[FrancesHinden]

Vulnerable against not, teams of 4, 48-board KO match, last set and the match is extremely close.

Scoring: IMP

P 3♦ P 4♦
4♠ P P 5♣
5♥ P ?

---

Yes, partner kicked off by dealing and passing, then bid all by himself to the 5-level.

RHO is a very very very random pre-emptor (so far in the match he has opened at the 3-level on Kxxxxx with an AK outside in second seat at love all, and QJ10xxx with a queen outside in first seat at game all).

4♦ on your left was slow
5♣ on your left was very fast

Now what?

[mtvesuvius]

I don't think partner missorted, I think partner has something like QJTxxx AJTxxx x - or something very similar. This is a valid pass in 1st seat, and now partner has shown this. I bid 6♥.

[dicklont]

Very strange, but partner will be happy with my hand, it has 4 tricks for him.
I bid 6♥, thought a sec about 7, just a sec....

[Walddk]

This may seem strange, but I pass although I'm confident that we can make 6♥. I think LHO will take another call, and then I come back with 6♥. If I raise immediately, I fear that they will save. They are unlikely to do that if I walk the dog first.

7mi must be extremely cheap against our slam. I want them to bid 6 but not 7, so I think my best approach is to pass now. Yes, it's a gamble, but even if LHO passes, it may turn out to be profitable. 6mi might only be 1 down, and on a good day it makes!

Roland

[hatchett]

I pass. They must be very cheap in 7 minor. I expect +650/80 to be well above par on the board if LHO lets us have 5♥.

[whereagles]

If I can rely on pard to have his bid, I expect a weakish 66 freak, i.e. something like

Qxxxxx
Axxxxx
x
--

Seems like we're in for 6 of a major. Trouble is whether he's just 65 or so. It kinda depends on how aggressive pard can be, but usually a raise to 6 is in order. Opposite my regular pard, I'd definitely pass.

[hotShot]

My hand is to balanced to ruff, partner will need longer trumps so I prefer 6♠.

[rfedrick]

6♥. Partner can scarcely have less than QJxxxxx Axxxx - x.

i'm not too worried about the opponents successfully opting for their (undoubtedly cheap) 7-level save. From LHO's point of view, he's made you guess at the 5-level, he's almost certainly looking at at least one bullet... I don't think he's going to save.

[ggwhiz]

I like the pass, walking the dog angle for all the reasons above. If it works as hoped, the random player you describe should have an immediate meltdown.

[Hanoi5]

I pass but I'm not very clear on what's going on. Partner might have 2 clubs or 2 diamonds (or 1 and 1) so I don't think I'd bid 6♥ now or afterwards.

[jdonn]

6♥. I agree with the general idea of most of these very shapely weak hands for partner.

[Phil]

I like the rationale for pass too, but I like 5♠ a little more, since it gives TWO opponents the chance to sacrifice, instead of one. Pass relies only on lefty and I want to give Mr. Action another bite at the apple too.

I admit I wouldn't have thought about pass or 5♠ at the table and would have just bid 6♥ and figured out the better option in the PM.

[ggwhiz]

hmmm, just occurred to me that pard must have 12 cards in the majors for this auction and both sides are likely cold for slam.

Sure hope I don't have to lead against a grand or I might be having the meltdown!

[FrancesHinden]

Partner has QJ10xxx AJ10xx x x
I don't think he's been absurd, although he would have preferred to be 6-6, he could also hear the auction and deduce our major suit cards after the 5C bid. If we had less, their contract might well have been making.

I passed 5H, partly because as people have said, I just want to play the hand.

I was thinking afterwards that 5S might be a better call, because it doesn't advertise the fact we've found a fit, we might just be giving preference.

LHO passed out 5H, and it was a flat board (although team-mates should have found the save on a rather different auction).

[Apollo81]

You should IMO play partner for at least 12 cards in the majors since he is at unfavorable. Having said that I would certainly bid over 5♥. I'd probably bid 5NT pick a slam to cater to 7-5 hands.