[sukatglf]

Partner, South, opens 2N showing 20-21 HCP. West passes. As North, you hold (S,H,D,C) X, AJ10X, AJ, 10xxxxx. Partnership plays transfers (3S forces 4C bid) and Stayman. With 29-30 HCP points, slam try depends on fit. Do you bid 3C, Stayman, first, and then shift to clubs, or transfer to clubs and then show hearts?

[ggwhiz]

stayman first. Transfer to clubs and bid hearts is a cue not a suit in my partnership.

[BillPatch]

First of all I count my hand. 10 hcp + partner's 20-21 = 30-31. Second I note whether we are in matchpoints or IMPs. At matchpoints rejected slam try at 5♣ often will yield a 0 even if it makes exactly 11 tricks, so I'll start with Stayman. If I find the hearts, I'll probably play in 6♥. (Asking for A's or keys if system permits.) Otherwise, I will sign off at 3NT.

Maybe at IMPS I would try the same. Since I have more than my share of A's for my points I doubt partner will cooperate with must suitabile hands if I invite(presumably with a raise to game after transferring to ♣).

[eagles123]

i can't imagine not bidding a slam here, obviously hearts if partner shows them but if he doesn't then there's no way i'm stopping in 3n with such a powerful hand

[BillPatch]

Since we have 6 ♣cards the remaining three seats have a mean of 2 1/3 clubs, a median and mode of 2. If partner has 2 clubs we can hold our club losers to one only if he specifically has the AK and the suit splits 3-2, the AQ, the club finesse works and they split 3-2, or KQ and the J falls doubleton. Roughly one third of the time the two clubs are this good slam has no play because the opponents can cash the ♠A, anther 40% of the 6-2 club slam splits that have ply fail due to off-side finesse(s). For the 60% of the time that the 2NT has 2 clubs, the slam will fail at least 5 of 6 time. Counting only the eight card fits approx. 50% of club slams fail, and there are enough high cards outstanding that substantially less than 100% of the 9+ fits fail in slam. Since a club slam is less than 50% and a 3NT game is certain. 6♣ is normally a bad bet.

[SteveMoe]

Stayman then ♣ regardless of partner's answer. New suit is natural and forcing (discard the notion that it denies a fit in partner's major). The key issue is whether partner has wasted values in ♠. Slam is very possible opposite ♠Axxx ♥Kx ♦KQT ♣AKxx or ♠Kx ♥KQxx ♦KQxx ♣AKx or ♠Kx ♥KQx ♦KQxx ♣AKxx type hands.