[han]

What's your auction with these two hands?

Ax
AKxxxx
K
AQxx

KQx
-
AJ10xxx
Kxxx

South is the dealer, IMPs.

[matmat]

opps stay quiet?

1d-1h;
2c - 2s*
3d - 4c
4s - 5d
5h - 6c?

i dunno. not very good at open-card bidding

[han]

matmat, on Apr 11 2008, 11:41 PM, said:

opps stay quiet?

Yes

[skjaeran]

1♦ - 1♥
2♣ - 2♠
3♦ - 4♣
4♦ - 4♥
4♠ - 4NT
6♣ - 7♣

Responder knows about: Kxx void Axxxxx Kxxx
That's a minimum opener, but after opener made 2 cuebids, he'll have something more, either ♠Q or ♦Q as a minimum. So 7♣ seems reasonable.

[jdonn]

skaeran's auction but after 4♦ I would just keycard as north.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

1D (1) - 1H (2)
2C (3) - 2S (4)
3D (5) - 4C (6)
4D (7) - ... (8)

(1) SAYC style
(2) SAYC style, at least 5-4 in the minors
(3) SAYC style
(4) FSF, inv.+
(5) FSF default rebid, denies 3 hearts
(6) natural, forward going and forcing
(7) cue
(8) after a key card seq., discovering the
Ace of D, the King of spades, North will
bid 7C, knowing he faces at most 2 hearts

With kind regards
Marlowe

[mike777]

han, on Apr 11 2008, 11:23 PM, said:

What's your auction with these two hands?

Ax
AKxxxx
K
AQxx

KQx
-
AJ10xxx
Kxxx

South is the dealer, IMPs.

1D=1H
2D=3C
4C=4D(RKC FOR CLUBS)
4NT=5D(GRAND TRY)
7C( I HAVE A REAL MAX ON THIS AUCTION, I COULD HAVE SO MUCH LESS)

[cherdano]

Bonus question: Where do you want to play, seeing both hands?

[whereagles]

Very simple:

1♦ 1♥
2♣ 4NT (RKCB clubs)
5♥ 7♣

Really, a "wtp" to me

Note: 4NT is ok because it's very unlikely that South has ♥xxx. If this bothers you, you can try 2♠ instead of RKCB and take it from there.

[kenrexford]

My start:

1♦-1♥
2♣-2♠
3♦

At this point, there are three ways to proceed.

Option #1: Unambiguous Focus RKCB

3♥ or 3♠ by Responder would be GF. Opener has shown both minors. In this situation, I would be able to bid 4♥ as RKCB for clubs or 4♦ as RKCB for diamonds. Opting the obvious 4♥, I find out that patner has two without (5♣). That's a seven-count where the grand has play. But, I could inquire about more stuff and find more stuff confirmed.

Option #2: Unambiguous Focus Natural

4♣ or 4♦ would establish trumps for me as well, inviting either asking or telling. I want to ask, though. If I do this, 4♣, 4♥ is in focus and 4♠ is out-of-focus. That makes 4♠ RKCB and 4♦ by partner LTTC, with 4NT also presumably natural. I don't see why I would want to risk partner asking questions or blasting or anything obscure. I don't see how LTTC 4♦ would clarify that much. So, I reject that option.

Option #3: Damned Bias for Majors

The six-card heart suit could be rebid now (3♥). If partner raises this, though, I still want to be in a club slam at IMP scoring. If he does not, then the situation gets really muddied as to what is RKCB for clubs, if anything. So, at IMP, with this hand, I agree with everyone to ignore the six-card heart suit. I think I'd do the same thing at MP, actually.

[Free]

1♦ - 2♥ (14+HCP 4+♦ F1 ; 6+♥ GF)
3♣ - 4♣ (nat with 0-1♥ ; nat start cuebidding)
4♦ - 7♣ (even number of KC ; partner must have 2)

If not natural enough, I'd bid like Josh... I don't think opener should show a 'useful void' in ♥.

[han]

14+?

[Free]

han, on Apr 12 2008, 04:24 PM, said:

14+?

Lol, it's worth the upgrade with distribution and quick tricks, obviously...

[Trinidad]

cherdano, on Apr 12 2008, 03:58 AM, said:

Bonus question: Where do you want to play, seeing both hands?

That depends on what you think they will do at the other table.

o If they will be in 6♣ or 7♣, then a grand slam in clubs needs to be better than about 56% to pay. A grand slam in clubs comes home when clubs are 3-2, hearts are not 6-1 and opponents can't find a void in partner's hand. That is better than 56%.

o If they are going to be in game only, the grand in clubs needs to better than 87% to pay off. The grand slam clearly doesn't meet that requirement.

o If they will be in a bad slam (6♥, 7♦, 7♥ or 7NT), the grand needs to be very good too.

The question is actually more complex. You could opt for 6NT. It is a little less safe than 6♣. (You will need diamonds 3-3 or a dropping doubleton/singleton ♦Q or the long diamonds with the long clubs to make 6NT when there are only 12 tricks in clubs. Possibly your diamond spots may be important too. If you have the ♦8, the nine may be doubleton or singleton.)

Given this analysis, I would want to be in 7♣ if I play in a team game against decent opposition or better. (I expect them to be in a club slam.) Against less than decent opponents, I would settle for 6♣.

If I play in a cross IMP (or Butler) competition with a mixed field, I would settle for 6♣, if I want to score in the event. In general, I consider cross IMP or Butler games as practice for good team games, so I would play as if I were facing decent opponents and bid 7♣ anyway, expecting it to loose in the long run in this pairs competition but to help me win in good team games.

Rik

[pclayton]

Matt and I can agree clubs with 3♣ over 2♣.

Some sort of key card would be launched, although I'm unclear how the South hand can call the heart void as 'useful'.

I want to be in 7♣. I'll make if hearts are 4-3, or the shortness is on my right.

Edited: I thought we had the club Jack. Without it the grand isn't as good but I can't see anyone bidding it or staying outside of it with any level of precision.

[kenrexford]

A club grand is better than a reliance on hearts coming in. Obviously, if the diamond Queen is doubleton or stiff, this is a claimer if clubs also cooperate.

[han]

Trinidad, on Apr 12 2008, 12:37 PM, said:

The question is actually more complex. You could opt for 6NT. It is a little less safe than 6♣. (You will need diamonds 3-3 or a dropping doubleton/singleton ♦Q or the long diamonds with the long clubs to make 6NT when there are only 12 tricks in clubs. Possibly your diamond spots may be important too. If you have the ♦8, the nine may be doubleton or singleton.)

Hmm, I thought that 6NT makes when diamonds are 4-2 or better or clubs are 3-2. Seems better than 6C.

[Cascade]

1♦ 1♥
2♦ 3♣
4♣ 4♦* * RKCB

4NT* 7♣ * Two no queen

Opener has shown ♦ Axxxxx ♣ Kxxx

In our style we almost certainly have much better diamonds to bypass 2♣ so 7♣ is
relatively easy.