[32519]

This hand came up at our local club last night. Is there a way to legitimately find the ♠ slam after the opponents pre-empted on the 3-level?
The actual bidding is included.

---

[Cyberyeti]

(3♦)-X-4♦(pick a major)-6♠ if N overbids a touch, but it is only a touch in that N knows S is likely to hold a big hand rather than a 13 count with a singleton diamond in that W/R opp hasn't raised.

I sympathise with your auction and expect it to be duplicated a lot, it could be worse, a 4♦ opener probably causes you to play 4♥.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

the first question is - how to find the spade fit.

The only way I see is, when North bids 4D, but that would force to game, and I dont think
the North hand is worth a game force, but this is a judgement call / and overbidding may
be better on average.

3NT showed 20+ and a bal. hand, ..., but I dont think, I would find a bid over 3NT.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[Codo]

If you look at a 4414 hand and partner doubles them and they are non vul against not, you know that partner has a monster and not necessary just a take out...
So 4 ♦ is no overbid at all with that nice shape. Do you really think that partner may just hold AKxx, Axxx,x,Jxxx? And even then game is not hopeless....

Over 4 ♦ it is getting murky- south has grand slam visions, but how to proceed? Maybe 6 ♠ is the practical bid, but how to know that partner does not hold the queen of spades extra?

[32519]

Cyberyeti, on 2013-January-16, 04:53, said:

(3♦)-X-4♦(pick a major)-6♠ if N overbids a touch, but it is only a touch in that N knows S is likely to hold a big hand rather than a 13 count with a singleton diamond in that W/R opp hasn't raised.

I sympathise with your auction and expect it to be duplicated a lot, it could be worse, a 4♦ opener probably causes you to play 4♥.

I like your suggestion of 4♦ as "pick a major." The North hand is worth 11 points in total; 7 in HCP, 3 for the singleton ♦ and 1 for the 5th ♥. But it will be a very brave North to bid the slam directly. Any other way to get there more slowly, stopping in 5♠ if necessary?
That said, your analysis of no move by West despite W/R would indicate that West has little and South has the bulk of the HCP is good.

[P_Marlowe]

If West is broke, he will only move, if he has a reasonable fit, 3+.
We are short, if West is short as well, this means our partner has 3+.

If East play agressive preempts, e.g. we play a 3 diamond preempt showes 8 looser hand,
i.e. an average weak two would be ok for us, than West will pass with a reasonable hand,
a reasonable hand includes opening bid strength.

So - I would not read to much in Wests silence.

Looking at the East hand, the East / West partnership seems to play solid preempts, some
would open 4D with the East hand, see Cyberveti's comment, that you got lucky to have a
chance to end up in spade.

That being said, I am open to to let others convince me, that 4D is a better bid than 3H.

With kind regards
Marlowe