[dcvetkov]

Opener A73,A2,KQJ4,KQJ7

opposite

KQ542,97,AT5,AT7


Matchpoints. This was table auction

2NT - 3H
3S - 5NT ( Pick a slam)
6S

It would be interested to see Strong Club Auctions too.

[CSGibson]

I would bid this as 2N-3♥-3♠-6♠ all pass. My impression is that this sequence shows a power raise to 6N with exactly 5 spades (since I didn't texas the hand). I would pass it as opener, even though 6N is obviously a better spot, because I do have potentially useful shortness.

I would play 5N as a quantitative invitational to grand with 5 spades, not that it ever comes up.

[CSGibson]

I do see a way to bid the grand, though, if you play certain methods.

Transfer to spades, then use key-card gerber, and confirm all of the keycards without asking about the Q of spades. Partner (he of the 2N opener) now knows all of the key components of your hand, and can bid the grand himself if desired.

[mike777]

dcvetkov, on Aug 20 2008, 08:57 PM, said:

Opener A73,A2,KQJ4,KQJ7

opposite

KQ542,97,AT5,AT7


Matchpoints. This was table auction

2NT - 3H
3S - 5NT ( Pick a slam)
6S

It would be interested to see Strong Club Auctions too.

2nt=6nt MP KISS

[the hog]

A73,A2,KQJ4,KQJ7

KQ542,97,AT5,AT7

You want a big C auction?
1C 1H 9+ with S
1S 2S short H
2N 3D exactly 5233 shape
3H 4D 5 AK controls
4H 5D controls in S, D, C not H
5H 5N Q of S
?
? = pick your slam. All of opener's bids are relays. You actually have room to find the J of S if resp happens to have it, but I was too lazy to post this.

[Lobowolf]

dcvetkov, on Aug 20 2008, 08:57 PM, said:

Opener A73,A2,KQJ4,KQJ7

opposite

KQ542,97,AT5,AT7


Matchpoints. This was table auction

2NT - 3H
3S - 5NT ( Pick a slam)
6S

It would be interested to see Strong Club Auctions too.

Another big club auction with transfer positives:

1♣-1♥(A)
1♠(-2♥©
2♠(D)-3♦(E)
6NT/7NT (F)

A: 8+HCP and 5 spades
B: Confirms spades as trump (3+) and asks for controls
C: 5 controls (A=2; K=1) Since opener has 6 controls, he knows that only a king is missing.
D: Trump ask
E: 5-card suit with 2 of the top 3 honors
F: Opener can count 12 top tricks in NT and either settle for that, or hope the spades will split or partner will have the jack.

[kenrexford]

It is easy if Opener makes a three-card super-accept. Responder cues, Opener takes over, and he counts to 13. I think 3-card super-accepts after a 2NT opening are a good idea in the long run, for reasons like this.

[TylerE]

Opener A73,A2,KQJ4,KQJ7

opposite

KQ542,97,AT5,AT7

In my big club method:

1♣ - 1♥ (Spades, GF)
1♠ (suit ask) - 2♦ (Exactly 5♠, 2 of top 3)
2♥ - (relay ask in ♣) - 3♦ (Ace or Void)
3♠ - clarifying - 4♣ - Ace
4♦ (ask in ♦ - 5♣ Ace or Void
5♥ - clatifiying - 5NT Ace
6♣ - heart ask - 6♥ - 3rd round control (Qxx(x) or xx)
? whatever

Not sure if I really want to risk grand here, since you need 3-2 spades to make, with the ability to count 12 tricks on any spade split.

Also, can have a much more compact auction if opener assumes the controls are aces...then the actuion continues

3♥ (♦ ask) - 4♦ (Ace or V)
4♥ (♥ ask) - 5♦ (Ace or V)
?

[pclayton]

Meckwell uses:

2N - 3♥
3♠ - 5x

not as EKCB but answering as though Opener key carded with 4N. I don't know if they can diagnose a 5-3 fit and then answer, but the solution to me seems to be that opener needs to be doing the asking here.

I thought Kleinman's Yellow Rose would be able to handle this hand but it doesn't appear as though it can.

Edit: I just ran this by Walter Johnson and he said Meckwell would bid

2N - 3♥
3♠ - 5♣
5♦ - 5♠
7N

(perhaps he meant 5N instead of 5♠ - I didn't press him).

[jdonn]

pclayton, on Aug 21 2008, 10:58 AM, said:

Edit: I just ran this by Walter Johnson and he said Meckwell would bid

2N - 3♥
3♠ - 5♣
5♦ - 5♠
7N

(perhaps he meant 5N instead of 5♠ - I didn't press him).

I'm pretty sure they use the cheapest bid to deny the queen, which I also think is best. Clearly given that, south has nothing extra to show other than the queen, so I'm pretty sure they would bid 5♠.

[skjaeran]

2♣ - 2♦
2NT - 3♥
4♣ - 4♦
4NT - 5♣
5♦ - 5NT
7NT

2NT=20-21, 3♥=GF trf, 4m=cue

[matmat]

am I missing something? do you really want to be in 7 missing JT98x of spades?

[kenrexford]

matmat, on Aug 21 2008, 12:16 PM, said:

am I missing something? do you really want to be in 7 missing JT98x of spades?

Yes. Opener's LHO has that, but the poor chap also has KQJ10x in hearts.

[cherdano]

matmat, on Aug 21 2008, 11:16 AM, said:

am I missing something? do you really want to be in 7 missing JT98x of spades?

It is a myth that you need grand to be 75% or s.th. like that to be worth bidding. If you can be sure your opponents will be in a slam (for example, responder has a nice 13 count opposite a 2N opener), then 56% is enough.

[Echognome]

cherdano, on Aug 21 2008, 10:47 AM, said:

matmat, on Aug 21 2008, 11:16 AM, said:

am I missing something? do you really want to be in 7 missing JT98x of spades?

It is a myth that you need grand to be 75% or s.th. like that to be worth bidding. If you can be sure your opponents will be in a slam (for example, responder has a nice 13 count opposite a 2N opener), then 56% is enough.

Except for it's matchpoints. You'd want an estimate of how many will be in 6♠, 6NT, 7♠, 7NT, something else.

[pclayton]

cherdano, on Aug 21 2008, 10:47 AM, said:

matmat, on Aug 21 2008, 11:16 AM, said:

am I missing something? do you really want to be in 7 missing JT98x of spades?

It is a myth that you need grand to be 75% or s.th. like that to be worth bidding. If you can be sure your opponents will be in a slam (for example, responder has a nice 13 count opposite a 2N opener), then 56% is enough.

Arend, where are you getting 56% from?

[karlson]

Vul. Lose 17, Win 13, 17/30 ~ 56%
NV. Lose 14, Win 11. 14/25 = 56%

[kenrexford]

karlson, on Aug 21 2008, 02:15 PM, said:

Vul. Lose 17, Win 13, 17/30 ~ 56%
NV. Lose 14, Win 11. 14/25 = 56%

Apparently you need that heart nine to bid the grand when vulnerable, to get that necessary extra 0.6667% edge.

Shoot! That only gives you an extra 0.39% chance! Maybe the 10 would have been enough. Or, a stiff honor. Maybe it is better...

[Mbodell]

1♣* - 1♥*; any 16+ - 8+ w/ 2+ controls and 5+ spades
1♠* - 2♠*; relay - single suited with short hearts or 7222
2nt* - 3♦*; relay - 5233
3♥* - 4♦*; relay - 5 controls
4♥* - 5♦*; relay - 1 of top 2 ♠, 1 of top 2 ♦, 1 of top 2 ♣, 0 or 2 top 2 ♥
5♥* - 5NT*; relay - Q♠ but no Q♦
7nt (if ♠ split 3-2 or responder has the J♠ this makes)

over 3♦ could also continue
3♠* - 4♣*; key card spades - 3 or 0 key cards
4♥* - 5♠*; Q ask? - Q♠ but no K's
7nt

[cherdano]

Echognome, on Aug 21 2008, 12:55 PM, said:

cherdano, on Aug 21 2008, 10:47 AM, said:

matmat, on Aug 21 2008, 11:16 AM, said:

am I missing something? do you really want to be in 7 missing JT98x of spades?

It is a myth that you need grand to be 75% or s.th. like that to be worth bidding. If you can be sure your opponents will be in a slam (for example, responder has a nice 13 count opposite a 2N opener), then 56% is enough.

Except for it's matchpoints. You'd want an estimate of how many will be in 6♠, 6NT, 7♠, 7NT, something else.

Oh, matchpoints! Given that the decision is only between 6N and and 7N, you actually need a chance of
50% + 1/2 the percentage of those in 6S or lower - 1/2 the percentage of those in 7S
E.g. if 30% are in 6S and 10% in 7S, you would need a 60% chance of making for 7N to be worthwhile.

[Hmm, I guess I am ignoring the cases where you go down 2 in 7S but only 1 in 7N.]