[CSGibson]

Scoring: MP

1♥-1♠,
2♥-3♦,
3N-4♥,
?

---

What do you expect from partner, playing a normal 2/1 system, for this sequence? Do you make another move, and if so, what is it?

[han]

I make another move for sure. Partner didn't bid 4H immediately so has slam interest and diamond values. Partner is not 5-3-4-1 because that would be a splinter. It is possible that partner is 4-3-4-2 or 5-2-5-1, both with extra values.

With Arend I play that partner could bid 2NT GF with the 4-3-4-2 hand (or even start with 2C) so I would expect 5-2-5-1.

[andy_h]

Given the conditions I would make another further move as partner has a slam interest via the slower auction. 5C now.

[Free]

5♣ is pretty useless, 5♦ is much better imo

[effervesce]

Mark me up for 4NT, RKCB. I don't see how a 5♣ or 5♦ bid helps partner all that much.

[gnasher]

I'd bid 4NT. It's hard to picture a hand with one or more keycards where slam is poor. The only one I can think of is KQJx Qx AKJx xxx.

[whereagles]

Time to take control: 4NT, followed by some sort of grand slam try if all keys are there.

[Apollo81]

i expect a slam try with 2-3 hearts and 0-2 clubs, and I would bid RKC.

[pclayton]

Wouldn't you rather be answering keys here instead of asking? I'll make a white lie of 4♠ and see if pard can take charge.

5=2=5=1 is possible, but I think pard has to bid this way with some lesser patterns too with a doubleton club. I wouldn't rule out 5=2=4=2.

Saw Frances' post later. We should not rule out even more lesser patterns. Some gadget helps here, and personally I like 2N over 2♥ as forcing, or some other mechanism to split an invitational hand from a GF.

This post has been edited by pclayton: 2008-May-29, 10:51

[FrancesHinden]

We have a huge hand in context.

I'm a bit surprised at the suggested shapes for partner. Yes, he could have 5 spades and four diamonds, or be 5-5, but I don't think he has to be.

Some people play 2NT as forcing over 2H, in which case partner must have spades and diamonds, but unless you have that agreement, I don't see why partner can't have a rather more balanced hand possibly with 3-card support such as

AKxxx
Qxx
KQx
Qx

how else is he supposed to bid this hand (unless he comes up with a Rexfordesque 2D response to 1H).

or

AQJxx
Qx
AKx
Qxx

I would bid 5C, cue. I'm very close to a slam drive, but need to know more about partner's hand than just keycards.

[jdonn]

Keycard seems obvious to me.

[dcvetkov]

FrancesHinden, on May 29 2008, 11:03 AM, said:

I don't see why partner can't have a rather more balanced hand possibly with 3-card support such as

AKxxx
Qxx
KQx
Qx

how else is he supposed to bid this hand (unless he comes up with a Rexfordesque 2D response to 1H).

or

AQJxx
Qx
AKx
Qxx

I would bid 5C, cue. I'm very close to a slam drive, but need to know more about partner's hand than just keycards.

This is unrealistic. Why does not this hand raise to 3H immediately? Spur 3 card support for partner after he bid the suit twice?

I would be very surprised if part has more then 3 hearts. He is worried about singleton club and play in NT, so corrects to 4H with a doubleton. Not so sure we should get that excited that this sequence is a serious slam try.

5-2-5-1 is the most likely distribution, followed by 5-2-4-2

[jdonn]

dcvetkov, on May 29 2008, 11:40 AM, said:

FrancesHinden, on May 29 2008, 11:03 AM, said:

I don't see why partner can't have a rather more balanced hand possibly with 3-card support such as

AKxxx
Qxx
KQx
Qx

how else is he supposed to bid this hand (unless he comes up with a Rexfordesque 2D response to 1H).

or

AQJxx
Qx
AKx
Qxx

I would bid 5C, cue.  I'm very close to a slam drive, but need to know more about partner's hand than just keycards.

This is unrealistic. Why does not this hand raise to 3H immediately? Spur 3 card support for partner after he bid the suit twice?

Because 3♥ immediately is non-forcing?

In my preferred methods, I would have responded 1NT showing 5+ spades on these hands, then 2♠ artificial game force, then partner would bid 3♦ showing 1633 and I could set trumps with 3♥. 3♦ directly over 2♥ would promise 5-5, and then following with 4♥ would paint a perfect picture. I think I read these originally from Fred, who I think got them from Rodwell.

[gnasher]

FrancesHinden, on May 29 2008, 05:03 PM, said:

I would bid 5C, cue. I'm very close to a slam drive, but need to know more about partner's hand than just keycards.

I'd like to know more about partner's hand too, but I'm not sure what I can expect to learn by bidding 5♣. What will you do on the next round over his likely continuations of 5♦ or 5♥?

[FrancesHinden]

gnasher, on May 29 2008, 07:27 PM, said:

FrancesHinden, on May 29 2008, 05:03 PM, said:

I would bid 5C, cue.  I'm very close to a slam drive, but need to know more about partner's hand than just keycards.

I'd like to know more about partner's hand too, but I'm not sure what I can expect to learn by bidding 5♣. What will you do on the next round over his likely continuations of 5♦ or 5♥?

Bidding 6H over 5H.
Either 6H or 6D over 5D.

What I've gained is that partner may know enough to use GSF over 5C.

I agree an alternative is blackwood followed by 5NT to say we've got all the keycards.

Anyway I have a slam force.

[FrancesHinden]

Jlall, on May 29 2008, 08:56 PM, said:

FrancesHinden, on May 29 2008, 11:03 AM, said:

We have a huge hand in context.

I would bid 5C, cue.  I'm very close to a slam drive, but need to know more about partner's hand than just keycards.

I am surprised by this. I agree that we have a huge hand in context, so I don't see why we don't have a slam drive. I can't see bidding 5C then passing 5H from partner, so I will just bid keycard in case we have 7 (possible if partner has like AKQxxx Qx Axx xx... well I guess we need a non diamond lead heh).

if you read my second post when I was asked what to do after bidding 5C, I said I had a slam force.