[twcho]

Scoring: IMP

W　N　E　　S
　　　　　　3♣
P　3♥　X　4♣
4♥　P　5♣　P
5♦　P　5♥　All P

---

♥ breaks and 7♥ makes easily. Where did the auction go wrong?

[whereagles]

In the 3♣ opener.

[skjaeran]

It seems east and west wasn't on the same page here, or maybe both uncertain of the meaning of both their own and partners bids over 4♥.

To me 5♣ is a slam move with hearts as trump. 5♦ is last train, saying west has slam interest, but not enough to just bid 6♥. In that context easts hand should imply that 6♥ is on and a grand possible. So 5♥ is just not possible to me. I guess I'd bid 5♠ over 5♦, to keep the ball rolling... The alternative would be to just sign off with 6♥.

[jdonn]

I'm not sure what 5♦ is since I doubt last train makes much sense here. But whatever it was, 5♥ was insane, the hand is closer to immediate 7♥ than that. 5♠ seems like a fine continuation instead.

[kenrexford]

jdonn, on Mar 25 2008, 03:46 PM, said:

I'm not sure what 5♦ is since I doubt last train makes much sense here. But whatever it was, 5♥ was insane, the hand is closer to immediate 7♥ than that. 5♠ seems like a fine continuation instead.

This is kind of funny.

My general understanding of a "Last Train" bid could be summarized as "I'm thinking about slam, but I'm not sure yet, so I'm making a cuebid that does not show anything, instead just asking you whether you like the fact that I'm thinking about slam."

Then, you don't think 5♦ as Last Train does not make sense, despite having no clue what 5♦ means, but looking at a hand where Last Train makes sense.

Weird.

I agree with skaeran as to that issue. But, I agree with both of you that 5♠ makes some sense. I'm just not sure what this is asking. If I had to guess, I might guess 6♥ or 7♥. I suppose a 5♠ call allows a 5NT call, which must show the spade King, if partner is on the same page with me. But, what the Heck does he have for a Last Train bid? He cannot have anything in diamonds. A stiff club seems reasonable, I suppose. If he bids 5NT, I'm going.

[jdonn]

kenrexford, on Mar 25 2008, 05:11 PM, said:

My general understanding of a "Last Train" bid could be summarized as "I'm thinking about slam, but I'm not sure yet, so I'm making a cuebid that does not show anything, instead just asking you whether you like the fact that I'm thinking about slam."

Then, you don't think 5♦ as Last Train does not make sense, despite having no clue what 5♦ means, but looking at a hand where Last Train makes sense.

Weird.

I agree it may make sense they meant it that way, based on looking at the actual hand (actually I think they meant it as natural, since if it was last train east wouldn't bid 5♥.) I'm saying it makes no sense to play to begin with, when who the heck knows what hands each player's auctions show. It's not a 2/1 auction with a delicate cuebidding sequence where you can almost pinpoint a player's exact hand when he bids last train. If you know what hands east should bid slam or not over that bid, you are a better man than I. I mean is west worth it without the queen of clubs? How much less than that would he bid 4♥ with though? Or is 5♦ just artificial saying "I dont have 0 controls" since it seems like an almost automatic bid at that point?

[kenrexford]

jdonn, on Mar 25 2008, 06:21 PM, said:

kenrexford, on Mar 25 2008, 05:11 PM, said:

My general understanding of a "Last Train" bid could be summarized as "I'm thinking about slam, but I'm not sure yet, so I'm making a cuebid that does not show anything, instead just asking you whether you like the fact that I'm thinking about slam."

Then, you don't think 5♦ as Last Train does not make sense, despite having no clue what 5♦ means, but looking at a hand where Last Train makes sense.

Weird.

I agree it may make sense they meant it that way, based on looking at the actual hand (actually I think they meant it as natural, since if it was last train east wouldn't bid 5♥.) I'm saying it makes no sense to play to begin with, when who the heck knows what hands each player's auctions show. It's not a 2/1 auction with a delicate cuebidding sequence where you can almost pinpoint a player's exact hand when he bids last train. If you know what hands east should bid slam or not over that bid, you are a better man than I. I mean is west worth it without the queen of clubs? How much less than that would he bid 4♥ with though? Or is 5♦ just artificial saying "I dont have 0 controls" since it seems like an almost automatic bid at that point?

Any bid that can later be defended and that allows you to blame partner for the wrong decision is by my definition a brilliant bid.