[nigel_k]

Scoring: IMP

1♠ 1NT
3♦ 4♦
4♥ 5♣
6♦

---

Assign the blame. If East should bid 3NT over 3♦, should West keep bidding with eg AKQxx, x, AKQx, Qxx and/or his actual hand?

I don't know much about Gazzilli or similar conventions so if you use them and they would solve this, please post something about that.

[the hog]

I don't play Gazilli. The problem lies with West being overoptimistic.Partner responded 1NT after all; after the failure to cue 4S I would simply sign off in 5D. C values are likely to be redundant anyway.

[Fluffy]

we have played worse slams.

A way I see to stop in time is that East bids 4♣ instead of 4♦, I would understand this as a cue for diamonds, then he bids 5♣ to show AK♣ but nothing else, and West now has a clearer sing off.

[mike777]

nonexpert answer.

We as usual overuse rkc and bid kickback over 4d and find out we are missing 2 keycards. I thought the bidding was fine through 4d.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

Asuming 1 NT was forcing, the 4D bid sounds like 10-12 bal.
with prime values, i.e. the East hand is to weak to bid 4D.
Hence I think 3NT is a lot better, at least opener will be aware,
that he may still be facing a 6-9.
Alternativly 4D should include more distribution.

If 1NT was nonforcing, you need very specific cards to make
slam better than 50%, so I would say settling for game is
still enough.

And I would not move over 3NT, if you exchanged my opening
hand, afterall 3NT does not imply a fit.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[OleBerg]

I wouldn't waste any time assigning blame to this one.

The slam is not that unreasonable, and playing a natural system, it is hard to evaluate the wastage in clubs.

[cRi cRi]

OleBerg, on Jul 30 2009, 02:15 AM, said:

I wouldn't waste any time assigning blame to this one.

The slam is not that unreasonable, and playing a natural system, it is hard to evaluate the wastage in clubs.

I agree . I like all of your bids.

About fluffy's sugestion on bidding 4♣, I like it, but to my partnership 4♣ would be unfortunately natural.

[Cascade]

West said he had a good hand at every juncture. It is hard to see what he thought was so good about his hand. When he knows that the ♠A is missing he now needs the equivalent of ♣A ♦Q and ♥K for a good slam. East has not shown all of those cards.

Some east's might not raise to 4♦ but I don't like to criticize a partner who raises.

[pooltuna]

East needs to realize all his values are in West's short suits and therefore less useful so I fault him for not calling 3NT over 3♦

[kenrexford]

From East's perspective, West could easily have ♠A, ♥K, ♦Q when he raises diamonds.

From West's perspective, East could easily have ♠AKxxx ♥Ax ♦AKJxx ♣xx when he bids 3♦.

So, looking for slam makes sense, if you decide to bypass 3NT.

Assuming that you so elect, the question, then, is methods.

I like the idea that 4♣ shows a club card. Then, after whatever cue from Opener (likely 4♦ -- good trumps), 5♣ tells the tale.

If 4♣ is unavailable, 4♦ makes sense. Opener can still envision slam, so what next?

I would have had 4♥ as RKCB. But, that carries with it the idea that 4NT by either party is a heart cue. The problem with this is that the auction is not as good as just cues. Opener does not get enough info from RKCB to decide. If 4♥ is taken, then Opener's 4♠ cue seems wrong. Sure, it shows two of the top three spades, but contextually I think the Ace should be required. But, even if you cue 4♠, it would be important that 4NT is not cue'd, meaning no heart King.

If RKCB is not available, then 4NT by Responder should be a cue, whether trump or hearts (the "stolen" cue). Or, serious/non-serious.

The issue is technique.

If technique is "seat of pants" or undiscussed, then I think Opener makes a stab but never accepts. Responder must accept. With only AK on clubs (no internals), he declines.

[ONEferBRID]

Fluffy, on Jul 29 2009, 07:52 PM, said:

we have played worse slams.

A way I see to stop in time is that East bids 4♣ instead of 4♦, I would understand this as a cue for diamonds, then he bids 5♣ to show AK♣ but nothing else, and West now has a clearer sing off.

I use Fluffy's method.
4C as an advance cue for partner's 2nd suit;

However, Responder seems about a Queen short in strength.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
When partner shows a strong 2-suiter--GF, normally at least a 5/5-- what sense does it make to introduce a different, natural suit at the 4-level ?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Responder's alternatives for supporting the 1st suit are:
1S - 1NTF
3D - ??
...........3S = weak bid, could be as few as 2 cards Sp
...........4S = 3 card limit raise; a hand that would have jumped
to 3S if Opener had made a minimum rebid of 2C/2D/2H.
( This is NOT a fast arrival situation ).