[daveharty]

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Matchpoints, North deals.

The field in a recent club game couldn't handle the truth; nobody bid slam. What's your suggested route to 6♦?

[Cyberyeti]

I think I'm really struggling after a 1♦-1N start playing inverted minors and being short of one with the S hand.

Curiously would get there with S as dealer (don't ask but that's a 2♦ opener for us)

[Codo]

Even if both players take rosy views, I cannot reach the slam in my favourite natural system at the table. Here at the forum it is easier, but who cares about bidding wiht both hands known?

[ggwhiz]

Not impossible.

1♦ - 1nt (6-9 for us)
2♥ - 3♦ (natural game force with a near max for 1nt)
3♠ - ??? not sure how South should continue but the hand just grew up big time opposite short clubs.

[Zelandakh]

A specialised 3-suited gadget can help on these hands:-

1♣ = 15+ nat/bal or 18+ any
... - 1♦ = most non-GF
1♠ = unbal GF or 18+ 3-suited
... - 1NT = 6-8
2♣ = 3-suited
... - 2♦ = relay
2NT = club shortage
... - 3♣ = relay
3♠ = 20-21, 4441
... - 4♣ = relay
4♥ = 6 controls
... - 4N = Q ask
5♣ = no ♣Q or ♣K
... - 5♦ = ♦Q?
6♦ = ♦Q, ♥Q, ♠Q, nothing extra

[Antrax]

Glad to see I'm not the only one who'd end up in 3NT by S.

[P_Marlowe]

We would not reach it.

Given that it is a 28HCP minor slam with a 44 fit, I would not bother.

I may even go -???, ending up in 3NT.

So the real question is, how to avoid 3NT.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[Cyberyeti]

Playing my old system where we had the big 4441 in the multi it's not difficult, N shows a 4441 20-21 (we would downgrade stiff hons other than the A), and S just punts 6♦

[Phil]

It seems you might have a fighting chance after 1♦ - 1N - 2♠ - 3♦ - 3♥. Now, South might Bluhmer (5♣?) and North can kick it in.

[Trinidad]

Here comes another one of those posts that says that it is easy to reach in his favorite system. (Consider that a "I don't have a clue how to reach 6♦ in any normal system".)

1♣-1♥ 17+ - 8+ Bal (no 5M), 4441, 5m440 or 5m422
1♠-2NT Relay - 2=3=4=4
3♣-3♦ Relay - 8-10 HCP
3♥-3NT Relay - 3 controls (A=2, K=1)
4♣-4♥ Relay - ♦A/K, no club A/K
6♦ Then you must have the ♥K

The difficult decision is whether you should try 4♣. Given that 4NT still has play if South has ♣AK and that slam is still decent if South has the ♣K, I think you should.

The even more difficult decision is whether you should play this system to begin with.

Rik

[Fluffy]

after 1♦-1NT north will never suspect there is a slam with a stiff club, only south can do the trick, but I don't really see how, for me 3M bids after 3♦ fit are asking/showing colaborational stoppers.

[aguahombre]

Phil, on 2013-January-15, 10:06, said:

It seems you might have a fighting chance after 1♦ - 1N - 2♠ - 3♦ - 3♥. Now, South might Bluhmer (5♣?) and North can kick it in.

Prefer that order of major suit bids by North, rather than 2H first. The JT of spades, the Heart King, the diamond holding all put it on South to take the plunge. Am all for Bluhmers, but don't think one is necessary this time (How about 4H-not kickback?). It is rare for a slam probe after 1m-1N...but here, it is possible. At least we would stay out of 3NT and play diamonds even if we don't reach 6.

[lalldonn]

1♦ 1NT
2♥ 3♦
3♠ 4♥
Keycard...

There is a chance it's a 4-3 fit but once you see notrump is unplayable I think you might as well go for it. You may well need the same 3-3 break to make 5 as to make 6.

[gnasher]

1♦-3♦ (mixed)
3♥-4♥
4NT-5♦
6♦

[quiddity]

gnasher, on 2013-January-15, 13:01, said:

1♦-3♦ (mixed)

Why do you want to use a mixed raise? Seems like it would be very sad to end up in 3♦ at matchpoints opposite 4432, and possibly even opposite 4 diamonds.

[JLOGIC]

If we are giving our favorite systems, maybe gnasher plays unbal 1D?

I agree with disliking a mixed raise in standard methods but even then it can't be that bad.

1C 1H (strong, 8-11 any)
2S 2N (4441, asking for shortness)
3C 3D (short clubs, diamond fit)

should make it pretty easy.

Playing a standardish system in MP I really don't think 1D 1N 3N is that bad, partner rates to have club values and I don't want to help them with the lead. But if you bid around clubs you should find slam obviously.

[gnasher]

quiddity, on 2013-January-15, 13:42, said:

Why do you want to use a mixed raise? Seems like it would be very sad to end up in 3♦ at matchpoints opposite 4432, and possibly even opposite 4 diamonds.

Sorry, I sometimes forget that half the world plays 3-card diamond openings.

Anyway, the OP did ask "What's your suggested route ..." My suggested route involves playing a 1♦ opening that guarantees four of them.

[FM75]

Maybe the truth is that it isn't a great slam?

Even if your system will describe 4=4=4=1,
AND your system will not count any honor in clubs describing a 20-23 point hand,
and you can figure out that P has the 3 queens,

you need diamonds 3-2 68% (or the jack falls singleton + 7%),
and you need to pick up the hearts missing the JT (48%, I think)


So if I got the above correct, you have 75% times 48% = about 38%?

Better if partner has a jack or two, but...

[lalldonn]

FM75, on 2013-January-15, 16:49, said:

Maybe the truth is that it isn't a great slam?

Even if your system will describe 4=4=4=1,
AND your system will not count any honor in clubs describing a 20-23 point hand,
and you can figure out that P has the 3 queens,

you need diamonds 3-2 68% (or the jack falls singleton + 7%),
and you need to pick up the hearts missing the JT (48%, I think)


So if I got the above correct, you have 75% times 48% = about 38%?

Better if partner has a jack or two, but...

You don't need hearts to come in, and you may not need diamonds to break either.

[JLOGIC]

You don't need nearly all of that.

If diamonds are 3-2, you are home (you have 4 spades, 3 hearts, 4 diamonds, and a ruff). If diamonds are 4-1 with the stiff jack, you are home barring losing a ruff (you simply ruff a club then draw trumps). If diamonds are 4-1 with Jxxx onside you are home barring losing a ruff (again, you just ruff a club and pull trumps via a marked finesse).

So you are at least 80 % or so. You even have significant play if trumps are 5-0 onside.