[rogerclee]

1) r/w IMPs

AJxx Kxx x AKTxx

P 2H ?

2) w/w IMPs

xxx Kx xx QJT97x

2C-2D
2N*-?

2N = 22-24

Your methods allow you to show a slam try in clubs with 3S then 4D and you will never get to slam off 2 keycards.

3)

w/r IMPs

KQx QJ876 A KQ9x

P 4D X 5D
P P ?

[cherdanno]

1) 3♣.

2) 3N

3) I have no defense when partner passes but I think I am still just about worth a double. If partner has no high card, they will make, if he has one or two, we will beat it, and if he bids it will cost 4 IMPs or it will gain a lot. Seems about worth it.

[Apollo81]

I am biting on all three hands. 3♣, slam try, double.

[MarkDean]

Pass, slam try, pass.

So while I am overbidding one hand, cherdanno and I put together overbid all three with you.

[gnasher]

(1) 2NT. If I bid 3♣ and partner bids 3♥, I won't know whether to show my heart stop or my spade suit.

(2) If I can make a slam try and then backpedal by bidding 4NT, I'll do that. If "you will never get to slam off 2 keycards" means that opener's only way of showing interest is to ask for keycards, I'll just bid 3NT.

(3) Double, because we may well have a game bonus to protect.

[PhantomSac]

gnasher, on Feb 28 2010, 05:06 AM, said:

(2) If I can make a slam try and then backpedal by bidding 4NT, I'll do that. If "you will never get to slam off 2 keycards" means that opener's only way of showing interest is to ask for keycards, I'll just bid 3NT.

How about just bidding 4N as your slam try? When you don't care about parnters club support much (Kx is fine etc), and usually having something like AKxx is not that beneficial, I think bidding 4N is fine as a slam try, but most people think thats weird and show a slam try in clubs.

FWIW I would just bid 3N.

[whereagles]

rogerclee, on Feb 28 2010, 03:24 AM, said:

1) r/w IMPs
AJxx Kxx x AKTxx

P 2H ?


2) w/w IMPs
xxx Kx xx QJT97x

2C-2D
2N*-?


3) w/r IMPs
KQx QJ876 A KQ9x

P 4D X 5D
P P ?

1) Dbl. Now, if pard bids:

spades: raise
3♦: bid 3NT
3♣: as above, or 4♣ if you feel lucky
2NT lebenshol: PASS THAT


2) 3NT wtp?


3) Pass. We're not going anywhere, I think.

[Cyberyeti]

PhantomSac, on Feb 28 2010, 05:15 AM, said:

gnasher, on Feb 28 2010, 05:06 AM, said:

(2) If I can make a slam try and then backpedal by bidding 4NT, I'll do that.  If "you will never get to slam off 2 keycards" means that opener's only way of showing interest is to ask for keycards, I'll just bid 3NT.

How about just bidding 4N as your slam try? When you don't care about parnters club support much (Kx is fine etc), and usually having something like AKxx is not that beneficial, I think bidding 4N is fine as a slam try, but most people think thats weird and show a slam try in clubs.

FWIW I would just bid 3N.

4N comes to grief in 2 specific circumstances:

AKx, QJxx, AKxx, AK where if the AH is wrong you look very stupid in 6N.

AK, Axx, Axxx, AKxx where the spade ruff is your 12th trick in 6♣

Otherwise it should work well.

1. I'd overcall 2N with the partners I play this 15-17/18. Probably 3♣ if I play it stronger than that.

2. Slam try in C.

3. X, unlikely to go badly wrong, I concede 750 regularly enough anyway.

[gwnn]

(2, 3, 0) NT for me. looks like the simplest option. the third one is a little close, but I think partner should x with most balanced 8 counts or so. Of course they will often go down anyway but not enough for me. Especially if partner, gasp, pulls

[helene_t]

The first one I pass but 2NT is thisclose. Not that attracted by 3♣.

The second one I would bid 3♠ if the agreement is that p now bypasses 3NT with a suitable hand. Otherwise just 3NT. Second choice 4NT.

3rd one I double again.

[gnasher]

Cyberyeti, on Feb 28 2010, 01:08 PM, said:

4N comes to grief in 2 specific circumstances:

AKx, QJxx, AKxx, AK where if the AH is wrong you look very stupid in 6N.

AK, Axx, Axxx, AKxx where the spade ruff is your 12th trick in 6♣

And five rather less specific cases:
- When we need to use trumps to set up partner's long suit, eg AKx Ax AKxxx Kxx (a mere 21-count).
- When we need to use our trumps to retain control, eg KQJ AQx Axxx AKx.
- When the trump suit lets us combine chances safely, eg KQxx AQx AQx AKx.
- When the trump suit provides useful entries, eg AQJ Axx AQxx AKx
- When the trump suit allows an elimination, eg AJ10 Axx AKx AKx.

In other words, any of the normal advantages of having a trump suit may apply on this hand.

[655321]

I like the slam try on (2), and pass on (3).

(1) is a good problem, I have changed my mind from 2NT (best of a bunch of imperfect options) to Pass (since nothing is ideal, perhaps we should pass because partner is a passed hand), and at the moment I like 3♣ (probably not as risky as 2NT, but still gives us a chance of getting to game).

I expect I will change my mind again tomorrow.

[rogerclee]

Results:

1) I thought about a lot of things but in the end I bid 2N at the table and went down 3, teammates were in 3N making (it's cold) from the other direction for win 3. If you bid 3C LHO has to decide what to do (he has KQx void AQJTxxx Qxx), probably pass, leading to a quiet -100 or -200. If you pass, it probably goes float and 2H is off 1.
2) Slam was cold and partner is more than happy to cooperate, he has AKT Ax AKQ Kxxxx. I bid 3N.
3) If you double partner should leave it in and you will lead a club presumably, -950. If partner decides to bid 5S (he has Jxxxxx T9x T9 Jx) it's down 4.

Shorter summary, mark is the nuts.