[kfay]

I was having some discussions recently with Chuck Burger about how he likes to play over various NT calls and I noticed in his notes that he plays the following structure (as best as I can remember):

2NT-3♠ (forces 3NT for various hands)
3NT-

4♣-slamtry in diamonds
4♦-slamtry in clubs
  First step is RKC for the minor.

4♥-55 minor slamtry
  4♠-asks shortness
    4NT-hearts
    5♣-spades
  something else- to play

4♠-3=1(45) slamtry
4NT-1=3(45) slamtry

With some other followups I think.

I play the 3♠ relay for single-suited and 55 slamtrys but have never played it for (45) slamtrys.

I'm not sure what the general point to this post is... just a sounding board I guess.
Thoughts? Mainly about the 5431 slamtrys.

[rogerclee]

I dislike what he plays over 4♣/4♦, you can play something more useful. Since it is actually easier for opener to describe his hand after this kind of start, I like:

cheapest = middling hand for slam
4N = bad hand for slam

and everything else shows a slam positive hand and shows the number of keycards, so cheapest+1 = 4 keycards, cheapest+2 = 3 keycards, etc. (skipping 4N if necessary). I would be lying if I said I had used this method a lot, though, so your mileage may vary.

I like how he uses 4♥ through 4N, I have always bid 45 and 55 with shortness the same way (4♥/4♠) and there are some pretty serious issues with this, so I am happy to see there is a better way to deal with those hands (even though opener will often have to just punt rather than make a slam try).