[Echognome]

Scoring: MP

1NT* - (P) - ?

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* 11-14 Balanced

Partner opens a weak NT. You play normal stayman and transfers, minor suit stayman, etc.

What is your bidding plan?

[helene_t]

Would
1NT-2♣
2♠-4NT
be quanti? If not, I bid 4NT directly.

[the hog]

How can we answer this if we don't know the system you play over 1NT.
I would bid as follows:
1N 2C
2D 2N
?
Where 2C is a puppet to 2D and 2N is now a GF. Pd shows possession of a 4 card M or not. If not I bid 4C to suggest a C contract. We will end in 6 somethings.
Incidentally I don't like the 4 point range; its too wide.

[Free]

Depends on the system. In my system I'd start with a relaysequence to stay low and gather information. If partner is minimum I can still play 3NT in many situations

[inquiry]

helene_t, on Aug 12 2005, 02:41 AM, said:

Would
1NT-2♣
2♠-4NT
be quanti? If not, I bid 4NT directly.

It should be quantitative. The reason is that if you had spade fit, you could bid 3♥ initially to show forcing fit, then rebid 4NT. Thus direct jump to 4NT is quantitative.

So plan, 2C, over 2H, reibd spades then 4NT. Over 2D or 2S rebid 4NT.

My methods allow 1N-2C-2D, and 1N-2C-2H, allow 2S to ask for "range" of the 1NT opening. If partner bids 2S, then 2NT ask partner to bid 3C, where I can bid 3D again as a range ask. But I know this is far from standard.

[EricK]

I will bid a quantitive 4NT.

2♣ might gain (if we find a ♥ fit, and trumps break well, and 4th hand doesn't get in a lead directing double of 2♣), but it might lose, and it will certainly give information to the opponents about opener's distribution.

Eric

[mr1303]

I want to be in slam here no matter what, unless partner opens real cheese for his 1NT openings. I'll bid stayman, and unless I have a method of finding out a 4-4 minor suit fit (maybe a jump to 5NT asking for a 4 card minor) I'kll then bid 6NT. It'll either make or it'll go off....

[Gerben42]

What kind of minor suit Stayman? I might be interested in 7 of a minor if partner does not have 4♥, or 7♥ if he does.

7♥ needs something like

Ax
Kxxx
xxxx
AQx

which is of course a possible hand. The question is: how much can I find out? Relayers have it easy

[inquiry]

Gerben42, on Aug 12 2005, 09:51 AM, said:

What kind of minor suit Stayman? I might be interested in 7 of a minor if partner does not have 4♥, or 7♥ if he does.

7♥ needs something like

Ax
Kxxx
xxxx
AQx

which is of course a possible hand. The question is: how much can I find out? Relayers have it easy

Don't need relays. Just use kantar RKCB.

I guess an auction like...

1N - 2C
2H - 2S (where 2S is forcing heart raise)
3C - 4N
5D - 6C
6D - 7H
Pass

Explain...

1N = weak NT (so for me by Kantar rules, responder will be "strong" hand here)
2C = stayman
2H = hearts
2S = forcing heart raise
3C = cue
4NT = RKCB, agreed hearts
5D = 0 or 3 keycards by weak hand (or can be 5C if that is your response with 3)
6C = specific card ask
6D = queen of clubs
7H = lets play, you will have to have 3-4-2-4 for this not to be great spot. I see 4H, 2D, 1D ruff, 4C and 2S.

Now the risk of mirror image hands is real, so relays could eliminate that, or opener could bid out his distribution by bidding his second card suit (here 3D) instead of cue-bidding. I guess that depends upon your style.

For me, the auction with this hand would be only slighlty different (I do play 14-16 NT) not sure what I wuold play over 11-14, but I will use my same rules). I wouild like to think my auction would be:

1N - 2D
3H - 4C
4S - 4N
5D - 5H
5S - 6D
6H - 7H
Pass

Where:
2D was "jacoby" transfer, but does not promise even 4 hearts. when not having hearts, this is way to invite 3NT with a 2NT rebid.
3H = 4 hearts and a maximum
4C = is second suit, slam try establish six key card blackwood (promises hearts)
4S = cue
4NT = RKCB (6 keycards)
5D = three covers
5H = queen ask (with three keycards, opener can not pass, as kantar says, PLEASE!)
5S = lower queen (clubs)
6D = specific control ask (if partner has doubleton we play 6NT)
6H = no third round control of hearts
7H = you have AQ of clubs, and at least three diamonds.

The 6D bid is safe, because I know we have 2D, 4C, 4H, and 2S tricks. IF parnter bids 4S showing 2 diamonds (with AQ clubs, K hearts, and ACE of spades, he can not have diamond QUEEN).

Buy Kantar's book and read it... :-)

[luis]

Well find about hearts and if pd doesn't have hearts offer a choice between 6♣ and 6NT. I don't know how you do that on your methods but that would be my plan.

Luis

[POJC]

going for 6. Will bid normal stayman. If P has wrong or no major i bid 3C which shows 4 clubs (and 4 in a major) and slam interest. Whatever P bids i go for at least 4NT as RKC if i can. My spot cards allows us to maybe play 6NT/6H/6C even when p has minimum but 1/2 aces

[Double !]

What?

Is the issue how to get to 7♣ opposite something like Axx, Kx, xxx, AQxxx?

[Echognome]

Actually the issue was whether you drive to slam or just invite it. You can find out that partner has 4 spades, but unfortunately he only has 10 points.

Scoring: MP

1NT - 6NT

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I eschewed finding a major, but probably should have. I am still forcing slam after finding out that partner doesn't have hearts. I highly disagreed with partner's bidding 1NT in 1st. That hand isn't worth an upgrade and we already have a wide enough range NT. Our NT is a "good 11 to 14".

Strangely enough, both Moysian major fits make slam, but 6NT is down 1.

[mr1303]

I would think twice before opening that a 10-13 NT, so to open that an 11-14 NT is criminal

[luke warm]

maybe ben's right that you "don't need relays" but i guarantee (unless the opps jump in, and even then it wouldn't be too bad) a relay sequence would get you where you need to be