[eagles123]

Dealer West opps silent Matchpoints

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I missed slam with my partner (bidding went 1♣ 1♦ 3♣ 3N - I hated my 3N bid as I knew there was a decent chance of slam, but wasn't sure what I could say kinda felt it was a gamble between 3N and 6N lol, do I just make up something in a major?

Thanks,

Eagles

[neilkaz]

I would think that if you bid 3♦ over 3♣ that it is forcing 1 round. Perhaps it is NF in some places or is NF in ACOL. I play it as forcing with my S/A or 2/1 PD's but honestly am not sure that it is forcing, but it is needed to allow for exploration and to avoid having to punt into 3NT directly and sometimes with an unstopped major.

[Cyberyeti]

neilkaz, on 2013-July-01, 11:17, said:

I would think that if you bid 3♦ over 3♣ that it is forcing 1 round. Perhaps it is NF in some places or is NF in ACOL. I play it as forcing with my S/A or 2/1 PD's but honestly am not sure that it is forcing, but it is needed to allow for exploration and to avoid having to punt into 3NT directly and sometimes with an unstopped major.

This, you don't argue with partner's suit with a bad hand, so 3♦ is forcing.

With the W hand I'd just ask aces over this and bid 7N.

[billw55]

An alternative is 3N directly over 1♣: 13-15 balanced, no 4-card major. Although perhaps not best with ♥xxx.

[jjbrr]

eagles123, on 2013-July-01, 10:52, said:

Dealer West opps silent Matchpoints

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I missed slam with my partner (bidding went 1♣ 1♦ 3♣ 3N - I hated my 3N bid as I knew there was a decent chance of slam, but wasn't sure what I could say kinda felt it was a gamble between 3N and 6N lol, do I just make up something in a major?

Thanks,

Eagles

Without commenting on a recommended auction to slam, it should intuitively feel very, very wrong to freely bid 3NT with Jxx and xxx in the unbid suits. The opening lead might go through any strength in partner's hand or he might not have any strength there at all.

[billw55]

jjbrr, on 2013-July-01, 13:18, said:

Without commenting on a recommended auction to slam, it should intuitively feel very, very wrong to freely bid 3NT with Jxx and xxx in the unbid suits. The opening lead might go through any strength in partner's hand or he might not have any strength there at all.

In fairness, it is hard to construct a hand for west that can jump rebid, but lacks good values in the majors.

[jjbrr]

billw55, on 2013-July-01, 13:27, said:

In fairness, it is hard to construct a hand for west that can jump rebid, but lacks good values in the majors.

lol? come on.

how about the same hand with K instead of A of H

[ArtK78]

I would bid 3♦ on the East hand over 3♣. I consider this to be 100% forcing.

West should bid at least 4♦ at this point. This is not forcing, but is highly invitational. One has to cater to East having a totally unsuitable hand, such as Qxx KQx QTxxxx x. You may not be able to stop short of game on that one.

Clearly, on the actual hand, East will not pass 4♦. But the auction will not be trivial.

[billw55]

jjbrr, on 2013-July-01, 13:29, said:

lol? come on.

how about the same hand with K instead of A of H

With a stiff K, it won't matter which way the lead comes. But yes, I get your point, we could construct a hand where NT is down on opening lead from one side but not the other.

ArtK78, on 2013-July-01, 13:36, said:

I would bid 3♦ on the East hand over 3♣. I consider this to be 100% forcing.

West should drive to slam. Opposite a hand with diamond values, the West hand is HUGE.

Perhaps, so then rebid ... a fake reverse in spades? A diamond raise - do you have one that is forcing? 2NT maybe? Or a 3♥ splinter? Not criticizing, just curious.

[ArtK78]

billw55, on 2013-July-01, 13:40, said:

With a stiff K, it won't matter which way the lead comes. But yes, I get your point, we could construct a hand where NT is down on opening lead from one side but not the other.


Perhaps, so then rebid ... a fake reverse in spades? A diamond raise - do you have one that is forcing? 2NT maybe? Or a 3♥ splinter? Not criticizing, just curious.

Sorry - you caught me in mid-edit. See my revised post.

[billw55]

ArtK78, on 2013-July-01, 13:43, said:

Sorry - you caught me in mid-edit. See my revised post.

Heheh yeah, I read the bit about 3♣ being an underbid, hit "reply" and didn't notice you had edited it out already. Ninja master Art in da house

[ArtK78]

It might make sense on the weaker hand that I posited - Qxx KQx QTxxxx x - to bid 3NT. Certainly with hindsight 3NT is the best contract. So the 3♦ bid should be reserved for a hand with higher ambitions or fewer major suit cards so that it is not as clear that NT is the right spot.

But my opinions on this hand may be colored by knowing opener's hand.

[Cascade]

Cyberyeti, on 2013-July-01, 11:31, said:

This, you don't argue with partner's suit with a bad hand, so 3♦ is forcing.

With the W hand I'd just ask aces over this and bid 7N.

I think I would bid 3♦ on quite a bit less than the actual hand without major suit cards. Therefore I think that driving to 7NT opposite two aces (and maybe one king) is something of an overbid.

[Cyberyeti]

Cascade, on 2013-July-01, 15:48, said:

I think I would bid 3♦ on quite a bit less than the actual hand without major suit cards. Therefore I think that driving to 7NT opposite two aces (and maybe one king) is something of an overbid.

You misunderstand, I'd ask aces in ♦ and drive 7N opposite A♣/AKQ♦.

[the hog]

eagles123, on 2013-July-01, 10:52, said:

Dealer West opps silent Matchpoints

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I missed slam with my partner (bidding went 1♣ 1♦ 3♣ 3N - I hated my 3N bid as I knew there was a decent chance of slam, but wasn't sure what I could say kinda felt it was a gamble between 3N and 6N lol, do I just make up something in a major?

Thanks,

Eagles

Why not bid 4C? The Ax is more than enough opposite a jump in C.

[Zelandakh]

First of all, if you were playing Benji Acol you could open the West hand 2♣. That obviously simplifies things greatly. Assuming that you were not, take another look at the East hand. If you had only one bid after 3♣, my guess is that 6♣ would be a pretty good bet, so 3NT is really not on the radar. The best sequence for me would be to rebid 3♦ and follow that with 4♣. This should show slam ambition with good diamonds. If you were worried about partner passing 3♦, then a direct 4♣ is the alternative. If you are also worried about partner passing this, we are pretty much back to 6♣. Even if we are off a major suit AK, they have not led them yet and perhaps we can throw a loser on the diamonds.