[mtvesuvius]

All NV at IMPs:

AKx
------
Jxxx
AKQxxx

You deal:

1♣ - (1♥) - 1♠ - (4♥)
?

Edit: 1♠ shows 4+♠

[Mbodell]

I expect 4♠ to make near 100% of the time, 6♠ to make a reasonable (1/3?) amount of the time and maybe even occasionally 7. The real question is how safe will 5♠ be when we chicken out and how often can we engage partner on where we should be (between 6 and not 6). I think I try 5♥, a cue agreeing spades and hope that partner can go to 6 when it is safe.

[aguahombre]

Hmm. since I only have 3 spades I need partner to have one of the following, at least, for slam.

qJtXX of spades and the clubs running with them not cashing AK of diamonds.
Qxxxx of spades, a spade break, and the j of clubs or the Ace of diamonds. (entry issues if I trump the first heart).
5 low spades with a break, the ace of hearts, the ace of diamonds and the jack of clubs--and maybe no diamond lead.

OK, 6 spades and pray--this coming from a guy who believes in partnership auctions .

only mentioned the hands I can't find out about. Of course there are others.

[RMB1]

How many spades did 1♠ show? 5+ / 4+ (presumably not 3-)
How many spades would X by partner show? (4 / 3- / 4+)

Thanks

Robin

[mtvesuvius]

1♠ showed 4+

[aguahombre]

mtvesuvius, on Sep 12 2009, 05:46 PM, said:

1♠ showed 4+

oops...didnt think anyone played what I play....disregard anything I posted, as is usually best.

[Jlall]

1S 4+ makes this hand really complicated

[the hog]

I wondered about the length of the S suit. You should probably post this in the original post. I play 4+, but many here play 1S in competition as 5+ and a sputnik double as 4. (An inferior methid in my opinion, but well....)
I guess i bid 4S.

[Mbodell]

Yeah, my original post assumed 1♠ was 5+. If it is 4+ it is much harder.

[maggieb]

I'm bidding 5NT, which Peggy and I play as "pick a slam". We might belong in spades, diamonds or clubs, and I don't feel like picking our suit . 5NT is the only bid that keeps all strains in play. I'm confident that partner will often be able to choose our best fit.

I estimate that we belong in some slam about 60% of the time. Given that 4S may go down on some of the none-slam hands (heck, 4S might even go down when we do have a slam!), I think that 5NT is the best bid.

My other choices (4S, 4NT and 5C in that order) are close and I think they are all reasonable. We might still reach slam after any of these bids but I think the chance is slim.

By the way, I think that after 5NT partner can guess my shape quite well. With 2 spades I wouldn't keep spades in the picture and I would either double or bid 4NT. Clubs must be longer than diamonds and with 3-1-4-5 or 3-1-3-6 distribnution I would likely double.