[MFA]

Matchpoints.
East/none.

We are north with

♠5
♥AQ
♦AKT8542
♣K976

Bidding goes:
(1♠) - 2♣ - (pass) - 3♠ (splinter, 4♠ from us is a void).
(pass) - 3NT - (pass) - 4♣ (forcing)
(pass) - 5♣ - (pass) - ?

What now? Partner's style of overcalls is pretty standard, usually 6-card suits etc.
This is MP, but partner should know that too. Do you give him a 6th?

By the way, do you agree with our bidding so far?

EDIT: Oops, I have only 6 diamonds of course, AKT8xx.

[BillHiggin]

6♣ but not because we worry about 3N being the spot! 6♣ because it rates to make opposite any reasonable (even light) overcalling hand.

[jtfanclub]

4♣ was just forcing?

What would 4♦ and 4♥ have meant? How about 4NT? Since all I care about is the ace of spade, ace of clubs, and queen of clubs, seems like 0314 would have been perfect.

I guess I have to assume that partner's 5♣ shows 6 clubs but no aces. So I guess I'm out. I don't know what else it could mean.

[pclayton]

Ugh. Pard probably has a bunch of wasted spades.

Maybe he doesn't like cuebidding the ♠A because he's so ashamed of overcalling? I hope not - its a big card opposite my known shortness.

Still, 6♣ looks to be on a 2-2 club break at worst. We are getting creamed by those in 3N so I'm bidding 6♣.

[MFA]

jtfanclub, on Dec 10 2007, 08:04 PM, said:

4♣ was just forcing?

What would 4♦ and 4♥ have meant?  How about 4NT?  Since all I care about is the ace of spade, ace of clubs, and queen of clubs, seems like 0314 would have been perfect. 

I guess I have to assume that partner's 5♣ shows 6 clubs but no aces.  So I guess I'm out.  I don't know what else it could mean.

No special agreements about 4♦, 4♥ or 4NT.

But unfortunately, we play 1430 - not 0314 .

[gwnn]

I'm pretty sure we did NOT show this much. We probably don't have grand on, but 6♣ should be worthwhile. I mean look at our hand, tricks tricks tricks, and no losers...

[awm]

It seems like we can place partner with something like ♣AQxxx(x) and some slow spade cards. Since partner seems to be quite minimal, a decent six card club suit seems like a big favorite. If partner has something like ♠Kxx ♥xx ♦xx ♣AQxxxx I think this is quite consistent with the auction. I'd raise to 6♣, which I expect to make (heck it has play opposite ♣Axxxxx and out). Partner's signoff should put seven out of the picture.

[jdonn]

We need like nothing but a black ace to have great play, and lord knows what partner was bidding 3NT on with neither. 6♣!

[FrancesHinden]

We basically had a raise of the 2C overcall to slam. We still have that, although now we 'know' that partner cannot have the ace of spades.

But it's not '6C because if we go down we'll lose to the 3NT-ers', it's '6C at any form of scoring because we expect it to make'

p.s. I would have bid 4D, cue, over 3NT in case on the actual auction he's feeling too embarrassed to cue the ace of spades without a red control.

[whereagles]

Obvious 6♣, wtp?

[han]

Agree with everybody!

[finally17]

I'd like to clarify what card you gave yourself that you're not supposed to have before I vote...right now you have 14 cards. If it's a D that likely doesn't make a difference, but if it's a C that's big.

[MFA]

finally17, on Dec 11 2007, 06:41 PM, said:

I'd like to clarify what card you gave yourself that you're not supposed to have before I vote...right now you have 14 cards. If it's a D that likely doesn't make a difference, but if it's a C that's big.

I'm sorry.

It's a diamond of course, I have 1-2-6-4.

[MFA]

Ok, thx all for votes and comments .

While this situation is interesting by itself, I have to admit that it was a law issue.

Not usually being a TD, I was called to the table, because 5♣ came after an admitted pause for thinking, after which north raised to 6♣.

South had
♠Axxx
♥xx
♦Qx
♣AJTxx
and slam was on. (No, I don't agree with his bidding.)

My ruling was ... to let the score stand - claiming that passing 5♣ is no logical alternative.
Such a ruling requires a very heavy vote for bidding on, so I have been rather anxious to see the result of the poll. There has indeed been a heavy vote for bidding on, but really just barely what it takes to justify my ruling.

- any comment?

[jdonn]

I agree with the ruling. Passing isn't a LA as far as I'm concerned.

[nige1]

MFA, on Dec 10 2007, 07:47 PM, said:

Matchpoints. East/none. We are north with ♠5 ♥AQ ♦AKT852 ♣K976
(1♠) - 2♣ - (pass) - 3♠ (splinter, 4♠ from us is a void).
(pass) - 3NT - (pass) - 4♣ (forcing)
(pass) - 5♣ - (pass) - ?
What now? Partner's style of overcalls is pretty standard, usually 6-card suits etc. This is MP, but partner should know that too. Do you give him a 6th? By the way, do you agree with our bidding so far?

IMO Partner's lack of enthusiasm may be because he holds a grotty 9 HCP with spade values
e.g. ♠ AJTx ♥ x ♦ x ♣ ATxxxxx
I agree that 4N (RKCB) was best. Partner is likely to hold an Ace. If he has two, you want to be in the grand but it is hard to find out now.