[Fluffy]

You can try the hand here:

http://bridgegod.com....php?probid=242

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My partner continued with 3♦ and...

Spoiler

I raised to 4♦, now he did something I disagree with

If you want to ATB here is how we bid it:

Spoiler

1♣-(1NT)-2♣
2♠-3♦
4♦-4♥
4♠-5♣
5NT-6♠ (5NT= pick a slam)

6♠ got 92% of the match points, but still it is far from the ideal contract.

[PhilG007]

Fluffy, on 2014-April-05, 16:10, said:

You can try the hand here:

http://bridgegod.com....php?probid=242

---

My partner continued with 3♦ and...

Spoiler

I raised to 4♦, now he did something I disagree with

If you want to ATB here is how we bid it:

Spoiler

1♣-(1NT)-2♣
2♠-3♦
4♦-4♥
4♠-5♣
5NT-6♠ (5NT= pick a slam)

6♠ got 92% of the match points, but still it is far from the ideal contract.

I would be more than satisfied with 92% Even the experts don't get it right all the time(!)

[gnasher]

Responder might just have bid Keycard at some point, assuming that 4♦ denied ♣A. That has the problem that it's hard to get back to spades when it's right, but in most fields bidding a making grand slam will be a good score anyway.

In Fluffy's auction, I'd bid 6♣ over 5NT. I tried that on BridgeGod, then partner bid 6♦ and I converted to 6♠. Now he knew that I had a grand-slam try with first-round control of clubs but not hearts, and he bid 7♦. Unfortunately (ignoring my own advice) I converted that to 7♠, expecting his spades to be better. I don't understand the "pick a slam" bid when his spades are only AQ9xx. I was expecting something more like AQJxxx.

[Fluffy]

we hav enot much experience on this kind of bidding, for me 2♠ could even be a 4 card suit, although admitely unlikely. And it was MPs.

At the table my RHO tanked forever over 2♣ and I very strongly suspected he had a lot of clubs. This meant partner would have 3 spades almost sure so playing in spades was better. It actually was, 6♠ scored much better than 6♦


Our main disagreement comes on the 5♣ bid, after 4♦-4♥-4♠ partner though 5♣ showed first round control since he didnt blackwood, but for me it was more like a last train bid with 3 kings and a singleton. Also I noticed that for me its normal to bypass other controls in order to show my void, while for him it is not. We will need to talk about it.

[whereagles]

What's wrong with

1C (1NT) 2C
2S 3S

As it went, I would probably have lost patience and bid

1C (1NT) 2C
2E 3D
4D 6D

[Fluffy]

jumping to small slam when partner is unlimited is beyond lazy, even worse to the one that doesn't score well. I love to bid some extra rounds.

[whereagles]

Perhaps "lost patience" isn't the best way to put it.. "pragmatic" would be better, I guess.

Thing is, having played strong club myself for 5 years, I am more or less familiar with all sorts of mix-ups that can happen and, believe me, this hand has potential for a mess up. Especially if 2♠ can be 4 cards. I'm not very optimistic of a spade slam (can't tell you way.. it's just a feeling).. a diamond one however rates to be much safer. As for the grand, if you have the tools to gauge the degree of club wastage plus finding the keycards and trump queen, go ahead and use them. But I'm willing to bet you haven't, 'cos you stopped in the small slam

Bottom line: 6♦ over 4 is a pragmatic bid. You got preempted.. so first things first (i.e. the suit!!).

[whereagles]

duuuupe!