[bhall]

Scoring: IMP

---

So you think you may be worth a slam try: Partner typically promises 7 tricks with not much defense, say AKxxxxxx or AK109xxx with QJ10x outside, but possibly KQ109xxxx at the low end or perhaps a protected K in place of the QJ10x. How do you proceed in your partnerships?

Somehow, 4N as RKC does not appeal. And any cue could elicit a lead-directing double. But 7 could be near-laydown, or you could put 5 in jeopardy.

Your agreement about the 4♠ opening may differ, but the question remains: what is the best use of the space below 5♠?

[blackshoe]

bhall, on Jan 28 2008, 10:47 PM, said:

Your agreement about the 4♠ opening may differ, but the question remains: what is the best use of the space below 5♠?

Asking for control in the side suits. In this case, you're looking for second round control. The King of Hearts would be nice.

[ArtK78]

This looks like a good hand for a slam try - bid slam and try to make it.

[twcho]

So does that mean bidding 5 level new suit over partner 4M opening is used as control asking bid? Can this be used as natural and mean to play?

How about 4S over 4H? Should this be used as control asking or cue bid or natural and stop bid or natural but invitational for bidding higher?

[P_Marlowe]

bhall, on Jan 28 2008, 10:47 PM, said:

<snip>
Somehow, 4N as RKC does not appeal.
<snip>

Why not?

At least for the given hand, you are interested
in the trump quality.
After the response the answer to 4NT, you can
ask further for specific kings.

It may make sense, to say, that partner should
show shortages instead of king if he already
promised a certain amount of HCP, e.g. 2KCs, in
which case an outside king would not be possible
anymore, at least according to your preempt style.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[Codo]

I cannot see a grand which is better then the heart finesse, so 6 is the limit.
However, if pd can have higher side cards then just QJT, I will try RCK followed by King asking bids.

If I am not allowed to bid KCs just blast 6.

[brianshark]

I think hopping to 6 with sufficiently nice hands opposite 4M is the way I'd bid it.

[whereagles]

opposite a solid pard, 4NT

opposite me, PASS

[bhall]

My preference is to use 4N as D/I: Slam interest, usually with one side suit not controlled. Then opener can cooperate by showing an outside control or retreat to 5♠ with his usual dog. At least in that case the opponents are no wiser about which suit to attack.

A possible use for the bid of a new suit is to show a concentration when all outside suits are under control. That fits with 4N D/I, and will get you to 7 when you belong there.

Over a 4♥ opening, I would use 4♠ as the D/I bid and 4N as the ♠ concentration, so that we can fit all side suits in below 5♥ (4♥-4♠-4N would show a ♠ control).

On the given hand, partner held AK109xxx xx x Kxx, so 6 was very high percentage (it made).

[Free]

Just bid slam...

[ArtK78]

twcho, on Jan 29 2008, 12:58 AM, said:

So does that mean bidding 5 level new suit over partner 4M opening is used as control asking bid? Can this be used as natural and mean to play?

How about 4S over 4H? Should this be used as control asking or cue bid or natural and stop bid or natural but invitational for bidding higher?

Partner opened 4♠ - why would you ever look to play in another suit?

Every so often a hand comes along where one partner preempts at a high level and the other partner has a better suit of his own to bid. But I would not cater to those hands.

A new suit bid should be a control ask. Cue bidding by responder opposite a preempt is pointless.

[jdonn]

I think control asking bid is very useful here. Justin says he usually wouldn't use it and maybe that's true if my other two sidesuits are like A and AKQJ (or like here where I don't even know what lead I want to avoid), but if my sidesuits were headed by AKQ, AK, and xxx I would use it. People tend to lead aggressively on these auctions so I don't think they will lead the wrong suit in a case like that.