[hrothgar]

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Wonder whether anyone can suggest a good auction for these hands after a 1♣ opening by South and a 1♠ overcall by West.

We produced the following

1♣ - (1♠) - X - (P)
1N - (P) - 2♠ - (P)
3♣ - (P) - 3♦ - (P)
3♥ - (P) - 4♥ - (P)
5♦ - All pass

No one was able to find the Diamond slam, though one pair did make it to Six Hearts doubled...

[gnasher]

I wouldn't want to be in the diamond slam. The first objective seems to be to stay out of 3NT, and the second to get to hearts, assuming this is matchpoints. Perhaps:
1♣ (1♠) 2♥
2NT-3♦
3♥-3♠
4♦-5♦

Or after 3♠ opener might try 4♥, envisaging this type of layout.

[MrAce]

gnasher, on 2013-July-08, 07:56, said:

I wouldn't want to be in the diamond slam. The first objective seems to be to stay out of 3NT, and the second to get to hearts, assuming this is matchpoints. Perhaps:
1♣ (1♠) 2♥
2NT-3♦
3♥-3♠
4♦-5♦

Or after 3♠ opener might try 4♥, envisaging this type of layout.

I like your auction. Simple , natural and effective.

[Cyberyeti]

1♣-(1♠)-2♥
2N(12-14 bal not 3♥)-3♦
3♠(stop ?)-4♣ (can't be 544 or would have rebid 3♣, strong suggestion of 553 and good hand)
4♦-4♠(confirming 553)
4N(A/K♥)-5♣(A/K)
5N(A/K without Q♣)-6♦

we use notrumps to show the most expensive cue, with partner known to hold one of ♣AK, 6♣ instead of 5N would have shown AQ/KQ.

[gnasher]

MrAce, on 2013-July-08, 08:01, said:

I like your auction. Simple , natural and effective.

My analysis is somewhat faulty, though. 6♦ is pretty good - with hearts 4-2 it's almost cold, and even with a 1=5 break you have reasonable chances.

[32519]

I saw someone once find the slam via an extraordinary sequence on a similar hand. IIRC the bidding went something like this:

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[mikeh]

gnasher, on 2013-July-08, 07:56, said:

I wouldn't want to be in the diamond slam. The first objective seems to be to stay out of 3NT, and the second to get to hearts, assuming this is matchpoints. Perhaps:
1♣ (1♠) 2♥
2NT-3♦
3♥-3♠
4♦-5♦

Or after 3♠ opener might try 4♥, envisaging this type of layout.

I was going to post exactly this auction then decided to read the other posts. Obviously I like it

I don't see how N can bid the slam after S strongly implied some spade wastage, tho not a huge amount since he is clearly 2=3 reds on this auction (if one opens 1♣ with 3=2=4=4, I suppose it is barely possible he might hold that shape, but I don't have experience with that method).

[inquiry]

I don't like starting negative double with the north hand. So I fall into the 2♥ bidding group.

One might first, however, consider this auction...

Pass - (1♠) - 2♠
2NT - 3♦
4♦ - 4♠, 4♠ mild slam try,
6♦ - East is great for a slam try given a passed hand

But, ok, I admit I would open south 1♣ as well. After bidding 2♥, forcing, South does have a problematic rebid.

• 2♠ would probably show support, if not and it was waiting I would bid that, but for me it is "good support",
• 2NT would show a spade stopper,
• 3♣ a fifth club,
• 3♦ diamond values, but probably no longer a reverse, the question is would it promise a real suit, in which case it mis-identifies two cards in the hand (suggesting 45 in the minors, when really 34). So South has a real problem. (If 3♦ just shows concentration of values and inability to bid raise hearts or bid 2NT, then the auction is easy, but who plays that?)

Here is a reasonable auction with opponents passes not shown, with a curious Bluhmer cue-bid thrown in for good measure.

1♣ - (1♠) - 2♥
3♣ - 3♦ The 3♣ bid only misidentifies one card, Not a spade stopper, not heart support, a "fifth" club.
3♥ - 4♣
4♠! - 5NT
6♦ - pass

This auction, however if full of problems. The 3♦ bid is natural and forcing, the 3♥ is doubleton (most likely honor doubleton). The 4♣ is bidding out shape, and possibly finding correct strain of clubs. 4♠ has to be a Bluhmer cue-bid (Opener has denied spade stopper not once but twice), showing all his values outside of spades. 5NT is pick a slam, obviously implying good diamonds and only three card club support. But the problem is, opposite five clubs, North might just bid 6♣ which isn't a great spot instead of offering up a choice. If given a choice, South will suggest diamonds, obviously.

[Winstonm]

1C-1S-2H-P
2N-P-3D-P
3H-P-4C-P
4D-P-4S-P
5D-P-6D-P
P-P

[mikeh]

inquiry, on 2013-July-08, 11:42, said:

I don't like starting negative double with the north hand. So I fall into the 2♥ bidding group.

One might first, however, consider this auction...

Pass - (1♠) - 2♠
2NT - 3♦
4♦ - 4♠, 4♠ mild slam try,
6♦ - East is great for a slam try given a passed hand

But, ok, I admit I would open south 1♣ as well. After bidding 2♥, forcing, South does have a problematic rebid.

• 2♠ would probably show support, if not and it was waiting I would bid that, but for me it is "good support",
• 2NT would show a spade stopper,
• 3♣ a fifth club,
• 3♦ diamond values, but probably no longer a reverse, the question is would it promise a real suit, in which case it mis-identifies two cards in the hand (suggesting 45 in the minors, when really 34). So South has a real problem. (If 3♦ just shows concentration of values and inability to bid raise hearts or bid 2NT, then the auction is easy, but who plays that?)

Here is a reasonable auction with opponents passes not shown, with a curious Bluhmer cue-bid thrown in for good measure.

1♣ - (1♠) - 2♥
3♣ - 3♦ The 3♣ bid only misidentifies one card, Not a spade stopper, not heart support, a "fifth" club.
3♥ - 4♣
4♠! - 5NT
6♦ - pass

This auction, however if full of problems. The 3♦ bid is natural and forcing, the 3♥ is doubleton (most likely honor doubleton). The 4♣ is bidding out shape, and possibly finding correct strain of clubs. 4♠ has to be a Bluhmer cue-bid (Opener has denied spade stopper not once but twice), showing all his values outside of spades. 5NT is pick a slam, obviously implying good diamonds and only three card club support. But the problem is, opposite five clubs, North might just bid 6♣ which isn't a great spot instead of offering up a choice. If given a choice, South will suggest diamonds, obviously.

If I wasn't allowed to bid 2N, I would bid 3♥. The idea of rebidding Kxxx makes me ill.

[MrAce]

gnasher, on 2013-July-08, 08:05, said:

My analysis is somewhat faulty, though. 6♦ is pretty good - with hearts 4-2 it's almost cold, and even with a 1=5 break you have reasonable chances.

I did not even check the result, neither i was talking about the outcome. I was mainly talking about the path you had chosen.

[nige1]

Blue moon rising -- CR ccr

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[Hanoi5]

South's rebid after 2♥ is a normal problem of MSC from the BW.

[Free]

Probably something like this:

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North has to make a decision, but playing in a 5-2 fit with a void opposite a probably weak ♠ suit is asking for trouble, so 5♦ is safer imo.