[awm]

Here's a pair of hands from the LV nationals. Partner and I bid these to 6♣ pretty easily with our relay methods, but it seems a bit harder with relays based on controls instead of 3-2-1 points...

Scoring: IMP

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[ASkolnick]

Here is our precision auction:

1♣-2♣ (5 clubs, GF, 8+ points)
2♦* (Asking)-3♣ (Shortness)
3♦* (Where)-3NT* (Diamonds)
4♥* (Puppet Term, RKC for clubs)-4NT (0 or 3 KC)

OK, he could have QC, and does not have AH. Probably no points in diamonds.

KQ Spades
QJ Clubs.

K Spades
QJ Hearts
Q Clubs

KQ Spades

I bid 6♣

[PrecisionL]

And with Ultra Club:

1♣ (16+) - 1♠ (4+♥ & 8+ hcp) -
1NT (Relay) - 2♣ (Minor Canape) -
2♦ (Relay) - 2♥ (5+♣) -
2♠ (Relay) - 2NT (♦ shortage) -
3♣ (Beta) - 3♦ (1-2 Controls)
6♣ (must have at least 1 K (♠) & 2Qs & J minimum, protected) At worst 50%.

Larry

[Echognome]

Playing Gnome (or Echo or Tarzan) Club and bidding it with Jason (I made him relayer):

1♣ (16+) - 1♦; (not 9+hcp, 2+ctls)
1♥ (19+) - 1N; (semi-pos, 4+♥, 1+ctls)
2♣ (relay) - 2♥; (4+♥, 4+♣)
2♠ (relay) - 2N; (4♥, 5+♣)
3♣ (relay) - 3♠; (3=4=1=5)
4♣ (ctl ask) - 4♦; (1 ctl)
4♥ (relay) - 4♠; (no ♣A/K/Q or ♣AKQ)
4N (relay) - 5♥; (♥A/K/Q, ♠A/K/Q, no 2nd ♥A/K/Q)
6♣

Since a singleton DK doesn't count as a control (for the semi-positive), it's clear we must have SK or HA, thus making the strong relay (4C) odds on. After no club honor is shown (Qs would be shown immediately given 1 control), slam looks a favorite. However, 4N has the safety of checking on the HQ first and playing in 5C opposite KQx xxxx x xxxxx (plus 1-3 Jacks to make up the 6 hcp), although that slam may come in anyway if the Heart is onside, however it's not odds on.

[Apollo81]

seems like you still might have problems, couldnt partner have xxx Axxx x Qxxxx for instance when he shows four 3-2-1 points

[Echognome]

Apollo81, on Jul 29 2008, 09:26 AM, said:

seems like you still might have problems, couldnt partner have xxx Axxx x Qxxxx for instance when he shows four 3-2-1 points

Agree. Opposite that hand we'd hear 4♥ (2 ctls) and would probably bail out in 4NT. Partner can't have Kxx Axxx x xxxxx (3 ctls), so we'd know the best he could have is QJx Axxx x xxxxx which is odds against. I'm actually starting to like the control ask after all.

[cherdano]

Jlall, on Jul 29 2008, 08:24 AM, said:

2N 3C 3D 3N

Push.

[Mbodell]

We have two auctions that might happen:

1♣*-1♦* ; 16+ - <7 pts or <2 ctls
1♥*-1♠* ; kokish - forced
1NT*-2NT* ; 19-21 - tx to clubs
3♣-3♥* ; forced - 5+♣ and 4♥ and gf
4♣-4♦* ; agree clubs - 1430
4♥*-5♣ ; 4 kc - signoff
5♥-6♣ ; no signoff - done

or:

1♣*-1♦* ; 16+ - <7 pts or <2 ctls
1♥*-1♠* ; kokish - forced
1NT*-3♣* ; 19-21 - gf splinter in diamonds w no 5 crd major
3NT

[awm]

I should note that some of the sequences given have not ruled out hands like:

♠Kxx ♥Qxxx ♦x ♣Jxxxx as a semi-positive with one control and no top club.

♠Kxx ♥Qxxx ♦x ♣QJxxx as a game forcing hand with one control.

In any case, our opponents pushed Jlall's auction. Partner and I bid:

1♣(1) - 2♦(2)
2♥(3) - 3♦(4)
3♥(5) - 3NT(6)
4♣(7) - 4♦(8)
4♥(9) - 4NT(10)
6♣

(1) Strong
(2) 5+ hcp, 2-6 AKQ points with 4+♥/5+♣
(3) GF relay
(4) 3-4-1-5
(5) Relay for AKQ points
(6) Four AKQ points
(7) Where?
(8) No club queen
(9) Relay
(10) ♥Q + ♠KQ (or ♥A + ♦Q)

[kenrexford]

cherdano, on Jul 29 2008, 01:04 PM, said:

Jlall, on Jul 29 2008, 08:24 AM, said:

2N 3C 3D 3N

Push.

We three are up to a full point at matchpoints.

[effervesce]

Moscito relay auction

1♣(1)-1♥(2)
1♠(3)-2♣(4)
2♦(3)-2♥(5)
2♠(3)-3♦(6)
3♥(7)-3NT(8)
4♣(9)-4♦(10)
4♥(9)-5♣(11)
6♣(12)

(1) 16+
(2) Semipositive, 3-5 AKQ points, denies 5 card major unless balanced
(3) Relays
(4) 5+♣, 4 card major or threesuited with clubs
(5) 5+♣ 4 hearts
(6) 3415
(7) AKQ point ask
(8) 4 AKQ points
(9) denial cuebid asks
(10) no A/K/Q honor in clubs
(11) an A/K/Q honor in hearts, an A/K/Q honor in spades, no 2nd A/K/Q honor in hearts
(12) Places responder with KQx Qxxx x xxxxx OR Qxx Axxx x xxxxx