[kenrexford]

♠Axxx ♥AJxx ♦A ♣AQJx

Partner opens a red-on-white 4♦ in first seat.

What the Heck are the tools here?

[rogerclee]

Everything up to 5♦ is to play. It's probably theoretically sound to play 5♥/5♠/5N as diamond slam tries here, but it's a job I'll leave to you.

Anyway this seems like an easy 6♦ bid.

[ArtK78]

Assuming that 4NT is RKCB (and that is far from clear) then this should not be a problem. Since you intend to bid 6♦ in any event, trot out 4NT. If partner happens to have the ♦KQ and the ♣K, you can bid 7♦ with assurance (7NT is fine as long as partner's ♣K is not singleton and even then you are OK unless a club is led).

I don't believe you will be able to count 13 tricks unless partner has the ♣K and the diamonds are solid. I find it hard to believe that partner has a 4♦ bid that includes the KQ of either major or both major suit kings, in addition to KQxxxxxx of diamonds. But KQxxxxxx of diamonds and the ♣K is possible (or KQJxxxx of diamonds and the ♣K, which is enough).

If 4NT is not RKCB, then 5♣ should be. What else can 5♣ mean? Surely you are not looking to play in 5♣ opposite a 4♦ opening bid (yes, it is possible to construct a hand where that is right, but it seems unreasonable to cater to that possibility).

[jdonn]

Since 4NT by us is natural, that's out. I'll try 5NT. I never play grand slam force, but what else could it be here? As long as partner has KQ of diamonds then the grand is unlikely to be worse than a finesse and may be cold.

Even if it's a generic grand slam try, how I play it in lots of other auctions, I'll bid it, expecting to usually miss making grands.

[P_Marlowe]

4NT, you will most likely end up in 6D anyway,
but you may be lucky to find partner with the
king of clubs.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[Free]

Partner has 9 tricks, I have 4, wtp? 7♦.

[whereagles]

6♦. The opener is normal on

x
xx
KQJxxxxx
xx

and even 6 is far from cold. Of course pard might have some stuff on the side, but I don't think I should be guessing what.

[hatchett]

6♦. I can't think of a sensible way to investigate 7.

[H_KARLUK]

kenrexford, on Mar 13 2009, 09:31 PM, said:

♠Axxx ♥AJxx ♦A ♣AQJx

Partner opens a red-on-white 4♦ in first seat.

What the Heck are the tools here?

3rd opp.

[matmat]

H_KARLUK, on Mar 13 2009, 07:58 PM, said:

kenrexford, on Mar 13 2009, 09:31 PM, said:

♠Axxx ♥AJxx ♦A ♣AQJx

Partner opens a red-on-white 4♦ in first seat.

What the Heck are the tools here?

3rd opp.

hmmm

[dburn]

kenrexford, on Mar 13 2009, 02:31 PM, said:

♠Axxx ♥AJxx ♦A ♣AQJx

Partner opens a red-on-white 4♦ in first seat.

What the Heck are the tools here?

Why the Heck would you need any? After all, how will you make a grand slam if partner is even half-way normal, and how will you fail in a small slam unless he is all-the-way crazy?

There are times on this forum when I remember the words of Jeremy Flint, talking about team preparation for an important event (perhaps the European Championships or the Bermuda Bowl):

"The sixth member, whose contributions were unlikely to be valuable in the normal run of events, was allotted the task of devising responses to an opening bid of 5NT."

[Free]

whereagles, on Mar 14 2009, 12:49 AM, said:

The opener is normal on
x
xx
KQJxxxxx
xx

Red vs White??? This is no where near a 4♦ preempt at that vulnerability imo...

[hatchett]

Quote

QUOTE (whereagles @ Mar 14 2009, 12:49 AM)
The opener is normal on
x
xx
KQJxxxxx
xx 


Red vs White??? This is no where near a 4♦ preempt at that vulnerability imo...

That's because you seem to think a R/W 4♦ pre-empt shows 9 tricks. I don't think it shows anything like 9 tricks.

[whereagles]

preempts don't show tricks. they're just tactical weapons to use when suitable.

[skjaeran]

Looks like a very easy raise to 6♦ for me. What tools do I need, when some common sense is enough?

[kenrexford]

I also bid 6♦, but 7♦ or 7NT is cold, partner having the K of clubs. You obviously end up with many tricks in reserve, and no transportation problems even if partner has a stiff club King and a void in one of the majors, with a lead in the other major.

[Free]

whereagles, on Mar 14 2009, 11:19 AM, said:

preempts don't show tricks. they're just tactical weapons to use when suitable.

I know they don't show tricks with Aces and Kings, but if you're disciplined, you'll lose 4 tricks on most layouts. This may be 10 ♦s from KQJ. If you count on the fact that partner will lose 4 trick at this vulnerability, 7♦ is a very easy bid. If you can't count on that, bidding 5NT may be the best option to let opener decide whether his preempt was sound or not.

[gnasher]

I hate the idea that partner might have an outside king. Four of a minor at adverse should be almost flawless, because of the larger cost of reaching the wrong game or missing slam, and the smaller gains from talking the opponents into doing the wrong thing.

Whereagles's example (x xx KQJxxxxx xx) is a five-or-seven if they're going to lead a heart, but just a good six on any other lead. If partner is 1183 or xx74, it's just a good small slam. If he's xx81 and we don't have a trump loser, it's about 50% plus (or minus) whatever I think his card-reading is worth.

I bid 6♦.

[jdonn]

deleted (was a reply to misread post)

[Cascade]

rogerclee, on Mar 14 2009, 08:46 AM, said:

Everything up to 5♦ is to play. It's probably theoretically sound to play 5♥/5♠/5N as diamond slam tries here, but it's a job I'll leave to you.

Anyway this seems like an easy 6♦ bid.

and how do you reject these slam tries and play in diamonds?