[mtvesuvius]

Scoring: IMP

(3♦) - 4♠ - (Pass) - 6♠ - All Pass

ATB.

---

[rogerclee]

This isn't really fair, as it's clear that North has never played bridge before.

[jdonn]

I blame the one who made the bid that was higher than blackwood.

[655321]

I would have started with a double as South. This would not been as successful, not sure how to bid 7 with certainty after that.

The 4♠ bid has worked well, so North gets all the blame. Keycard, find out about the ♥K, bid 7NT with confidence.

[whereagles]

Given the circumstances, bidding was fine. Move on.

[hotShot]

I don't think that this is a simple ATB.
South has both majors and is strong enough to bid ♠ over (almost) any answer his partner may give over a dbl.
I would expect a direct 4♠ to be a weaker hand with longer ♠ without a 2nd suit.

Playing with a pickup partner I can understand doubts that 4NT will be understood as some sort Blackwood. But I think North should bid Blackwood anyway.

South looks at 4 keycards (♠AK ♥K and ♣K) the trump Q and shortness in the only suit where he does not have the K. North has bid 6♠ without knowing about all this. South could at least consider to bid 7♠.

Both contributed to the result so I would say 60% North and 40% South.

[jmcw]

None or if you insist the 3♦ bidder

[mcphee]

N did poorly, 4S does not show a poor hand and looking at his power how hard is it to SEE a great trump suit. 6S simply gives up when this player should see 13 tricks are cold when ever partner has K of H, a strong possibility.

[kfay]

whereagles, on May 7 2009, 01:55 AM, said:

Given the circumstances, bidding was fine. Move on.

Do you know what 4♠ shows?

[whereagles]

kfay, on May 7 2009, 02:06 PM, said:

whereagles, on May 7 2009, 01:55 AM, said:

Given the circumstances, bidding was fine. Move on.

Do you know what 4♠ shows?

Of course I do.

[ArtK78]

The fact that South had a 4th heart is irrelevant. He would have a 4♠ bid either way.

North must have been in a hurry to get to the next hand. There is no reason not to bid 4NT and see what useful information can be obtained. Once North confirms that all of the key cards are present South may be in a position to bid the grand. If not, he will show the ♣K and then over 6♦ he will show the ♥K and North can bid the grand.

This should not have been a difficult hand.

[jdonn]

whereagles, on May 7 2009, 01:55 AM, said:

Given the circumstances, bidding was fine. Move on.

What are the circumstances to which you refer? Were they not playing blackwood?

[neilkaz]

100% blame to N here. Once he is committing to slam (I agree of course) it cannot hurt to slow play this auction a bit and ask for key cards. (If there is some confusion as to whether 4NT is RKC here, then just cue 5♣)

After N finds out via S's 5♠ response that their said has all the keys, he can bid 5NT and then as S I carry on directly to the grand.