[grrigg]

I am back to playing bridge and I had some interesting hands last night at the local club, here is one:

LHO opens 2D and the bidding goes:

2D     2NT    pass    3H(xfer)
pass    4S    pass    ?

1) How good of a hand does 4S show?

2) Your hand is AKQxx, xxx, x, Jxxx. Is this enough to try for slam over 4S, if yes then how? To be fair to the "no" people; please select whether you pass 4S quickly or slowly.

[P_Marlowe]

#1 the 2NT needs to be max. hand, i.e. at least 17-18HCP,
control rich and 4 card support, even than I am hard
pressed to find a hand.
Usually you overcall 2NT with hands which would have
opened 1NT, and a superaccept to 4S after a 2H transfer
does not exist

#2 Pass, fast ...
If we missed slam partner did not have his 2NT bid.

With regards
Marlowe

[rogerclee]

Partner has a good hand for spades. I'd guess something like ♠JT9x ♥AKx ♦AQxx ♣Ax.

I would definitely pass 4♠, though, because partner never has ♠JT9x ♥AKx ♦AQxx ♣Ax.

[benlessard]

I dont really understand the point of playing transfer/3C as stayman here.

I always prefer to have the weak unidimensionnal hand on lead. Also it allow you to play 3C. since you can use the cue bid for stayman.

Im not fond of supper accept but when i do i make a descriptive bid i simply just doesnt jump to game unless it has a specific meaning. (2/3 top honnors big maximum, no doubleton and hand is upgraded because of D position, AQx,KJx AJT)

[han]

4S shows a good hand, I expect someting like Jxxx Ax Kx AKQxx. I don't think partner should superaccept to the 4-level on a 4333 hand missing the AKQ of spades.

Although slam is possible I think it is not very likely. I would think about it for a while and then pass.

[cherdano]

I would think for a while and then make a slam try with 5♠ (showing either very good spades or bad spades). Han's hand is a good example for a hand where I want to be in slam.

[mikeh]

han, on Aug 5 2008, 02:20 PM, said:

4S shows a good hand, I expect someting like Jxxx Ax Kx AKQxx. I don't think partner should superaccept to the 4-level on a 4333 hand missing the AKQ of spades.

Although slam is possible I think it is not very likely. I would think about it for a while and then pass.

If I held that hand, and absent specific agreements to the contrary, I would bid 4♣ over the transfer. I think that super-accepting after a 2N overcall would always be an exceptional hand, and I'd like to think that 4 minor should show a source of tricks as well as a maximum with 4 card support.

I would pass 4♠ in tempo.. the given hand needs magic cards for slam to be percentage.

Imagine Jxxx KQx AKxx AQ

This is a hand too good for 2N, imo, and has no 5-level safety. Now, that may be an 'anti-magic' hand, but I think that seeing if there are great hands that afford no 5-level safety is a good way to assess whether one should make a move.

Also, consider that the super-accept, based on weak trumps, might be based on a hand like Jxxxx AJx AKx AQ.. this hand has more slam suitability but 6♠ seems to require a club hook through a weak two bidder... Note that I am giving the overcaller 19 counts!

Finally, if one were to move...how? Even if you could persuade me that trying for slam was a percentage decision, I'd still be worried about exactly how I would try, and whether partner would understand my move... I mean, cue-bidding 5♦ is not going to help if partner is missing the A or the K.. he'll think that's what we are showing and he may/will misevaluate accordingly. 5♠ as a general try is probably the best idea.. partner will need to have lots of controls outside, but while this may get us to some good slams, it will also get us to some bad ones.