[jillybean]

---

[a_user]

4♠

[DavidKok]

I think slam is remote. Even if partner's raise always promises four spades we'd need a perfect maximum opposite. I like 4♠, but would not mind it too much if people make a mild slam try - especially if you have the tools to show short hearts.

The problem is that partner may get very excited with something like ♠KQxx, ♥Axx, ♦Qxxxx, ♣K - by all means in the better half or even best 20% of 2♠ bids and an upgrade on hearing short hearts opposite, yet slam has no chances at all. By inviting partner to think with us we are taking a small risk. 4♠ for me.

[Cyberyeti]

What do I need ? AKxx, xxxx, KQxx, x for example so slam is perfectly possible, but there are many better hands where it doesn't make. If partner has only 3 spades it's very unlikely so I would need to know how often we raise with 3.

What enquiries do I have available ? I would feel much happier if I could find a way of bidding this that allowed partner a chance to cue hearts or show a stop that I'm hoping he can't take.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

it is either 4S or 4H.

Not that I do the following at the table, but forum posts give us the chance to reflect a
bit longer.

In the context of a strong NT, partner could still hold a weak NT, so the chances go down
that slam makes, there is even a chance, that you are not able to make 10 tricks.
In the context of a weak NT, partner will be unbal. or bal. 15/16, so the chance go up that
slam makes.

Take your pick.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[DavidKok]

For what little it's worth, my own methods here are:

• 2NT: Spiral.
  
• 3♣: Short suit game try, 5(+)♠.
  
• 3♦: -
  
• 3♥: SSGT.
  
• 3♠: Competitive/preemptive/barrage. A poor agreement on this auction, more sensible with hearts instead of spades.
  
• 3NT: Offer to play, (semi)bal. Partner may pass even with 4-card support.
  
• 4♣-4♥: slammish 2-suiters.
  
• 4♠: To play.
  
• 4NT+: -

I don't have a ssgt in the diamond suit as that one is always long for me. If partner opened clubs I would have one there, as it is only 2+. This likely differs per partnership.
My spiral version allows me to get out at 3♦ when I think it's right.

[mw64ahw]

North is good for 4♠ with slam unlikely unless North's hand can be upgraded opposite a good opener.
A ♥ SSGT will find out if opener is a minimum, game going or extras.

[P_Marlowe]

 DavidKok, on 2024-December-02, 04:38, said:

For what little it's worth, my own methods here are:

[list]
[*]2NT: Spiral.
<snip>

A plus with regards to slam is the 6-4 fit, but if you regular raise with only 3, so often,
that a sepcialiced agreement is in place, than the odds that slam makes drop again.

[mike777]

Fwiw, using Losing Trick Count 7 loser hand adjust +1 for ten card fit, adjust +0.5 for controls so adjusted 5.5 loser hand worth thinking about slam despite pard probably having a minimum 11-13 hand.,
Can use short suit or long suit try. Long suit bid directly, short suit go through 2nt, when spades are trump, to show stiff.

jump directly to 4h to show H void.

1d-1s
2s-2nt
3c-3s or 3nt

2nt starts short suit game try
3c forced
3s stiff H, passable...3nt stiff h, slam try.

[jillybean]

---

Always the optimistic and lacking other gadgets, this was the auction.
It’s not a particularly tough problem but I thought it was an interesting hand, 6 spades to the 8 ��

(stray double removed)

[Cyberyeti]

We would start with 1N so partner is not getting excited.

[jillybean]

 Cyberyeti, on 2024-December-02, 10:21, said:

We would start with 1N so partner is not getting excited.

Ah, that's why my partner wanted to switch to mini nt.

[Cyberyeti]

 jillybean, on 2024-December-02, 10:51, said:

Ah, that's why my partner wanted to switch to mini nt.

12-14 for us

[jillybean]

 Cyberyeti, on 2024-December-02, 12:00, said:

12-14 for us

I like 12-14, I am also having fun trying 10-13 and it curbs my tendency to want to explore slam each time partner opens a hand and I have points.
As with any 1nt opening, the hand is very clearly defined and the auction over 1nt is easy, and well defined.

[smerriman]

Did West really double :/ I think the splinter would have backfired here for me, I would have bid on with South.

[jillybean]

NO, double. I don't know how that got in there.

[jdiana]

 smerriman, on 2024-December-02, 12:24, said:

I think the splinter would have backfired here for me, I would have bid on with South.

This is what I was thinking. South has an excellent holding in hearts opposite a splinter. In this case I think they can take 11 tricks regardless so, as long as they stopped below slam, they would have been OK.

[smerriman]

 jdiana, on 2024-December-02, 12:35, said:

In this case I think they can take 11 tricks regardless so, as long as they stopped below slam, they would have been OK.

But can you stop - with no room for cue bidding it would have been Blackwood and slam for me.

[jdiana]

 smerriman, on 2024-December-02, 12:40, said:

But can you stop - with no room for cue bidding it would have been Blackwood and slam for me.

Good point - with 4 KC + Q, that's most likely.

[pescetom]

 jillybean, on 2024-December-02, 09:59, said:

---

Always the optimistic and lacking other gadgets, this was the auction.
It’s not a particularly tough problem but I thought it was an interesting hand, 6 spades to the 8 ��

I would play control-bids rather than splinter once Opener has fitted Responder, so 4♣ rather than 4♥: now hearing 4♥ with ♦Axx and feeble trumps one has a fairly obvious 4♠ negative.
If you play some kind of Trial bid as INV+ then I could also understand 3♦ which again would elict a negative, which you pull to game.