[harikannan]

Playing MPs, i hold:

Q74
852
AKQT93
5

My partner opens 1NT, 15-17. What should i do? Thanks.

[mikeh]

Absent specialized methods, which I’m unaware of in terms of helping here….meaning opener has nothing in clubs…., the answer seems to be yes

[P_Marlowe]

HI,

if you reg. open 1NT with a 5 card major holding a 5332 hand, AND if you have the option to check for 53,
than this is obv. the way to go.

Otherwise just bid it. I am not even sure, that you should try looking for 5D playing IMPs.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[mw64ahw]

The slam may be on if opener is max.
Various options
a) bid 3N. Not something I do
b) 2N as a transfer, now after 3m, 3♥ is semi-balanced or ♣ splinter; 3♠ says I have ♣ concern.
c) look for the Major suit fit. If negative then I use 3♣ as slamish asking for minors. You may also find partner with ♣ making 3N more palatable.

[Cyberyeti]

mw64ahw, on 2025-May-22, 01:24, said:

The slam may be on if opener is max.
Various options
a) bid 3N. Not something I do
b) 2N as a transfer, now after 3m, 3♥ is semi-balanced or ♣ splinter; 3♠ says I have ♣ concern.
c) look for the Major suit fit. If negative then I use 3♣ as slamish asking for minors. You may also find partner with ♣ making 3N more palatable.

Opener doesn't even need to be max, 5 spades to the AK and ♥A is sufficient most of the time, and you're going off in 3N, add ♣A and you make 7.

Key question, does the OP open 1N with a 5 card major ? if you do, then asking is probably best

If not, slam is less likely but not impossible (AKxx, Ax, xxx, Axxx is pretty good, add ♠J and 7♠ is great although you're never going to find it).
We don't play a diamond transfer so would bid 3♦ nat F at least minimal slam interest if 5M was not a worry.

To Mr W - how do you bid this hand with a stiff heart and 3 small clubs ?

[mw64ahw]

Cyberyeti, on 2025-May-22, 02:18, said:

Opener doesn't even need to be max, 5 spades to the AK and ♥A is sufficient most of the time, and you're going off in 3N, add ♣A and you make 7.

Key question, does the OP open 1N with a 5 card major ? if you do, then asking is probably best

If not, slam is less likely but not impossible (AKxx, Ax, xxx, Axxx is pretty good, add ♠J and 7♠ is great although you're never going to find it).
We don't play a diamond transfer so would bid 3♦ nat F at least minimal slam interest if 5M was not a worry.

To Mr W - how do you bid this hand with a stiff heart and 3 small clubs ?

Non-slam going
1N-2N
3m-3N 3163
ignoring 3 small in the blacks

Slam-going, either via 2♣, or
1N-2N
3m-4♣ SI 3163

[Huibertus]

It depends on what options you system provides.

If your system allows you to show ♦ and a ♣ splinter then investigating 6♦ would be preferred. If that's not possible, sure bid 3NT without showing ♦.

[Huibertus]

It depends on what options you system provides.

If your system allows you to show ♦ and a ♣ splinter then investigating 6♦ would be preferred. If that's not possible, sure bid 3NT without showing ♦.

[hrothgar]

One good rule of thumb is to look at you hand and then assume that partner has a perfect "minimum"

Where would you want to play the hand?

This hand has enormous playing strength.
Opposite as little as AKxxx in spades and the ace of Hearts you have a really good chance of scoring 12 tricks.

So, to me at least exploring slam seems reasonable

To some extent, your choice of auction is going to depend on agreements and cue bidding style.

One route would be to show you're six card suit and then show club shortage.

The other would involve asking for a 5 card major.