[kgsmith]

This fascinating situation arose last night in a pairs competition. We were playing a fairly standard 5c major system, better minor system.

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You might not agree with North's splinter, but my interest lies in how to move forward from here. Our agreements are that I (South) can redouble to show first-round club control, pass without a club control, or bid to show Qx(x) or x (i.e. help if partner has Kxxxx). I was concerned that if partner did not have the CA, 6D would suffer an immediate ruff, so I passed despite holding Qx (hoping to hear a redouble).

This went back to North. What do you think he should do? Is pass an option?

What principles/agreements should we have to get this one right?

[P_Marlowe]

A common agreement after they have doubled a art. suit for the lead
# Pass showes some cards in the suit, nothing great, usually xxx
# XX good holding offer to play
# bidding they doubled suit, stopper ask (this is similar to enemy cue
... makes most sense after 2C Stayman)
# other bids keep their meaning

Assuming Pass showed something like xxx, North can Pass or XX.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[Lovera]

A question:but N has 2 keys w/o Queen, why 5♣ ?

[Cyberyeti]

Lovera, on 2016-May-31, 12:45, said:

A question:but N has 2 keys w/o Queen, why 5♣ ?

Because diamonds are agreed not clubs so he only has one key

[SteveMoe]

Perhaps 4♦ or ♥ as the RKB ask instead of 4N?

[nige1]

kgsmith, on 2016-May-31, 06:51, said:

This fascinating situation arose last night in a pairs competition. We were playing a fairly standard 5c major system, better minor system.You might not agree with North's splinter, but my interest lies in how to move forward from here. Our agreements are that I (South) can redouble to show first-round club control, pass without a club control, or bid to show Qx(x) or x (i.e. help if partner has Kxxxx). I was concerned that if partner did not have the CA, 6D would suffer an immediate ruff, so I passed despite holding Qx (hoping to hear a redouble).This went back to North. What do you think he should do? Is pass an option? What principles/agreements should we have to get this one right?

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Hugh Kelsey recommended a relevant principle: Don't go daisy-picking! After partner makes a slam try, when you have a suitable holding in the splinter suit; and many more aces and a kings than you might have; but find you are missing a key-card, then just bid the small slam, even at the risk of a ruff; especially as, here, partner is more likely to hold ♣A than ♥A.

[kgsmith]

I could have just bid 6♦, but I was expecting 7♦ to be making. I figured partner had more points for his bid.

While using 4♥ (Kickback) or 4♦ (Minorwood)--I suspect 4♦ should be a suggestion to play in this particular auction--is no doubt superior, our reality is ordinary RKCB. I can find lots of material explaining what to do if the opponents overcall or double the 4NT ask (DOPI, ROPI, etc.), but nothing about what to do when they double an RKCB response for lead.

[alok c]

When North is showing 1/4,7♦ is out of question.

[kgsmith]

alok c, on 2016-June-02, 10:32, said:

When North is showing 1/4,7♦ is out of question.

The grand is no longer under consideration that after 5♣. The suggestion to bash 6♦ implied "don't bother to ask for keycards." I asked for keycards in case 7♦ was on. North could hold ♠x ♥Ax ♦QJxx ♣AKJxxx.

[nige1]

kgsmith, on 2016-June-02, 11:10, said:

The grand is no longer under consideration that after 5♣. The suggestion to bash 6♦ implied "don't bother to ask for keycards." I asked for keycards in case 7♦ was on. North could hold ♠x ♥Ax ♦QJxx ♣AKJxxx.

No such implication I explicitly answered the OP question