[JavaBean]

You deal, all white at a BBO IMP-pairs table, and open 1NT (weak, but I doubt it matters). Partner transfers to spades, and your RHO jumps to 4♥. Partner balances with 5NT: what does it mean?

On the actual hand, you held ♠A8 ♥KJ72 ♦Q76 ♣AT92. If you're interested in secondary questions, (a) would you have doubled 4♥; (b) what do you call now?

[Phil]

Pick a slam - probably 5=0=4=4.

[aguahombre]

JavaBean, on May 7 2010, 09:56 PM, said:

On the actual hand, you held ♠A8 ♥KJ72 ♦Q76 ♣AT92. If you're interested in secondary questions, (a) would you have doubled 4♥; ( what do you call now?

Only if the double showed the fewest spades, super heart defense behind the bidder, and an appreciation that partner might have to make a problematic rebid.

If partner still bid 5NT, I wouldn't punish him; just bid 6C. But I would feel more comfortable that I had shown my hand.

[Fluffy]

In my metha its grand slam force, but it makes no sense at all so I'd lead towards pick a slam.

[helene_t]

Agree with Phil.

[andy_h]

I would have doubled 4♥. Seems like we have 4 tricks in our own hand + whatever partner can contribute. My ♥7 could even be promoted too!

[mcphee]

Time to bid 6C, I think partner is 5-0-4-4 and hope it makes. I would have dbled 4H.

[awm]

I agree with Phil that it is "pick a slam" but I don't see why it's necessarily 5-0-4-4. I think a lot of slam-going hands with only five spades would bid this way (i.e. 5233, 51(43), etc). Introducing a minor suit at the five or six-level here sounds 5-5 to me.

[jjbrr]

dbl 4♥ and pick a slam.

6♣ now

[Phil]

awm, on May 8 2010, 12:15 PM, said:

I agree with Phil that it is "pick a slam" but I don't see why it's necessarily 5-0-4-4. I think a lot of slam-going hands with only five spades would bid this way (i.e. 5233, 51(43), etc). Introducing a minor suit at the five or six-level here sounds 5-5 to me.

Agree with 51(34).

5233? Are you sitting for a Moysian here?

I would also think 5♥ instead of 5N would have some utility - GSF maybe?

[Winstonm]

I would double 4H as it makes no sense for me that the double would mean anything other than:

Quote

....fewest spades, super heart defense behind the bidder, and an appreciation that partner might have to make a problematic rebid

.



Having not made the (obvious?) double, I have to put myself in partner's shoes, who may be trying to determine what to do now with: AQxxx, x, AKxx, KQx.

I don't know what exactly 5H would have meant instead of 5N, but I think it is the 5044 hand, though, so 5N is more likely something else.

I am more inclined I think to bid 6NT in this auction.

[raist]

i think it can never be GSF because transferring at the 2 level only promises 5 cards
(unless only INV. but clearly here partner is more than INV)

so with that in mind, partner does not know whether there is a fit

without a gauranteed fit, there can be no GSF, RKC etc

so it should be some form of pick a slam

[gordontd]

raist, on May 9 2010, 09:57 AM, said:

i think it can never be GSF because transferring at the 2 level only promises 5 cards
(unless only INV. but clearly here partner is more than INV)

so with that in mind, partner does not know whether there is a fit

There's no prohibition on responder having more than five cards in his suit.

[campboy]

There are certainly hands where partner needs to bid 5NT for pick-a-slam; if he wants me to choose between 6♠ and 7♠ he can bid 6♥.

My priorities here would be i) 6♠ with 3+; ii) 6m with 5; iii) 6NT with a good stop; iv) 6m with 4. So I would go for 6NT.

[nige1]

JavaBean, on May 7 2010, 10:56 PM, said:

You deal, all white at a BBO IMP-pairs table, and open 1NT (weak, but I doubt it matters). Partner transfers to spades, and your RHO jumps to 4♥. Partner balances with 5NT: what does it mean? On the actual hand, you held
♠ A8 ♥ KJ72 ♦ Q76 ♣ AT92.
If you're interested in secondary questions, (a) would you have doubled 4♥; ( what do you call now?

jjbrr, on May 8 2010, 01:15 PM, said:

dbl 4♥ and pick a slam. 6♣ now

Agree with jjbrr; 6♣ = 10. 6N = 8. I would be frightened that, having failed to double 4♥, partner may place me with five ♣. However, occasionally, a Moysian fit may be a triumph eg partner has
♠ Kxxxx ♥ x ♦ AKJx ♣ KQJ

[Fluffy]

Phil, on May 8 2010, 06:32 PM, said:

I would also think 5♥ instead of 5N would have some utility - GSF maybe?

Exclusion better than GSF.

[jdeegan]

Can't believe you didn't double 4♥. Is there ever going to be any better hand for that bid? Now I think you have to bid 6NT - after all, you do have second round ♥ control. 6♠ is out, and 6♣ might mislead partner into thinking you had a real club suit.

[raist]

gordontd, on May 9 2010, 04:06 AM, said:

raist, on May 9 2010, 09:57 AM, said:

i think it can never be GSF because transferring at the 2 level only promises 5 cards
(unless only INV. but clearly here partner is more than INV)

so with that in mind, partner does not know whether there is a fit

There's no prohibition on responder having more than five cards in his suit.

if partner had more than 5, he would have transferred at the 4 level before bidding 5N

[bluecalm]

Pick a slam. I don't think he needs to be 5-0-4-4. Just 5♠ - 4minor is enough if he is willing to play 6NT if we don't find a fit. I guess he can even bid that way with 5♠-3-3-2 and very strong hand if he doesn't want to lose ♠ slam.

[JavaBean]

At the table, partner was pushing a bit, with ♠JT543 ♥- ♦AKJ5 ♣KQ53. 6♣ is clearly the best slam, and can be made on the layout, but no slam is terribly good. Any final thoughts on the auction?