[nikos59]

Scoring: IMP

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West North East South

1♥ Pass 1NT 2♠
3♥ 3♠ Pass 4♠
Pass Pass Pass

The auction comes from Japan v Germany for the Venice Cup (Round 11). At the other table, East raised to 2H and Auken-vonArnim went all the way to 5S, but stopped there. So the board was flat at 480.

Actually, this was the _flattest_ board in the whole round robin: out of 66 tables, the score was 480 in 63 of them! Only two pairs bid the slam: the SouthAfrican women and the open pair of Trinidad (the other non-flat score was a 450).

Still, the slam is laydown. Is it as unbiddable as it seems?

[hatchett]

Well I'm not surprised that it wasn't bid at this table after south started with 2♠

[jdonn]

nikos59, on Oct 13 2007, 04:39 PM, said:

Is it as unbiddable as it seems?

I believe it is. I credit the German ladies for even reaching 5.

[Halo]

The facts overwhelmingly say it is unbiddable.

Still seems weird when South is not far off being able to just bid it on their own.

[mr1303]

I wouldn't be raising on the North cards. 3 low and only 1 trick is not a raise to the 3 level, no matter how you play it.

[kenrexford]

2♠ is an amazingly weak call.

Once that occurs, and 3♠ is bid, Advancer would have to be very trusting to cue 4♦ after a 4♣ call. If he were to do that, the five-level would be safe, but finding the doubleton club would be extremely difficult.

Just some rambling before my conclusion -- not biddable.

[Fluffy]

Congrats nikos, I think its first time ever where forum posters don't find a double dummy slam.

[Codo]

Fluffy, on Oct 15 2007, 04:56 AM, said:

Congrats nikos, I think its first time ever where forum posters don't find a double dummy slam.

IF he had written: 63 out of 66 pairs FOUND the slam, the comments had been:

Obviously this slam must be bidden because...

No, North has 3 trumps an ace and a shortage, not enough for slam. And South has no convincing way to ask for this stuff before they are too high, so I would be happy to reach 4 (or 5) Spade as anybody else did.