[wvlaker]

Scoring: MP

2♥ 2♠ P 4NT
P 5♣ P ?

---

2♥ - 5 ♥ and 4 of a minor
5♣ - 3 keys for ♠

Would you bid differently without the preempt and partner opened 1♠ instead?

[mike777]

Prefer 5s not 4nt bid after preempt.

[wvlaker]

What does 5♠ mean?

[inquiry]

wvlaker, on May 17 2005, 06:34 PM, said:

What does 5♠ mean?

Bid slam in spades with first or second round control in their heart suit

[awm]

Well I'm not very happy with the auction. It seems like we could have done better in various ways. My preference is to start with a 4♣ splinter (despite the singleton ace); if partner can't cuebid hearts we don't have slam. Also, partner's cuebid (or lack thereof) in diamonds will give me some information about whether 7NT is playable (basically I want pd to have 2+ diamonds).

Anyways, now that partner has shown three keycards we are in reasonable shape. I expect 7♠ to be a percentage contract -- we have six spades, one heart, one club, and five diamonds. I wouldn't want to blast 7NT since partner may have singleton diamond and the contract would then rest on the suit breaking; even at matchpoints bidding and making a grand is usually a reasonable result. In a strong field, I might try a gimmick like 6♦ (specific suit ask) planning to bid 7♠ if partner shows diamond "help" (which MUST be shortness) or 7NT if partner shows "no help in diamonds."

[wvlaker]

inquiry, on May 17 2005, 05:38 PM, said:

wvlaker, on May 17 2005, 06:34 PM, said:

What does 5♠ mean?

Bid slam in spades with first or second round control in their heart suit

How will you evaluate the grand after 5♠ then?

[inquiry]

wvlaker, on May 17 2005, 06:54 PM, said:

inquiry, on May 17 2005, 05:38 PM, said:

wvlaker, on May 17 2005, 06:34 PM, said:

What does 5♠ mean?

Bid slam in spades with first or second round control in their heart suit

How will you evaluate the grand after 5♠ then?

You asked what 5♠ bid means. The advantage of five spades is you don't get to six spades off two hearts, something an auction that uses 4NT might do if your partner was missing one key card, as you have no clue as to if they can take the first two tricks in the suit bid by the enemy.

Over 5♠, if your partner is looking at heart ace (he knows you have two losers there) and spade AK, he will be thinking grand slam must be at strong possibility or at least close. But for the record, i didn't say to bid 5♠, i simply told you what it means.

If your partner has a second round heart control, he just bids 6♠. If he has first round heart control, he can try for grand slam in a number of ways.

[HeartA]

inquiry, on May 17 2005, 05:38 PM, said:

wvlaker, on May 17 2005, 06:34 PM, said:

What does 5♠ mean?

Bid slam in spades with first or second round control in their heart suit

I have a revised version. Bid small slam with second control, cue-bid 6♥ to show first control.

But I don't think this hands qualifies for 5♠ since you don't have either of A or K of ♠. I prefer 4NT actually. It's safe to assume pd to have some control for the 2♠ overcall.

[whereagles]

7S. what's the problem??

[Chamaco]

I count 13 likely tricks if spades break, and even if they do not there may still be quite good chances (pick Jxxx or squeeze possibilities).


I bid 7NT. It should be even safer than 7S if spades are stacked.

[Gerben42]

7♠ looks a lot safer than 7NT as you can recover from a 4-1 ♦ break. If ♠ cannot be picked up you might only have 6♦ 3♠ and 2 aces and no way to make 7NT either.

[Fluffy]

I am with nuno: 7♠, don't see the problem.

4NT is a poor bid unless your agreements tell you that 2♠ is very strong, it is not a 2 suiter with clubs, and you can deduce partner has at least ♥K.

4♣ would show ♣+♠ IMO.

[P_Marlowe]

5H.

Asking for specific kings.
If partner holds the King of Club / Heart
you are going to make 7S.

And yes I woud have bid differently if partner opens 1S
and oppoenents do not intervene, because now I have
a nice 3D bid followed by 4C, a splinter, agreeing spades
as trump, because now, I will hear, if partner holds a heart
control, and I will get this information below 4NT.

**** Editing ****
I now see, that the question was raised in the beginners forum,
so specific king ask wont be availbale, but 5NT will do the job as
well, asking for the numbers of kings.
Regarding strong jumb shifts, I am not sure, if this belong in this section
as well.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[PriorKnowledge]

7S, of course. Only alternative is a 5S sign-off if you have fear partner has 0 controls. Partner will bid again with 3 controls and you can then bid 7S.

7N is very poor. Even at MP, always bid your safest slam. Especially a grand slam. Why risk turning a near top to a zero?

Nothing wrong with 4N. An expert might start with 3H, limit raise+, to entice partner to make a mixed queue in hearts before bidding 4N. But leave those auctions to experts.

[beatrix45]

Bid 7♠ right NOW.

You can count 13 tricks in spades based on the information you already have - five spades, one heart, three to six diamonds, one club and some club ruffs in dummy to spare if you need them.

Only the most expert RKC partnerships have the tools to find the extra queen one needs to guarantee 7NT if the diamonds don't split. More bidding simply gives the opponents information and cannot resolve your only remaining question about 7NT. Even at matchpoints, making 7♠ will be an excellent board in almost any game.