[Cthulhu D]

Club game, scoring IMPs, sitting North, Holding:

S: AKJ
H: KJ96
D: 72
C: J832

You're playing 2/1 GF with transfer responses and a short club.

Auction:

E - S - W - N

(P) - 1D - (P) - 1H

(P) - 3D - (P) - ??

Now here I made some unwise decisions (I bid 3S, partner rebid 3NT and I bid 4NT), but what is the approach to making a slam try here?

[twoshy]

This auction is slightly easier than 1♦-1♠-3♦, where you may want to bid the other major naturally. After 1♦-1♥-3♦, 3♠ shouldn't be natural; it could be natural if you're intending to play a major suit game with 65 in the majors, but it does not start out as that. Since it is ambiguous, I prefer that it always offers a choice of games, typically between NT and ♦ but you may end up playing a decent 52♥ fit or stumble into a ♣ fit (or the right major fit opposite 65). Some people like to make advanced cue bids, though I leave that up to your partnership style. A direct 4♣ or 4♦ over 3♦ is a slam try in ♦. A direct 4NT would be quantitative for me.

Summary:

- The way most people play, 4♣ and 4♦ are slam tries in ♦, the latter denying a ♣ control.

- 3♠ is usually choice of games but whether or not this could be an advanced cuebid is open to interpretation/partnership style.

- 4NT could be quantitative or RKCB, depending on partnership style.

Having said all that, I wouldn't make a slam try on this hand and would just bid 3NT.

[aguahombre]

You had two chances to play 3NT. One from your side and one from his side. Unless the 3D rebid was something other than an intermediate opening, slam is not in the picture. Yes, some great combo might let 6D make, but partner's 3NT bid over your 3S further confirms that the contract should be 3NT.

[TWO4BRIDGE]

North has game force values .
Opener's 3D-jump ( over 1H ) is not GF .

1D - 2C! ( 2/1 GF... not the best ♣ suit by any means, but might deter a ♣ lead )
2D ( 5+♦) - 2H ( 4 cards ♥)
3D - 3NT

[mike777]

3nt over 3d....esp at MP

granted jump rebids in a minor can be a wide range but bidding minor suit slams at MP is tough.

Lets try and win it in the play of the hand

[Cthulhu D]

aguahombre, on 2012-November-01, 20:20, said:

You had two chances to play 3NT. One from your side and one from his side. Unless the 3D rebid was something other than an intermediate opening, slam is not in the picture. Yes, some great combo might let 6D make, but partner's 3NT bid over your 3S further confirms that the contract should be 3NT.

We play the jump rebid quite strong, I was expecting a 16/17 count or equivelent playing strength (which he had). If you don't use the jump rebid for those hands, what do you do?

[aguahombre]

Cthulhu D, on 2012-November-01, 23:35, said:

We play the jump rebid quite strong, I was expecting a 16/17 count or equivelent playing strength (which he had). If you don't use the jump rebid for those hands, what do you do?

16-17 is intermediate (quite strong is like game opposite a min response)...16-17 plus your hand does not equal slam.

[Codo]

Why do I want to be in slam with around 30 HCPS and no ruffing values and no long side suit?
I won't.
If I want to be, say with the king of clubs instead of the jack, I would try 4 Nt to invite.