[SimonFa]

R V R, MPs, dealer South

North
♠QJT64
♥A97
♦J98
♣Q2


South
♠AK87
♥KQT7
♦75
♣A94

This went horribly wrong when partner bid 3NT over my 1NT and West rattled off ♦AKQT42 for a bottom for us as everyone was in Spades, making 10 or 11.

I suspect we would have survived on most days but how should I have replied to he question and what should I do? Part of the problem is that we are the only pair playing strong NT so its hard in these cases to compare our results and say we got the bidding wrong. I suspect the bidding at the other tables went something like 1H-1S-3S-4S with silent ops.

My answer was that she should transfer me in to Spades and then bid 3NT to show the point count, giving me a choice of games, but I'm not sure now I think about it a bit more. Is there another bid she could make?

Lets say partner does transfer to spades, should I bid a normal 2♠ or super-accept with a bid 3♠? I know I only have 16HCP and purists would say I guarantee a maximum, but surely ♠AK must count as an extra point?

As always, thanks in advance,

Simon

[EricK]

The standard approach with the North hand is to transfer to ♠ and then bid a choice-of-games 3NT. I think the South hand qualifies as a super-accept if you play them. 4 good trumps, a side suit to 3 honours, and an outside Ace. You really can't be more maximum than that!

[kenrexford]

I understand North's thinking. With five spades but 5-3-3-2 pattern, 3NT often scores as many tricks as 4♠, which makes 3NT seems lucrative.

That said, there is no reason to place everything on yourself. Transferring to spades and then bidding 3NT expresses a desire to play 3NT. If you had a hand where 3NT seems wrong, you are generally unbalanced in some way and might try bidding your minor along the way.

For example, change North's hand to ♠QJ10xx ♥Axx ♦QJxx ♣x. With that hand, you might bid this way:

1NT-2♥
2♠-3♦

That invites partner's take on whether 3NT, 4♠, or even 5♦ makes the most sense, by focusing partner on what you actually have. For that matter, give partner ♠AKx ♥Kxx ♦AKx ♣xxxx. Opposite that hand, 6♠ probably makes (get a heart ruff in quickly).

In contrast, 1NT-2♥-2♠-3NT allows partner to pass, despite three-card support, which is what North intended. Sure -- doing that helps the opponents with the lead, but with five spades in your hand, dreaming of a spade lead seems silly.

[BunnyGo]

SimonFa, on 2011-November-13, 12:25, said:

My answer was that she should transfer me in to Spades and then bid 3NT to show the point count, giving me a choice of games, but I'm not sure now I think about it a bit more. Is there another bid she could make?

Lets say partner does transfer to spades, should I bid a normal 2♠ or super-accept with a bid 3♠? I know I only have 16HCP and purists would say I guarantee a maximum, but surely ♠AK must count as an extra point?

You are absolutely correct. Opposite a strong NT a 10 pt hand with a 5 card major should transfer to the major and then bid 3NT choice of games, unless their hand is very distributional (say a second 4+ suit or a 6th spade or something similar). This sequence should become automatic for you and your partner playing this system.

In this case, you have a very good hand for spades so you should superaccept (some people play that 3D shows a superaccept with xx of diamonds, then partner can bid 3H as a retransfer). Either way, your partnership should be in 4 spades on these cards.

[aguahombre]

Super acceptance shouldn't matter on this hand. Simple is best. Transfer to spades, then bid 3NT. South looks at his hand and chooses spades.

3NT gets what it deserves.

[BunnyGo]

aguahombre, on 2011-November-13, 12:45, said:

3NT gets what it deserves.

B/I forum...

[aguahombre]

BunnyGo, on 2011-November-13, 12:49, said:

B/I forum...

Agree. B/I forum is the ideal place to point out that OP's partner blasting 3NT was not a good idea and recommend using one's simple tools in simple auctions to arrive at better contracts over the long run.

[BunnyGo]

aguahombre, on 2011-November-13, 12:56, said:

Agree. B/I forum is the ideal place to point out that OP's partner blasting 3NT was not a good idea and recommend using one's simple tools in simple auctions to arrive at better contracts over the long run.

Ok, point. Just wanted to make sure it wasn't taken too harshly.

[han]

The normal way to bid a gameforcing hand with 5 spades is to transfer and bid 3NT.

[S2000magic]

As you're playing Jacoby transfers, partner should bid 2♥ followed by 3NT (whether you superaccept or not; I agree that you should); you'll bid 4♠. Textbook.