[JanisW]

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MP-scoring; 15-17 NT; 5533

I did not want to Keycard because the most expected 5♥/5♠ response would've committed us to slam anyway. Maybe that decision was already wrong?
Now that Partner kind of declined the invite, would you go anyway?

regards
JW

[Winstonm]

I don't go. To go I am forcing partner to hold excellent clubs and have the suit break favorably. Sometimes preempts work. If 6 makes, I would blame the opps rather than the bidding.

[Cyberyeti]

 Winstonm, on 2019-February-11, 15:48, said:

I don't go. To go I am forcing partner to hold excellent clubs and have the suit break favorably. Sometimes preempts work. If 6 makes, I would blame the opps rather than the bidding.

If I go, I bid it in diamonds is xxx, QJ, Q10xx, AKxx possible ? I suspect I don't go.

[gszes]

partner has been endplayed in the bidding so we have learned little about their power but we have learned about their distribution. We only need xx xx Qxxxx AKQx to make 6 a pretty decent contract. Yes indeed p could have a totally gross hand for us
KQ Qx xxxxx AKxx where even 5 is not a sure thing but those are few and far between. I like my odds so I go with them and take a bow to the preempt when it works.

[dsLawsd]

No but I bid 5♦ as a last try.

[nekthen]

Presumably partner can be 2344 and 12-14 on this auction. I assume he would have bid 3N with any form of ♠ stopper. If he is better than that, I think it is his job to bid 4N. I think we can hardly have less than what we have got to bid 4♠
In other words, I too give it one last try with 5♦

[msjennifer]

Sir,why not just bid 5D.this hand does not have a useful discard on the 5th D if the hand is played in clubs.A D lead and a D ruff is possible if the club ace is with our LHO in the 5C contract.

[maartenxq]

I bid 6 ♣, what controls outside ♣do you expect partner to have?

Maarten Baltussen

[nekthen]

 maartenxq, on 2019-February-12, 08:51, said:

I bid 6 ♣, what controls outside ♣do you expect partner to have?

Maarten Baltussen

Do I expect partner to have AKQ♣? I am almost certain to lose a club and a spade.

[pescetom]

 JanisW, on 2019-February-11, 15:29, said:

I did not want to Keycard because the most expected 5♥/5♠ response would've committed us to slam anyway. Maybe that decision was already wrong?
Now that Partner kind of declined the invite, would you go anyway?

I wouldn't go now, but I do think you were wrong about Keycard.

[neilkaz]

 nekthen, on 2019-February-12, 11:45, said:

Do I expect partner to have AKQ♣? I am almost certain to lose a club and a spade.

I pass now, respecting that I showed my hand with 4♠ and PD rejected. EDIT: I'd rather play in 5♦ as long as PD would pass.

[rmnka447]

" I never do anything in the bidding or play that I can be criticized for in the post mortem." - Fred Will

Corollary: If it's possible you're going to be criticized no matter what you do, pick the least odious option -- the one you can defend best.

At IMPs, I'm taking the surer positive and passing. I give a nod to the preempt working if slam is there. If slam is there AND they bid it, you'll be -500 for an 11 IMP swing. If it isn't and they go, you'll pick up +470 for +10 IMPs. So it's close to a toss up.

But slam depends on some favorable holdings that you can't know whether partner has or not. Putting specific cards in partner's hand is not good unless bridge logic tells you they must be there. Besides there's no way to know what has happened at the other table.

[miamijd]

Why does everyone insist on playing in clubs? Let's assume you are off the As (likely). If your partner has AKxx and West has QJ98 or something similar you are going set. Even Q986 in West with a stiff Jack in East could beat you. If you play in diamonds, there is a fair chance you'll be able to pitch the fourth round club loser on a heart. I would just sign off at 5D.

Cheers,
Mike

[JanisW]

 Cyberyeti, on 2019-February-11, 16:14, said:

If I go, I bid it in diamonds is xxx, QJ, Q10xx, AKxx possible? I suspect I don't go.

That's a perfectly reasonable holding as is Qx, xxx, Qxxx, AKQx or xxx, xx, QTxx, AKQx the latter is just good enough for 6 to be on (which P almost cannot know about), while there is no play with the former. xx,Qx,xxxxx,AKQx makes slam odds on as well. And last but not least, if partner had Kx,xxx,Qxxx,AKxx 5♦ was already in jeopardy.

I decided to go for 6♦ because I thought Partner either has 9 minor-suit cards or with West silent over the double possibly 3♠ (2ruffs,2♥,4♣,4♦ was the plan). I surely would've heard about 4♠ with West.
Unfortunately, Partner was 2344 with ♦Q and ♣AKQ, but still no play for 6.

Afterwards, we discussed the difference between 4NT and 5♣, what is your opinion on that matter?

regards
JW

[JanisW]

 pescetom, on 2019-February-12, 12:10, said:

I wouldn't go now, but I do think you were wrong about Keycard.

Could you please elaborate on that?

regards
JW

[shaky44]

 JanisW, on 2019-February-12, 13:36, said:

Afterwards, we discussed the difference between 4NT and 5♣, what is your opinion on that matter?

Assuming 4NT is RKC, it's not really a viable bid, is it? North pretty much knows that south has 2 aces and now you're committed to slam.

[JanisW]

4NT clearly is not RKCB.

[P_Marlowe]

 JanisW, on 2019-February-11, 15:29, said:

---

MP-scoring; 15-17 NT; 5533

I did not want to Keycard because the most expected 5♥/5♠ response would've committed us to slam anyway. Maybe that decision was already wrong?
Now that Partner kind of declined the invite, would you go anyway?

regards
JW

Hi,

you answered your question in the headline yourself: you asked partner, he was not interested, so the answer is no,
otherwise, why did you ask partner in the first place.
Your question: was it ok to involve partner? Sure, but your hand is also strong enough to go direct, this is a matter
of style / personal preference, slam may be cold or on finding a key card 50%, or without play ... the later risk is certainly
not really high, but nevertheless you may be off 2 KC.

With kind regards
Marlowe