is way more powerful than they would be on a minor.

Best way to find about how good spade slam is its to set up hearts as trumps, then ask keycards and end with 5/6/7♠. Sadly it might sometimes be too high.

I like your bidding and you found a great 5♠ contract IMO.

[Al_U_Card]

Scoring: MP

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So the consensus is that 4S should be the limit of the hand, unless pard has significant (undisclosed) extras. One more ace and I was in six tho...

I got a raised eyebrow from pard when I passed his 5♠ bid but when the ♥ KJ were doubleton onside and ♠ broke 2-2 after the ♣ J lead, 13 tricks were there. At mp I felt that the risk of a small slam was too great for the potential benefit but had it been imps, I would have bid it.

[Halo]

Interesting options for bidding 4S.

As a bit of a traditionalist, I would want to have a card outside spades to not bid 4S over 1H.

[neilkaz]

Halo, on Nov 22 2007, 05:00 PM, said:

1H - 4S appeals to me.

♠Not for me..I think the hand with 8 ♠ tricks and 3 card support is too strong to jump to 4♠ as many slams will be missed.

.. neilkaz ..

[skjaeran]

neilkaz, on Nov 24 2007, 01:27 AM, said:

Halo, on Nov 22 2007, 05:00 PM, said:

1H - 4S appeals to me.

♠Not for me..I think the hand with 8 ♠ tricks and 3 card support is too strong to jump to 4♠ as many slams will be missed.

.. neilkaz ..

Agree.