Posted 2008-March-04, 11:49
Very similar problem to the auction in another post where Responder courtesy corrected to 2♦ and Opener rebid 3♣.
It seems to me that this is a blended proposition. I think that the major bid by Responder might be a landing zone, but not necessarily.
My take:
3♥ (original major) shows values in hearts. This could be a playable five-piece, it could be expressing need for help in spades, or it could be a cue in support, either for slam tries or for game tries. Uncertain at this point. If Opener eventually bids 4♥, that call offers 4♥ as a final contract, with Responder free to pass if so inclined. If Opener bids 3NT, then Responder can pull, suggesting that 3♥ was potentially slam-investigatory. If Opener mypasses 3NT, the partnership might make slam noises, but 4♥ is off-limits and passable. 4♠, in my way of thinking, would be RKCB. In all cases, 4♣ is passable. So, it appears that 4♦ by either side would be LTTC and expressing slam interest.
3♠ (new major) shows values in spades. This is either expressing concern about the heart suit for 3NT or a cue for slam purposes. Similar principles follow. Note that 3♠ has implicit "empathetic splinter" connotations (weakness in hearts) when Responder cooperates in a slam move, somewhat at least. Note also that 3♠ eliminates 4♥ as a possible final contract.
BTW -- if Opener bids 3♠ after 3♥, I think this is also blended. Responder can offer 3NT, but Opener might move on, clarifying the meaning.
Assuming this scheme, Responder's 3♠ call is perfect.
Given that meaning, Opener could opt for a 3NT call, but I can understand moving forward. Bidding 4♣ would seem to be wrong, as that would be passable. Bidding 4♦ as LTTC makes some sense, except that 4♦ should be a real cue with 4♥ no longer an offer to play a heart contract.
What is 4♥, though? If 4♥ is in this sequence RKCB, which has some merit (4♥ is now the cheapest out-of-focus minor), then I think Opener's better call is 4♠, a "Last Train" resembling cuebid, showing a heart control, a spade card, and poor diamonds, with slam interest but not enough to ask questions.
If 4♥ is LTTC, that works. It imnplies a heart control, a necessary holding here, and invites Opener to use 4♠ as RKCB, or, if 4NT would be RKCB, to do that or to re-try a 4♠ cue.
If 4♥ is simply a cue, that works, as the implied control would be clarified as a first-round control with slam interest.
I'll reserve judgment on "which" for a moment.
Now, as to Responder's 5♣ call. If in response to 4♥ as LTTC, I think Responder owed a 4♠ or 4NT call, whichever is not asking but cooperating. If in response to 4♥ as a cue, then I think again Responder should cue back. If in Response to RKCB, then the bid was right, as Responder has two without the Queen.
So, this seems to boil down to agreements. My preference here is for the cheaper out-of-focus major to be RKCB. Because 3♠ made hearts now out of focus, 4♥ should have been RKCB, 5♣ the right answer, and Opener's decision to ask rather than show unsound. I would instead cue 4♠ as Opener, hear 4NT LTTC from Responder, and then commit to the slam as Opener.
If, however, 4♥ was a cue or LTTC, which is a fair agreement (perhaps 4NT is always RKCB, or perhaps 4♠ is RKCB), then 4♥ was the right call either way and Responder should have cooperated with his nice collection.
"Gibberish in, gibberish out. A trial judge, three sets of lawyers, and now three appellate judges cannot agree on what this law means. And we ask police officers, prosecutors, defense lawyers, and citizens to enforce or abide by it? The legislature continues to write unreadable statutes. Gibberish should not be enforced as law."
-P.J. Painter.