[VM1973]

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Although the contract isn't completely hopeless we didn't make it and probably shouldn't be there. What could I have done better?

[wank]

north's 3 spades is random overbidding. your 6 spade call was random punting. you have enough to make a slam try of 4 ♣.

you only have 16 points - partner can have made a less ridiculous bid and 6 spades would have no play on a diamond lead or just be off 2 aces.

e.g.

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[matmat]

VM1973, on 2011-July-13, 16:56, said:

Although the contract isn't completely hopeless we didn't make it and probably shouldn't be there. What could I have done better?

A jump by opener to 3♠ should show a better hand than a balanced minimum opener. It ought to have a little extra shape or really pure controls/suits. In this case, the ♣xxxx is also a problem since p is likely to evaluate their club holding poorly.

The jump to 6♠ is misguided, as wank points out, 3♠ still doesn't promise the world, and there is no guarantee that opener has a control in every suit.

Slowing the auction down here is a good idea.

[Phil]

3♠ is an overbid by about a queen. It wouldn't occur to me.

6♠ is an interesting call. Its quite possible the diamond honors are split and they don't lead one, and you can throw your losers on dummy's hoped-for clubs. Yet, 4♣ seems to be more prudent. If North can cue diamonds, I would drive this to slam if we have enough key cards + trump Q.

[jmcw]

Typically a jump raise by opener shows a good 15 to 18 points, 3♠ is a clear overbid.

With 16 points South should make a slam try, perhaps a ♣ cue would get it going.

Bidding 6♠ directly is quite reckless, since you could be off 2 cashing aces even if North held full value for his bid.

[the hog]

This is not a 3S bid. Agree that 6S is reckless, why not cue.

[ggwhiz]

3♠ was a terrible overbid but the best advice is from matmat in that there is no hurry to bid slam.

Nobody pulls a 3♠ bid like this to a different partscore so a 4♣ bid by you is a free attempt to gather more (crucial) clues.

Same theme if it goes something like 1♣ - p - 3nt and you pull to 4♣, nobody pulls a game contract to a partscore without slam ambitions. Go slow and gather the clues.

On another day partner might have long clubs and the controls that make the grand cold but it takes patience to have a chance at finding out.

[VM1973]

the hog, on 2011-July-13, 20:45, said:

This is not a 3S bid. Agree that 6S is reckless, why not cue.

Well, I didn't cue because I don't have any aces to cuebid. And I didn't bid 4NT because even if partner shows up with enough aces, I could be off ♦AK.

[ggwhiz]

VM1973, on 2011-July-14, 07:20, said:

Well, I didn't cue because I don't have any aces to cuebid. And I didn't bid 4NT because even if partner shows up with enough aces, I could be off ♦AK.

Yeah, it's an exception but the KQ of pards 1st bid suit sure looks to be as good as the ace.

[semeai]

VM1973, on 2011-July-14, 07:20, said:

Well, I didn't cue because I don't have any aces to cuebid. And I didn't bid 4NT because even if partner shows up with enough aces, I could be off ♦AK.

Due to this sort of problem, a common style currently is to cue first or second round controls to make sure you're not off the top two losers in a suit and then "clean up" with blackwood to make sure you're not off two keycards.

[pooltuna]

Were you north?... Then don't bid 3♠ with a minimum opener, 2♠ is sufficient to show the values that you hold.

[matmat]

VM1973, on 2011-July-14, 07:20, said:

Well, I didn't cue because I don't have any aces to cuebid. And I didn't bid 4NT because even if partner shows up with enough aces, I could be off ♦AK.

I don't really understand the logic of not wanting to call 4NT because there might be two quick losers in the diamond suit, while contracting for 12 tricks instead? (I agree that 4N is not the right way to go about this hand, just don't think the argument is valid).

You need to have a way to show slam interest on a strong sequence like this below game. Some people play 3NT as slam try here (since you found a major suit fit here, it is unlikely that 3nt is the place you'd want to play anyway), others have no problems showing a second round control with a cue at the 4 level. You're really making problems for yourself (in my opinion) if you refuse to show Ks and singletons at this point.