[kenrexford]

Responder could not cue 3♠ or 4♣. This screams of ♥A+Q and ♦A+K. That's only 13 of the points justifying a cue (in an approach where cues must mean extras).

So, Opener expects five hearts (5), plus three diamonds (8), plus the club Ace (9) as starters. It would take exceedingly bad luck to not also have at least one club ruff (after pitching the two clubs), for 10 tricks. If Responder held a 4333 minimum, then the 11th trick turns on a spade finesse or a 2-2 trumps split. That seems rather safe for the 5-level.

So, although I'd like better agreements myself, I still think Opener is good enough to cue 5♦, assuming that 5♦ is a cue.

[whereagles]

skaeran, on Oct 24 2007, 06:32 PM, said:

As you've inferred serious/frivolous 3NT isn't in our agreements yet.

You don't need that if you have a way to tell a good hand from a bad one, e.g.

1♠ 2♥
2♠ 3♦
3♥

where 2♠ is just a waiting bid with a min hand. 3♥ later isn't on Hx or something; it shows honest support and a min hand. Now you can go on, say, with

..... 4♦
4NT 5♠
6♥

[Codo]

If I did not discuss 3 NT, this would be no idea for me, I would hate my pd pass this. If I have to lie, I had bid 3 Spade, yes this should show the king or ace, but this is a lesser problem then playing 3 NT.

But I had choosen 4 Diamond. This shows slam interesst despite having no values in the black suits. Wow, this shows more or less ecaxtly my hand. So pds 4 Heart bid was the problem. He was too lazy. He has all suits controlled, a fourth. trump, he has even a fitting honour in my second suit and he heard me making a move towards slam. What more does he need to cooperate?