[barryallen]

gnasher, on Jul 5 2009, 05:45 AM, said:

Free, on Jul 5 2009, 11:00 AM, said:

I agree that opening 2♣ is a poor choice, however, since the initial poster forced us to do this, we shouldn't come up with auctions starting with 1♠ (that's too easy  )

2♣ - 2♦
2♠ - 3♠ (♠ ; forcing raise)
4NT - 5♠ (RKC ; 2 keycards + ♠Q)
6♥ - 7♠ (3rd round control in ♥? ; yes)

So having overstated his hand by bidding 2♣, opener now takes control and drives slam?

As played in England, 3♠ doesn't promise the earth: xxx xxx Kxx Axxx would be sufficient, and slam is hopeless opposite that. Against that, xxx Qxx xxx Axxx would probably not be worth 3♠, and slam is cold.

Those examples, not unsurprisingly, tell us that Blackwood isn't the answer. If you start with 2♣, a possible sequence is:

2♣ - 2♦
2♠ - 3♠
4♥ - 4NT (4♥ really should be a second suit here)
5♠ - 5NT (opener knows of a ten-card fit, so shows ♠Q)
6♥ - 7NT (6♥ = ♥K)

Responder, knowing of seven spades opposite, can count 13 tricks.

If you are playing this system I do not feel opening 2♣ is a poor choice, maybe not the best example. The original Acol 2 would normally be far stronger but I don't believe it would come as a big surprise for anyone to open this one today?

Would agree that the 4♥ bid would represent a second suit completing the picture, as opener has the opportunity to bid 3NT or possibility of 4♣ to get things rolling. Once you get that 4♥ bid it gives you a very good picture of openers hand and you would expect to find that length in the ♠ and the ♥ suit headed by the AK, given your holding.

Once you get that 4♥ bid and what that signifies, either partner should be capable of seeing this to 7?