[paulg]

Scoring: IMP

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Partner (North) opens 2NT showing a balanced 20-22 points. Opposition are silent.

What is your plan with your favourite methods?

Paul

[WGF_Flame]

probebly not best for this hand, but we (using AMBRA) bid 3c to ask for major, then 4d shows 5 dimond cards.

[inquiry]

Gerber is good for something.. .this is the hand. Forget about ♠'s, bid 4♣'s. Opposite 3+ aces bid 6♦sOf course, if your partner opens 2NT with a stiff ♦A, then don't bid this way.

Ben

[Free]

I use 3♣ as a relay, asking for Majors in the first place, but it can also show a long minor. I posted a prototype of the structure in another topic (don't know where exactly, but I think in advanced/expert).

- A 3♦ response would show no major or both, followed by a 3♥ relay which asks which it really is. If he doesnt hold a 4 card M, you'll show your long minor (which asks keycards right away).
- A 3♥ response shows 4/5 card ♥ (no 4 card ♠), after which you can show your long minor again (also asking for keycards).
- A 3♠ or 3NT shows 4 and 5 card ♠s. Then you won't need to show your ♦s...

[paulg]

The 3♣ bidders will eventually discover that partner does not hold a 4-card major.

The ace askers will discover that partner has four aces, and one king.

If this is all you discover, would you bid the grand slam?

I imagine that some folks may just have sufficient space for another ask?

Cheers

Paul

[Rado]

Hi all friends,

Nice problem posted:-))))
First of all let us not forget that 2 Aces might be missing, so it will be good Partner to ask for Key Cards and we to answer our King of trumps

In our methods we may start with 3♣ as puppet Stayman or with 4♣ as trf for ♦ and FG. Although 7411 hands usually play better in the 7 cards suit at our example with 30-32 points surely 4-4 fit will give the precious 13th trick

so
2NT-3♣ puppet
3♦ 1 major- 3♥ I have ♠

if now 3♠ then easy check keycards + Q of trumps and bid the right level
if now 3NT (= ♥) then 4♦ as natural

since Opener 2NT may have 4 Aces+ K♥ and Q♣ for example we cannot be sure of 13 tricks with ♦ trumps due to possible ♠ loser.

Regards
Rado

[flytoox]

cardsharp, on Mar 6 2004, 07:38 PM, said:

Scoring: IMP

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Partner (North) opens 2NT showing a balanced 20-22 points. Opposition are silent.

What is your plan with your favourite methods?

Paul

I think 4c is the right bid. If pd has four aces and one king, i will bid 7N. There should be a way to make 7, since we are ensured with 12tricks alrealy. I dont think we shld try to find out spade fit. The point is that if you have no loser in spade, then you can always bid NT at the same level.

[luis]

3h transfer to spades
followed by 4NT if that is RKCB in you methods
If not then 4h Texas or 4d south-african to 4s followed by 4NT RKCB in spades.

If he has 4 keycards I can ask about the sQ, if he has the sQ he can also show a side suit King so we can bid 7N counting 13 tricks (7d, 3s, 2aces and a king). If he has the sQ but no side king I will just stay in 6NT. Without the sQ I think we can still ask for Kings and with two play 7.

Examples playing 1430

2N - 4h (Texas)
4s - 4N (RKCB in spades)
5c - 5d

If he bids 5s then 5NT asking for Kings
If he bids 5h, 6c then 7NT
If he bids 6s (sQ no side King) then 6NT

Luis

[paulg]

Luis,

Nice idea - I wish I'd thought of it at the table!

Partner held

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So 7♦ is actually better than 7NT since you can cope with a 4-0 split easier.

Cheers

Paul

[Trpltrbl]

I bid 3 ♠ which forces 3 NT by pd. Now I can describe what sort of minorsuitslam interest I have.
4♣ = singlesuited slamgoing
4♦ = singelsuited slamgoing
4♥ = both minors slaminterest with ♥ shortness
4♠ = both minors slamgoing with ♠ shortness
5♣ = singlesuited hand mild slaminterest
5♦ = singlesuited mild slaminterest

So with this hand you bid 4♦ and pd will take it from there.

Mike

[mikestar]

I'm not worrying about 4-0 diamonds, if this sinks 7NT, it porbabl7y sinks 7♦ too. I uses Gerber and then 7NT aften I find 4 Aces and 1 King. I can count 12 tricks and the 13th can come from:

Q♠
Q of the suit where he has his King
J♠ if I guess which way to finesse.
Q of the fourth suit if the the finesse works.

So there are two cards that make it laydoen and two cards that make it 50-50. To have 20-22 points, he must have at least one Queen or two Jacks and might even have two Queens. So I make the odds about 75% and I'm going for it.

[Trpltrbl]

mikestar, on Mar 9 2004, 03:46 PM, said:

I'm not worrying about 4-0 diamonds, if this sinks 7NT, it porbabl7y sinks 7♦ too. I uses Gerber and then 7NT aften I find 4 Aces and 1 King. I can count 12 tricks and the 13th can come from:

Q♠
Q of the suit where he has his King
J♠ if I guess which way to finesse.
Q of the fourth suit if the the finesse works.

So there are two cards that make it laydoen and two cards that make it 50-50. To have 20-22 points, he must have at least one Queen or two Jacks and might even have two Queens. So I make the odds about 75% and I'm going for it.

Maybe you should worry about 4-0 trump break, since you are playing IMP's. I am sure your pd's are going to more impressed when you tell them you bid 7♦ to be on the save side, rather then gambling 7 NT for minimum gain, but with the risk to lose bigtime. 1440 compared to 1520 for a 2 imp gain or -1490 for very many imps loss.

Mike