[inquiry]

Oddly enough 5♣ was above average in a matchpoint event. Still, missing this 6♣ contract is not going to make anyone's day.


North thought south should show long hearts and that 3D was 3NT try, south thought north should bid slam, as 3d followed by leap to 5C shows a good hand, maybe better than actually held.

Anyway, wondering, what was the single worse call, and who deserves the bulk of the blame for missing slam.

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[TylerE]

North bid fine. South...eh, 3♦ should be asking, but given that, south can almost keycard over 3♠.

[quiddity]

I don't like South's cuebid. With this much shape I prefer a simple 4♣.

[kayin801]

4♣ by South over 3♠ is forcing. 5♣ ties North's hands. Every bid up through 3♠ is obvious. I forsee...

3♠-4♣
4♠-4NT
5♠-6♣

Edit: I don't think this is entirely obvious, because it's one of those deals where both hands are in the uncomfortable middle in terms of strength, but I think each is strong enough to make mild tries up through 4♠, after which South just has to go for it.

[JLOGIC]

Don't like 3D, it makes everything murky. South has a good club fit, I prefer 4D, or 4C if playing kickback. Souths plan was presumably to pull to 3N to 4C, but as so often happens, partner didn't bid 3N. Now a 4C bid sounds like it might be something like 3532 with no stopper or w/e.

5C was I guess trying to say "3D was an advance cue bid and I have real club support with a D fit." Maybe, but it is unclear. If that's what it meant, north should bid 6, but that type of auction never works out for me.

I understand souths thinking, and it might be good, but tbh since I never bid that way and neither do my partners, I would be confused like north was also.

This is a baby slam if south just raises to 4C (4S-4N-whatever), or if south bids 4D (4N-whatever).

[Cyberyeti]

The bad bidding is either 3♦ or 5♣, 4♦ could be bid instead of either.

South is wrong IMO, 3♣ then 3♠ is GF, so 5♣ is weaker than 4 opposite.

[ggwhiz]

The 3♠ bid is exactly what south wants to hear. Jumping to 5♣ over that should be close to unanimous as the culprit or why bother bidding 3♦?

[Fluffy]

The only thing that makes 3♦ palatable is that it keeps the 6-2 heart fit in the picture. But KQ10xxx opposite doubleton plays one trick better in clubs so often anyway.

IMo its close between 3♦ and 5♣ as the blame bids.

[jdeegan]

3♦ is a really terrible Q-bid imho.
The issue for South after 3♣ is "how many ♣", but at least 5. You want to engage partner in making this decision ASAP. At the table I would probably bid 4♦ despite the stiff ace. I have no real objections to a quantitative 5♣. If you want to go slow and torture partner, even 3♥ has some merit.

[helene_t]

Agree that 3♦ was the worst bid but then again I don't think it is that terrible. South's hand is not that great and it is understandable that he doesn't want to set clubs as trump at matchpoints. 3♦ gives North the chance to show a doubleton heart support and if he has that then 4♥ may be better than 5/6♣ at MP.

Maybe best to play 3♦ as showing club support and 3♠ as showing a hand with "nowhere to go".

[han]

3D was the worst call. It's a little bit of nothing.