[deborahh]

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This hand makes 6♥ or 6♣, but how to get there with SAYC or 2/1? In a recent auction, the only pair to bid was playing precision. There was competition in spades, but even without, what's the best way to find the fit and keep bidding open? South (dealer) opens 1♣.

[Zelandakh]

1♣ - 1♥; 3♦ - 4♣; 4NT - 5♠; 6♥ springs to mind, especially if a 4♦ rebid would show a void. It depends a little bit on which agreements are in play.

[phoenix214]

After 1♣-1♥, it depends on opener to on how he evaluates his hand. For him, it is easy to see that if partner has Kxxxx in hearts, and one more useful honor, then game is definitely on. Also, when he tries to imagine what he needs to have for slam, it seems to be enough with xxx;KQxxx;xxx;Ax(clubs splinting 3-2). Since he wants to force game, and make a slam try, he should do this per system agreements(showing a diamond shortness). Now responder seeing his hand, which should be good(5 controls and a double fit+no wasted values in diamonds) can either make a move towards slam.

[the_clown]

If you are playing minisplinters you will get there after 1♣-1♥-3♦. But again if you change the North hand to xx KQ109x xxx A10x you will also bid 6 and will need a good guess in clubs.

After 1♣-1♥-3♥ I dont think North is worth a cuebid (though its not far away) and I would just bid 4♥

[Cyberyeti]

the_clown, on 2014-August-28, 06:51, said:

If you are playing minisplinters you will get there after 1♣-1♥-3♦. But again if you change the North hand to xx KQ109x xxx A10x you will also bid 6 and will need a good guess in clubs.

After 1♣-1♥-3♥ I dont think North is worth a cuebid (though its not far away) and I would just bid 4♥

Whether you're worth a cue may depend on what 3N means, if you can make a frivolous try with 4♣ I'd do so as it hits gold opposite this hand type but not opposite the big flat hand. That said, is Axx, Axxx, Ax, KQJx unfeasible where you have to bid the slam in clubs, and you're not going to have any chance of doing this if you do anything other than bid 4♣.

[Lovera]

I think that N&S see the same thing : before N (double fit) after S bidding 1♣ - 1♥ then 3♣ (..) that probably is more easy to play.

[mike777]

ya 3d after 1h gets you to slam.

[kgr]

Difficult hand in my system:
(We start 1♣-1♦ T-Walsh)
- 3♦=splinter, 12-14 or 18-19 => Too strong for the mini-splinter, not strong enough for the higher range; (How do others play mini-splinter?)
- 4♣=4c♥, good 6c♣, 17+ => The hand is not really good enough for 4♣
- 3♥=Invite, responder can ask shortness with 3♠ => The hand is a bit too good for an invite.
I think it would go:
1♣-1♦
4♣-5♣
6♥-AP
(Maybe we should lower our system requirements for 4♣)