Posted 2014-June-23, 19:10
The OP admitted that his 4D cue was experimental to see whether North would bite and overbid.
It is possible to construct a hand for South where slam is good opposite the given North:
S:Axx
H:AQx
D:AKQTx
C:xx
Within the context of "18-19 bal with 3 H support" this hand has considerably more playing potential than the OP South. Clearly "18-19 bal with 3 H" does not "say it all". That said, while this hand fits the parameters, I am struggling to construct another, and this suggests that North should not slam force on the strength of Aces.
There is a style question to resolve: Given that South has the Ace of Diamonds, is he obliged to show it over 4C? Alternatively would a 4H "signout" show a hand that is relatively disinterested in context but which might still hold the Ace of Diamonds?
I am not sure but I THINK that the way that GIB plays it is that 4D is a co-operative bid that shows not just the Diamond Ace but also elevated slam interest in light of the 4C cue.
Whatever the arguments on this hand, it is this style issue that is in my view the more important to resolve (a) in terms of identifying GIB current behaviour, and (b) correcting it if appropriate.
Personally I think that South should be virtually required to cue the Diamond Ace if held, which does not show particular interest beyond that. I don't see this as a Last Train scenario even if GIB played LT, given that South is limited, North (at the time of bidding 4C) is not limited, and South cannot know what would be of interest to North. Cue bids below game, especially the first cue bid by a player, should be given a wide latitude. Had North limited his hand by the time of 4C then it would be different and 4D would show more general interest.
GIB has several problems with slam bidding, among which are
1) It is willing to show a shortage but incapable of capitalising on that knowledge (not relevant on this hand)
2) It overvalues shortages in suits bid by partner (akin to item 1 above)
3) Pretty much its only slam investigative tool is RKCB (except rarely when Quant is defined). It will make a single cue bid but generally as a launch point to enter RKCB at the first opportunity. It virtually never cue bids above game (I cannot remember a single occasion).
On the OP hand I side with Baraka. The example hand that I contrived is strong enough to drive beyond 4H after North bids 4C. So North should tap out in 4H having bid 4C. This is North's last chance to limit his hand, which he has arguably already overbid with 4C.
Psych (pron. saik): A gross and deliberate misstatement of honour strength and/or suit length. Expressly permitted under Law 73E but forbidden contrary to that law by Acol club tourneys.
Psyche (pron. sahy-kee): The human soul, spirit or mind (derived, personification thereof, beloved of Eros, Greek myth).
Masterminding (pron. m
s
t
r-m
nd
ing) tr. v. - Any bid made by bridge player with which partner disagrees.
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2000 years earlier: "morituri te salutant"
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