[ArtK78]

Fortunately this hand had no bearing on our finishing position in the event, but it was annoying.

The exact setting was that we were leading by a small margin over two teams in the last round of a sectional swiss. Over 4♠, I thought my hand was worth another try, but I was not thinking very clearly. I tried RKCB 4NT rather than the far superior 5♥. My partner bid 5♦ showing one key card. This was doubled. I signed off in 5♠, assuinng that partner had the heart ace.

These were our two hands:

---

Diamond lead to the Ace and Club Queen shift at trick two. Down one.

If I had chosen 5♥ as my slam try, partner would have signed off in 5♠ and we might not have gotten the diamond lead. For that matter, if we were playing 1430 RKCB, partner's response would have been 5♣, avoiding the lead directing double and again possibly avoiding the diamond lead. And this is beside the fact that it is somewhat unlucky to find the ♦A in RHO's hand and the ♣A in LHO's hand.

A further point - the opening lead (from 3 small diamonds) was the ♦3. RHO, on winning the ♦A, saw my ♦2 play, so he considered the possibility that his partner might have the ♦K. However, he worked out that he needed 3 tricks to beat 5♠ so he eventually shifted to the ♣Q. But he did mention that if I were in 6♠ he would have a much more difficult problem.

LHO thought that his partner might need count on the diamonds, hence his low lead from 3 small (playing 3rd and lowest leads).

[kenrexford]

A leap to 4♠ after 3♥ should, IMO, have serious contraints. Not only as to number of non-heart covers, but also as to contextual key cards.

The actual hand is almost too strong. AKQ in hearts converts x-Axx to no losers. I mean, give Opener Axx in clubs, Kxx in diamonds, and a stiff heart...

This type of dummy is, again, why I dislike Jacoby 2NT, especially without a really sophisticated approach to rebids and continuations. That's a different battle, though.

In practice, I think a better bid by Responder would have been 4♥. No minor cards, non-serious, with heart values.

[ArtK78]

By the way, for what it is worth, I just corresponded by e-mail with one of my teammates. He told me that the auction was identical at the other table, except that the response to 4NT was 5♣ (1430) so there was no lead directing double and no diamond lead.

[kenrexford]

Any reason for not cuebidding 4♥? That seems to end the auction immediately.

Also, consider the auction after a 4♥ cue if Opener had held something like ♠AKxxxx ♥x ♦Kxx ♣Axx. Opener would want diamond cards, not club cards. Conversely, ♠AKxxxx ♥x ♦Axx ♣Kxx. A 4♥ cue would allow a 5minor call as an asking bid (if used) or some other methods, hopefully. RKCB would do nothing.

[OleBerg]

Jlall, on Jun 2 2008, 10:48 AM, said:

NickRW, on Jun 2 2008, 03:25 AM, said:

If you never go down in 5, you aren't looking for 6 enough was what my bridge teacher taught.

Nick

Really? I've heard this one for "if they never make a doubled contract..." but not really for uncontested slam bidding

But it is obviously right.

[neilkaz]

Opener's hand is really good, but he should trust that PD heard the 3♥= stiff and that PD failed to bid 3♠,3N,4♣ or 4♦.

However, PD's hand seems like it could be quite useful in spite of 3♥, and I've have Q bid 4♥, ending the hand since this oibviously denies a minor suit control. In this case, 4♥ saves PD from thinking about an unnecessary slam try.

.. neilkaz ..

[jdonn]

pclayton, on Jun 2 2008, 06:18 AM, said:

Saw this one last night and I think bidding on is very clear.

If the 5 level is too high, well, pard doesn't have his call and/or the system is broke.

Agree the system is broke. I don't think bitterness over not liking the system is a valid reason for choosing a bid.

ArtK78, on Jun 2 2008, 07:50 AM, said:

If I had chosen 5♥ as my slam try, partner would have signed off in 5♠ and we might not have gotten the diamond lead.

What else would they lead? Not a heart on that auction, not the club ace since they expect you to have the king to bid keycard (they know you aren't short in clubs), what's left?

[ArtK78]

jdonn, on Jun 2 2008, 01:40 PM, said:

pclayton, on Jun 2 2008, 06:18 AM, said:

Saw this one last night and I think bidding on is very clear.

If the 5 level is too high, well, pard doesn't have his call and/or the system is broke.

Agree the system is broke. I don't think bitterness over not liking the system is a valid reason for choosing a bid.

ArtK78, on Jun 2 2008, 07:50 AM, said:

If I had chosen 5♥ as my slam try, partner would have signed off in 5♠ and we might not have gotten the diamond lead.

What else would they lead? Not a heart on that auction, not the club ace since they expect you to have the king to bid keycard (they know you aren't short in clubs), what's left?

My LHO, who is a very fine player, said that he would have led a heart from Jxxx if it were not for the lead directing double of 5♦. I never asked him what he would have led had I bid 5♥ instead of 4NT. Perhaps he would have led a diamond, perhaps not. His hand was xx Jxxx xxx Axxx. A heart was led at the other table where the auction was identical to that at our table but the response to 4NT was 5♣ (1430) and that was not doubled.

[rogerclee]

I guess I had nothing useful to say, except...disagree with OleBerg.

[gnasher]

Jlall, on Jun 2 2008, 08:46 PM, said:

OleBerg, on Jun 2 2008, 11:56 AM, said:

But it is obviously right.

No it's not, do you see why?

HINT: You can investigate for slam and determine whether you have 5 level safety BELOW the 5 level in uncontested slam auctions!

It's probably right if your system allows fast arrival opposite an unlimited partner.