[Cascade]

Dealer: West Vul: NS Scoring: IMP

♠ ♥ A ♦ AQJ643 ♣ AKQJ32

West North East South

 4♥    4♠    Pass  ?

Is 5NT pick-a-slam?

Otherwise how do you cope without a spade fit and a decent hand without clear direction.

This came up in practice this afternoon - GIB opened 4♥ if it is relevant.

[xcurt]

I would just bid 6♣. There's no sensible way to find out if partner has the ♦K, and even if he does clubs might be 6511 or 6520. Since I need 16:13 odds on making 7♣, bidding 7 seems anti-percentage.

I think 7♣ isn't unreasonable, and I will take the push if they save in 6♥, since, assuming +1100 against hearts, the IMP odds are now 9:20 [1].

[1] -1370, +1100 is lose 7, going to -1370, -100 which is lose 16 or -1370, +2140 which is win 13.

[jdeegan]

6 ♣ or more likely 7♣
You have a solid suit to play in, so just bid what you think you can make. Got to pay off to ♣10xxxx if it exists.

[hanp]

If 5NT is pick a slam then that followed by raising 6m to 7m and 7C over 6S. Else 7C directly.

I don't think that this is a hard bidding problem.

[the hog]

6 or 7 C. No strong feeling either way. Probably 6
Hope partner doesn't take that as a fit showing jump

[Cascade]

hanp, on Mar 22 2009, 05:57 PM, said:

If 5NT is pick a slam then that followed by raising 6m to 7m and 7C over 6S. Else 7C directly.

I don't think that this is a hard bidding problem.

It's easier if 5NT is pick-a-slam.

Its almost impossible if not (and you have no other way to show two suits in one go at this level with this extra strength).

[rogerclee]

I agree with Han. Sorry, I also don't think this is hard.

[skjaeran]

What do you guys think partner will do over a 6♦ bid, looking at the ♦K?

[rogerclee]

skaeran, on Mar 22 2009, 01:33 AM, said:

What do you guys think partner will do over a 6♦ bid, looking at the ♦K?

I think he would usually pass. After all, partner knows we are taking a little bit of a shot and counting on him for something. I think partner's lack of a single club honor or first round heart control would almost always cause him to pass this, and he would not hang us for catching such a reasonable dummy.

[gnasher]

5NT ought to be pick a slam. To bid GSF, you could bid 5♥-5♠-5NT.

I bid to the seven level, offering a choice of minors on the way if I can. The odds of partner's having ♦K are pretty high; if he doesn't maybe he'll have an entry.

I'd like to be able to get to 7NT opposite something like AKQ10xxx xx xx 10x, or any hand with ♦K and ♠A, but I can't, reliably. I could try 5NT-6m-6♥-6♠-7m, but I'd probably just get a puzzled look and a pass. Anyway, 7NT might be disastrous opposite a hand without ♣10 but with a singleton in the minor that isn't trumps.

If I'm forced to guess which minor to play in, which one should I choose? It's not always right to play in the stronger trump suit, but (using a priori probabilities and various approximations):
Opposite 10x-10x, 7♣ is slightly better, but there's not much in it.
Opposite x-xxx, 7♣ is 50% (diamonds 3-3 or ♦Kx in either hand) and 7♦ is hopeless.
Opposite xxx-x, 7♣ is 13% (♦K singleton) and 7♦ is 20% (♦Kx onside).
Opposite x-10xx, 7♣ is over 60% (diamonds 3-3 or ♦Kx in either hand or LHO having ♦xx) and 7♦ is hopeless.
Opposite 10xx-x, 7♣ is 13% (♦K singleton) and 7♦ is 45% (♦Kx/Kxx onside).

So 7♣ appears to gains more than 7♦.

[marcD]

I'll go for the simple 7♣. 5NT might be pick a slam but this is not clear cut and am afraid it would be interpreted as GSF.

[Gerben42]

For those bidding 7NT, how do you expect partner to pick the right slam?! 9 times out of 10 he's just going to repeat his ♠, he cannot be expected to understand he should give preference to a 3-card minor.

Just 7♣ for me. Could be wrong, could be right... When it's wrong, I'm probably not making 6 either.

[Hanoi5]

6♣. I smell the ♦K to my left...

I'm afraid 5NT might be taken wrongly (Josephine?) but if I don't have that sort of agreement, it might be a gooid way to reach the slam in a minor. 5NT could also lead to 6♠, there are 19HCP missing, opener should have at least 6 so partner's spades could be as good (or better) than my clubs. The real problem is who holds the ♦K, if partner, 7 is on; If they have it, we have to play in clubs (or diamonds)

[whereagles]

5NT should be pick a slam. If there's a risk pard won't take it as such, then 7♣ is better, on grounds if pard doesn't have the ♦K, maybe it drops or perhaps we can finesse it if dummy has an entry, like ♣T or a diamond ruff.

[gnasher]

Gerben42, on Mar 22 2009, 12:59 PM, said:

For those bidding 7NT, how do you expect partner to pick the right slam?! 9 times out of 10 he's just going to repeat his ♠, he cannot be expected to understand he should give preference to a 3-card minor.

I assume you mean 5NT. I plan to follow the sequence 5NT-6♠-7♣.

Quote

Just 7♣ for me. Could be wrong, could be right... When it's wrong, I'm probably not making 6 either.

When it's wrong, it'll usually be because partner doesn't have ♦K. In such a situation, won't 6♣ usually be either cold or very good?

[Cascade]

Assuming 5NT is pick-a-slam.

For those who bid 5NT and then 7♣ over 6♠ clearly offering a choice ...

What do you expect partner to do with 2=1 in the minors?

[hanp]

Doubleton seems better than singleton.

[Cascade]

rogerclee, on Mar 22 2009, 08:08 PM, said:

I agree with Han. Sorry, I also don't think this is hard.

I think it is only easy if you have a clear agreement that something (presumably 5NT) shows a two-suiter and even then the judgement could become difficult.

[Cascade]

Gerben42, on Mar 23 2009, 12:59 AM, said:

For those bidding 7NT, how do you expect partner to pick the right slam?! 9 times out of 10 he's just going to repeat his ♠, he cannot be expected to understand he should give preference to a 3-card minor.

Why not?

I think if 5NT is pick-a-slam then a hand 5/5 in the minors would be one of the sorts of hands where you might make that bid. Since you don't have a spade fit and are not that keen on 6NT then distributional with both minors seems reasonably likely.

[gnasher]

Cascade, on Mar 22 2009, 07:09 PM, said:

Assuming 5NT is pick-a-slam.

For those who bid 5NT and then 7♣ over 6♠ clearly offering a choice ...

What do you expect partner to do with 2=1 in the minors?

I expect him to bid 7♦, unless his spades are completely solid. I've shown equal minors - 5NT-6♠-6NT is just to play, so this is the only way to force a choice between the minors.

I'm not sure what your point is. If he's 2=1 in the minors, which minor we play in is rarely going to matter.