[Ai Hao]

How to stop at 4♠

North
2♣ P 2♦(GF)P
2♠ P 2NT  P
3♠ P 4♠    P
?

Scoring: IMP

---

[matmat]

by passing here, i think.

[jdonn]

It's extremely likely south would have cooperated with a cuebid over 3♠ if his hand was what north needs. North has bid his hand, he should just pass.

[neilkaz]

jdonn, on Feb 14 2009, 11:03 PM, said:

It's extremely likely south would have cooperated with a cuebid over 3♠ if his hand was what north needs. North has bid his hand, he should just pass.

Yes indeed ! Even though it is Valentine's Day, North is not supposed to fall hopelessly in love with his hand. 2♦ is GF but only promises a K (or two queens as some play it). After 2♦ South has done everything in his power to slow the auction down and North has an easy pass.

[OleBerg]

In my wiew the North should bid 3♠ on 2♦. (No matter what partner has, spades will be at least as good a thrump suit.)

This sets spades as thrumps, and tells that the strong hand is interested in controls.

Responder can then bid 4♦, denying a club cuebid.

Thereafter a 4♥ bid by North begs responder to show any further values. When he denies this with 4♠, North can pass, assured that he has given his hand full justice.

[Cascade]

Do you have the East West hands?

[Ai Hao]

Cascade, on Feb 15 2009, 06:21 AM, said:

Do you have the East West hands?

I dont remember opp's full hands but ♦A was off side and seems the slam had no play at all. With my pd's strong hand, I think it is tough to stop below 5.

[matmat]

Ai Hao, on Feb 15 2009, 11:03 PM, said:

With my pd's strong hand, I think it is tough to stop below 5.

uhm... if the strong hand holder trusts partner, then it shouldn't be tough to stop below 5.

[P_Marlowe]

Ai Hao, on Feb 15 2009, 11:03 PM, said:

<snip>
With my pd's strong hand, I think it is tough to stop below 5.

I partially agree, but only because 2D was GF.

The problem is, that responder is dead min for his 2D
gf call, and most likely 2NT did not show a min., i.e. he
could easily have another Queen.

Maybe one should have a 2nd look at the 2D call.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[Codo]

I would bid:

2 ♣ 2 ♦
3 ♠ 4♠, showing my min. 2 ♦ bid.


But when you are forced to make a cuebid over3 ♠, you better have agreements about 4 ♥ after 4 ♦ like Ole.

[Fluffy]

I'd bid 1♠-pass, do I pick 6 IMPs?

[fachiru]

Strongly agree with 3♠ jump setting trumps instead of the actual 2♠ rebid.
The only real problem you're facing now as responder is: do you encourage slam with a ♦ cue or sign off in 4 ♠?
If you cue, partner, perhaps thinking you have 1st R control in ♦, will very likely ask for keycards; you think the 5 level is safe?
If you won't be really happy to hear Blw., perhaps you should sign off now and not cue; that would be my choice at the table.

[OleBerg]

Codo, on Feb 16 2009, 11:32 AM, said:

I would bid:

2 ♣ 2 ♦
3 ♠ 4♠, showing my min. 2 ♦ bid.


But when you are forced to make a cuebid over3 ♠, you better have agreements about 4 ♥ after 4 ♦ like Ole.

Not really.

Obviously NS cannot lack a control once opener bids 4♥.

So if North doesn't ask for key-cards, he is obviously only inviting slam. (So far.)

Edit:

But I agree that 4♦ is not an obvious bid.

This is one of those sequences where RKCB takes up to much space. (And having replies that shows or denies the thrumph queen, is obviously redundant.)

(I have obviously fallen in love with a word.)

[Ai Hao]

Here is another option:

2c-2d-
2s-2nt-
4d!-4s-
? one more push?

*4d as a self splinter

[mikeh]

Some people play that a jump to 3♠, over the 2♦ response shows 4 spades and longer diamonds... a very tough shape to show otherwise.

That would complicate matters.

But if 3♠ was available to set trump, while promising a solid suit, it would have been perfect.

BTW, my style is that over this call (or the equivalent 3♥) responder cue bids only with Aces... with no Aces, he bids 3N and opener can cue if still interested in Kings.

Thus after 3♠, responder can bid 3N, denying an Ace. Opener shows that he is still interested via 4♣ and responder obediently shows his diamond King.

Opener can, if he wants to, bid 4♥ and then cheerfully passes responder's 4♠since, on this sequence, responder would continue to bid with the club K or an otherwise big hand such as xxx QJx KQxx Qxx (I'd bid 5♠ with that hand, to show a general slam try with no other King.. thus lots of quacks.).

[straube]

I've played that 2C-2D-3S sets spades and...

3N denies an ace but shows one or more kings whereas
4C on up shows the ace held.

Then this auction would go...

2C-2D, 3S-3N, 4C-4D, 4S

where 4C doesn't really show a control but leaves room for partner to name his king. Not sure if 4H over 4D would ask for the heart king.

Presumably...

2C-2D, 3S-3N, 4C-4S would imply the club king.

Auctions are a little tougher over when opener has solid hearts. Probably 3S over 3H should show a king and 3N should show the spade ace.

[neilkaz]

mikeh and staube have given good auctions starting with a 3♠ jump showing a solid suit.

However, with the given auction things shouldn't come apart either. PD has about the worst non bust response imaginable and shows that via his 2NT bid and his failure to Q bid after 3♠. These combined actions are very weak so opener has to pass !

Those who play point count step have no trouble with this hand and those who play controls are also easily stopping in 4♠, but on the given sequence, opener has to respect that his PD can't help enough for slam.