[inquiry]

Scoring: IMP

My partner and I reached 3NT after WEST overcalled 2♣, and when the first clubs was lead and ducked to the ♣K rattled off 13 tricks. We spent time discussing how we might have gotten to 6NT. We were depressed about out lack of bidding skill on this one.

Our opponents, however faired even worse. Their auction was
Pass-Pass-1♦-2♣
Pass-Pass-2♦-All Pass

---

West North East South
 -     -     -     Pass
 Pass  1♦      2♣    2♦!
 Pass  3♣!   Pass  3NT
 Pass  Pass  Pass  

To be fair in my auction, I had DBL availabe to promise ♥'s, or maybe 2♦ promised ♥'s, these transfer advances mess me up. But anyway, the point isn't our auction, it failed to find the slam anyway, the point is how should it be bid after the 2♣ overcall (clearly if South bids anything, game at least will be reached). Also clearly, if South passes, north's reopening has to be more aggressive than a tame 2♦. Something like 3♣ or 3♦ would be called for.

Ben

[Free]

first of all, what's the 1NT range?

I think pass is wrong, you have good 9 HCP and a 4 card M. A clear Dbl to me, unless you really prefer 2NT on such hand (when playing weak NT it might be apropriate). When there's a Dbl, North should bid 3♦ showing his strength. Now you can start cuebidding and find some slam, possiby 6♦:

p-p-1D-2C
Dbl-p-3D-p
4C-p-4S-p
4NT-p-5m-p (m showing 3 keycards)
6 something

or

p-p-1D-2C
Dbl-p-3D-p
4C-p-4H-p
5C-p-5S-p
6 something

Best is to bid 6NT, you never know ♣A is wrongsided...

[whereagles]

First of all, you should have opened a 9-11 no trump After that it's plain sailing:

1NT 2♣
2♥ 2♠
2NT 3♦
3♥ 6♦

2♣ Stayman, intending to follow up with an asking bid (2♠ in this case)
2NT min 3433
3♦ GF sets trumps
3♥ good hearts
6♦ North counts 1+4+7 = 12 tricks

Note also that the kamikaze NT inhibits the 2♣ overcall

[inquiry]

whereagles, on Jun 7 2004, 10:07 AM, said:

First of all, you should have opened a 9-11 no trump

Thanks, but I don't think we are going to be changing our system anytime soon. This also will apply to all the 1♣ forcing auctions people will suggest. Let's see hows a 2/1 or SAYC pair would bid it.

[luke warm]

whew.. i honestly don't see how you can get to 6nt here... as much as i'd like to open the S hand 1nt, i can't.. i'm already accused of having a death wish, so while the 3 controls are fine i really need the 10 hcp

i think p (p) 1♦ (2♣) and now 2♥ ... i play neg x shows both majors so can bid with a 4 card suit, but even so partner's gonna bid 3♦, after which 3nt looks obvious... what if pard jumps to 4♦ here? is that rkc and is it allowed in your system?

[Fluffy]

It is oen of those deals where north and south hands fit perfectly, and also has the problem that regardless who takes the control of the bidding, one of them will be unable to show something (very good ♥ support for North, and the important third ♦ that takes care of ♦Q problem).
First rounds of bidding look very clear to me (and probably wich I will suggest will followed just by me )

ps-ps-1♦-2♣
X -ps-3♣*-ps

3♣ used as any game forcing hand.

Now south has a doubt, he can bid 3♥ or 3NT, I would probably pick 3NT wich would end the auction, but if he picks 3♥ it can end up in 6♦:

3♥-ps-4♦*-ps
4♥**-ps-6♦-ps
ps-ps

4♦* it may look dangerous to get above 3NT, but with partner having ♥ you will hardly fail in 5♦.

4♥** assuming you play 2♥ as negative free bid, so this has to be a cuebid, otherwise you are doomed unable to reach the slam.

[Shrike]

whereagles, on Jun 7 2004, 09:07 AM, said:

First of all, you should have opened a 9-11 no trump After that it's plain sailing:

1NT 2♣
2♥ 2♠
2NT 3♦
3♥ 6♦

Opposite a mini notrump my course as North is a little simpler:

1NT (P) 6D (all pass)

All right, maybe a bit much. I don't think there's a realistic way to get there, but how about:

P-1D (2C)
X-3C
3NT-4NT
6NT

[EricK]

North's hand is huge to begin and if South shows ♦ support it becomes huger still (just count the Zar points )

After 3♣, South shoud show bid 3♦, and then North can go for the ♦ slam.

Eric

[Fluffy]

whereagles, on Jun 7 2004, 03:07 PM, said:

First of all, you should have opened a 9-11 no trump After that it's plain sailing:

1NT 2♣
2♥ 2♠
2NT 3♦
3♥ 6♦

2♣ Stayman, intending to follow up with an asking bid (2♠ in this case)
2NT min 3433
3♦ GF sets trumps
3♥ good hearts
6♦ North counts 1+4+7 = 12 tricks

Note also that the kamikaze NT inhibits the 2♣ overcall

Do you really expect the 2♣ overcalller to pass your stayman?, (X)-2♥-(3♣)-??, or maybe harder when ♠ fit is found.

[luke warm]

Fluffy, on Jun 8 2004, 02:13 PM, said:

Do you really expect the 2♣ overcalller to pass your stayman?, (X)-2♥-(3♣)-??, or maybe harder when ♠ fit is found.

probably true.. but what if instead of 2♣ north has 2♦ as a game force? will east normally wait to see where they land, or will he bid 3♣ (or maybe x) immediately?

IF i opened south 1N (i'd be tempted), assuming no interference it would go:

1N : 2D
2N : 3C
2N showed any 4333, 3C asks
3S : 4C
3S=3433, 4C ask controls
4D : 4H
4D=2 or 3 controls, 4H spiral scan
4N : 5C
4N=top ♥, 0 or all 3 top ♠, 5C still scanning
5D : 5H
5D=0 or all 3 top diamonds, 5H scanning
6C : 6N
6C shows a top club and another ♥ honor (which has to be the Q) to go with the ace

responder knows opener has no spade control, A, Q of ♥ 4th, no diamond control, the ♣K, and 10 diamonds between them with the A, K.. because of the 6C bid, he now has to bid 6N (6D is another scan - a slight danger shown by the 5H bid)

[Free]

Perhaps this is something stupid, but do you REALY think opps will pass 2♦ GF stayman??? If you play against me, it will be a nice 3♣ bid to destroy your methods, going -3 or -4 doubled at most...

[whereagles]

How can you say that when you didn't look at the overcaller's hand? Are you still going to butt-in at the 3-level on Kxx xxx x AJxxxx?

[Free]

whereagles, on Jun 8 2004, 04:31 PM, said:

How can you say that when you didn't look at the overcaller's hand? Are you still going to butt-in at the 3-level on Kxx xxx x AJxxxx?

Yes indeed, i have a 6 card 7-8 losers, a bit overbid, but when opps have game it's not that bad...

[luke warm]

you're right, it isn't that bad - this time... that's cause the ops have a slam, but for it to be successful you have to figure 1) they'll bid the slam and 2) it makes

but yeah, i know you'd butt in heheh