[Poky]

MP. All vul.

♠76543
♥7
♦7
♣AJ9765

2NT - 3♥
3♠ - ???

[whereagles]

4♣. Even if pard doesn't stop before slam, it will probably play better than 3NT!!

[luke warm]

i voted 4C and to me it seems easy

[Free]

4♣ slam try... Also, in my partnership, 3♠ promisses only 2 ♠'s

[Fluffy]

If 3♠ shows 3♠ cards the 4♠

If 3♠ shows 2♠ cards then 5♣

If You don´t play game forcing transfers then I don´t transfer with such suit and bid 4♣ directly.

[inquiry]

This is matchpoints. I certainly don't want to play 5♣ at matchponts. Sure, 5♣ maybe a heck of a lot safer than 3NT, but at mp, I want the higher scoring contract.

So let me start by saying 3♥ was an awful bid. That looks like a four card spade suit to me, so I would start with 3♣ (stayman). If we find a 4-4 (well, in this case 4-5) spade fit, I will explore slam. If partner doesn't have 4♠, I am going to stick this in 3NT.

Now, on this auction, I am forced to stick it in 3NT anyway. If partner pulls 3NT to 4♠, I will pass, because I will assume he is looking at only 3♠'s. But I shouldn't be in this position anyway.

Ben

[pclayton]

4♣ looks fine. Possible hand where 3N is going down but 6♣ is frigid. Partner knows it MP's too, and might pass 3N expecting you to hold more of a balanced hand. I don't mind 4♠ on a 5-2 fit sometimes, but these spots are horrible. 5♣ is key card gerber for me, even if I liked the bid (which I don't)

[luke warm]

inquiry, on Jul 16 2004, 03:27 PM, said:

This is matchpoints. I certainly don't want to play 5♣ at matchponts. Sure, 5♣ maybe a heck of a lot safer than 3NT, but at mp, I want the higher scoring contract.

So let me start by saying 3♥ was an awful bid. That looks like a four card spade suit to me, so I would start with 3♣ (stayman). If we find a 4-4 (well, in this case 4-5) spade fit, I will explore slam. If partner doesn't have 4♠, I am going to stick this in 3NT.

Now, on this auction, I am forced to stick it in 3NT anyway. If partner pulls 3NT to 4♠, I will pass, because I will assume he is looking at only 3♠'s. But I shouldn't be in this position anyway.

Ben

ben, i don't think 3h was a horrible bid here... the 2nt opener *might* have 3 spades, and if so they rate to be 3 nice ones... as for bidding 3nt because it's matchpoints, i don't think partner would like it very much when he saw the dummy... as someone said, there are lots of hands where 3nt is off and 6c is making.. and before you point it out, yes there are also lots of hands where 3nt makes and 6c is off

[Cascade]

This is a high variance auction.

3NT could be right or it could be several off.

5♣ or 6♣ or even 7♣ could be right.

Of course 4♠ or higher could be right if we have a spade fit.

I bid 4♣ keeping available as many options as possible.

We play that we can still get back to 4NT after 4♣.

[EricK]

inquiry, on Jul 16 2004, 01:27 PM, said:

This is matchpoints. I certainly don't want to play 5♣ at matchponts. Sure, 5♣ maybe a heck of a lot safer than 3NT, but at mp, I want the higher scoring contract.

So let me start by saying 3♥ was an awful bid. That looks like a four card spade suit to me, so I would start with 3♣ (stayman). If we find a 4-4 (well, in this case 4-5) spade fit, I will explore slam. If partner doesn't have 4♠, I am going to stick this in 3NT.

Now, on this auction, I am forced to stick it in 3NT anyway. If partner pulls 3NT to 4♠, I will pass, because I will assume he is looking at only 3♠'s. But I shouldn't be in this position anyway.

Ben

3NT is not a higher scoring contract than 5♣!

3NT with overtrick(s) is a higher scoring contract than 5♣ just making, but 5♣ with an overtrick is a higher scoring contract than 3NT just making, and 5♣ is a higher scoring contract than 3NT going down, and 5♣ down 1 is a higher scoring contract than 3NT down more than one.

I am not at all sure on this hand what the probability of each scenario is.

Could someone run a simulation?

Eric

[Dwayne]

EricK, on Jul 18 2004, 12:36 AM, said:

3NT is not a higher scoring contract than 5♣!

Bingo Erik!
For providing the correct answer you get the chance to play off for our major prize.

As Erik so correctly points out, NTs scores more than clubs and diamonds but making games score better than failing contracts.

3NT is a horrible bid here and for what it's worth I believe 3H is mandatory. A 4C rebid seems the sensible approach - how else will opener evaluate his hand in context.

Dwayne

[mikestar]

Erik's point is right on the money. I'd just like to add the observation that on at least a fair portion of the hands where 3N makes overticks, partner will be able to bid a making club slam. Last time I looked at the scoring table, 6C= outscored 3N+4!

[Fluffy]

Cascade, on Jul 17 2004, 04:43 AM, said:

This is a high variance auction.

3NT could be right or it could be several off.

5♣ or 6♣ or even 7♣ could be right.

Of course 4♠ or higher could be right if we have a spade fit.

I bid 4♣ keeping available as many options as possible.

We play that we can still get back to 4NT after 4♣.

Hi Wayne!

If partner bids 4NT we are in trouble: he is probably with doubleton ♣ and that rates to mean 4NT is gonna be an awful contract.

Then it looks more sensible to switch 4NT to 5♣, is partner able to raise to 6♣ after such auction (if he does I bet we are at least 1 off)?

[Cascade]

I would expect partner to bid 4NT often with three clubs. In fact I think that 4NT will often show three clubs since partner will have only two spades. Only in the case that partner has opened 2NT with an off-shape 2452 2542 or 2362 hand will partner have a doubleton in both black suits.

And 4NT going minus is only a big problem when 3NT is making exactly or 5♣ is making.

[whereagles]

Gadget for this situation: (self-evident, but oh well..)

4D = club fit, good hand for slam
4H = spade fit, good hand for slam
4S = spade fit, not interested in slam
4NT = misfit. To play unless responder has something really special
5C = club fit, not interested in slam