[rayxxx]

Partner opens 1D and you respond 1S...partner now bids 4S and you have:

J1062
K8
AJ9
A1087

Do you bid on?

Comments appreciated

[Cyberyeti]

System ? how many diamonds is he guaranteeing etc ?

What I tend to do is look at the best and worst hands he can have for this, and this is somewhat style dependent on the opening bid and the raise.

Worst - Kxxx, AQ, Kxxx, KQJ would be pretty bad and you're basically on a finesse for 5

Best: - KQxx, AQx, KQxx, Kx where 6 is pretty much solid

This would pass my test for 5 level safety, and reasonable prospect of 6, so I'd keycard.

[nige1]

rayxxx asks for comments
++++++++++++++++++++++ [

I rate
1. 6♠ = NAT (Landy slam-try).
2. 4N = RKC. for ♠s
3, 5♣ = CUE
4. Pass

---

[kuhchung]

blackwood

[Cyberyeti]

nige1, on 2019-March-05, 11:10, said:

rayxxx asks for comments
++++++++++++++++++++++ [

I rate
1. 6♠ = NAT (Landy slam-try).
2. 4N = RKC. for ♠s
3, 5♣ = CUE
4. Pass

---

You have the minor suit Js and 10s reversed from the OP

[apollo1201]

For me, it is a 18-19 bal opposite. With 13, it is mathematically short, and I have a lousy suit. But I have a prime 13 with alll those A, 10 and 9’s. So I keycard to stop at 5 if 2 w/o Q and 6 if 2 with or 3.

[mikeh]

We have 5 controls and what may be a very useful diamond Jack (picture KQxxx opposite), so passing is far too timid. Blasting slam is silly: Axxx AQ KQxxx Kx is a reasonable 4S call and I know of no way to find out if he has the spade 9, without which we do not want to be in slam. Yes, we can make if an opp has Hx in trump and we guess which one has that, but the slam would be against the odds (plus we can't tell that we're not off the AQ!...Kxxx AQ KQxx KJx as one layout)

Cuebidding won't tell us what we need to know, so even tho keycard is a grossly overused convention, it does the job here.

The answer won't tell us with assurance that slam is on, but it will allow us to stay out if we are off a keycard and the trump Queen.

Assuming we have all the keycards, I will bid slam even if off the trump Queen. If we have all the keycards and the trump queen, I still just bid the small slam.

We can't have 13 reasonably sure tricks even if he has all the missing keycards and the trump Queen. AKQx Ax Kxxxx Kx is the best I can come up with: a very pure hand with no wasted quacks and we need the diamond hook. Note that he is presumptively balanced or semi-balanced, since he would splinter with shortness.

[pescetom]

I agree with Mikeh that RKC followed (or not) by small slam is the best you can do now, followed by a change of partner or system.

[Tramticket]

Welcome to the forums.

Another hand where system matters. In our 4-card major system, we open a major with 4M4m. It follows that partner is precisely 4252 shape with 19 or a gòod 18 HCPs. With a double fit we would check for aces and bid slam unless two key cards are missing.

I am looking for a spade slam rather than a diamond slam because (a) 4-4 fits often play better and (b) it might be necessary to shield the king of hearts from the opening lead. I am not venturing a NT slam, even at MPs (unless I need to generate a swing).

[neilkaz]

RKC for me also.