[zheddh]

Scoring: MP

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The auction goes 1♥ - 1NT - 3♣ - ?

What do you bid and why?

[hrothgar]

I'd double

Slam is out of the picture.

Worst case scenario: RHO is siting on KQJxxxx in clubs.
Even here I have two natural trump tricks and bunch more defense.

We could easily hold the opponents to 6 tricks in 3♣X. (Maybe five if they get unlucky). If they try to run, its gonna be much much worse for them...

[hrothgar]

hrothgar, on Jul 17 2009, 01:54 PM, said:

I'd double

Slam is out of the picture.

Worst case scenario: RHO is siting on KQJxxxx in clubs.
Even here I have two natural trump tricks and bunch more defense.

We could easily hold the opponents to 6 tricks in 3♣X. (Maybe five if they get unlucky). If they try to run, its gonna be much much worse for them...

Oops

Sorry about that.
I thought that the auction was

(1♥) - 1N - (3♣) - ???

After

1♥ - 1N
3♣ - ???

I'd raise to 4♣

[Codo]

I had doubled too

and switch my vote to 4 club, consider this as a no brainer.

[skjaeran]

In my methods opener has promised 55+ and GF values. I raise to 4♣ to invite slam. I've got trumps to set up partners hearts and one of my kings should be valuable.

[mikeh]

The main problem is that in standard, opener may not even hold 4 clubs. Obviously, if he promises 5-5 or better, 4♣ is obvious... the only other call would be keycard, but keycard is a blunt, crude instrument on this hand.

Still, if he only has 3 clubs, he has 6+ hearts (otherwise he'd be 5332 and would raise 1N to 3N) and he will bid 4♥ over 4♣.

Will I pass 4♥? I don't think so: Ax AKQxxx xx KQx is a minimum for the auction and affords reasonable, if below-par, slam opportunities. I will reserve my next call until someone forces me to make it....it will probably be 5♥... since there are 2 unbid suits, this should be a generic 'do you like your hand' try, but 5N pick a slam is an alternative if I want to be aggressive.

[jdonn]

4♣, sometimes life really is just that simple. I am forcing to slam on this.

[mike777]

zheddh, on Jul 17 2009, 05:44 AM, said:

Scoring: MP

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The auction goes 1♥ - 1NT - 3♣ - ?

What do you bid and why?

4c got clubs

If partner rebids 4h then 5nt pick a slam now.

[zheddh]

is it really that obvious at MPs? If slam is not there, would 4C not result in a bad score?

Of course, we played 3NT when 6C was cold, opener had

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3NT made 11 got us 60% btw.

[mtvesuvius]

Double was my first thought also... I'll bid 4♣ even at MPs... (5)6♣ is often the top spot.

[andy_h]

zheddh, on Jul 19 2009, 02:07 AM, said:

is it really that obvious at MPs? If slam is not there, would 4C not result in a bad score?

Of course, we played 3NT when 6C was cold, opener had

Dealer: ????? Vul: ???? Scoring: Unknown

♠ AT9 ♥ AKQJx ♦   ♣ K9532

3NT made 11 got us 60% btw.

How can slam not be here? If I held that hand I would be thinking grand. We have AKK and a doubleton heart, and partner GF jumpshifted. So as it is, I would also bid 4♣ - natural bidding can sometimes be so easy.

Btw, I would not have jumpshifted with your partner's hand and we still make slam with that (and possibly a grand too I might add).

[jdonn]

zheddh, on Jul 18 2009, 10:07 AM, said:

is it really that obvious at MPs? If slam is not there, would 4C not result in a bad score?

Of course, we played 3NT when 6C was cold, opener had

---

3NT made 11 got us 60% btw.

It is really obvious at mps too. Look, partner had a 17 count and you had slam!

[Winstonm]

I'm pretty certain we will get to slam, too, but the question is what slam and from what side?

I like the idea of bidding 3D here, allowing partner to rebid 3H, raise diamonds, complete with 3S or bid 3N. Over any of these call but 4D, I can now disclose my club support with 4C and move toward slam.

[peachy]

3D. Opener made GF, he might have 5-5, 5-4, 6-4 or 6-3 in hearts-clubs and no other convenient gameforcing bid. 3D shows diamonds and leaves opener room to tell some more. We will likely get to slam.

[Jlall]

I think starting with 3D is better than bidding 4C.

[zheddh]

If 4C is so clear, i got another question for the 4C bidders. Saw this hand today on BBO. What if auction goes 1D - 1S - 3C and back to you and you hold

Scoring: MP

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4C should be clear here as well i guess. Opener holds

Scoring: MP

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Sorry, no slam today. 5C also depends on the club suit behaving. 3NT is easy. Did anyone err here or is it just bad luck?

[the hog]

Personally I would not bid 3C on this hand. Do you want to force to game with a 17 count and a singleton in the suit in which your partner has responded? You could find a meagre 6 count opposite.

[gnasher]

The_Hog, on Jul 19 2009, 10:13 AM, said:

You could find a meagre 6 count opposite.

Didn't we establish in some other thread that you could find a meagre 3-count opposite?

[the hog]

gnasher, on Jul 19 2009, 05:01 PM, said:

The_Hog, on Jul 19 2009, 10:13 AM, said:

You could find a meagre 6 count opposite.

Didn't we establish in some other thread that you could find a meagre 3-count opposite?

LOL, yes you are quite right.

[jdonn]

The_Hog, on Jul 19 2009, 04:13 AM, said:

Personally I would not bid 3C on this hand. Do you want to force to game with a 17 count and a singleton in the suit in which your partner has responded? You could find a meagre 6 count opposite.

You are being generous. 3♣ on that hand is hopeless.