[FelicityR]

The six-one fit is better than the four-four fit here, but can any player realistically bid up to 6♠. Our own effort using Acol was pretty lamentable. Part of me said that I should make some noise after 4♠, but that singleton ♣K looked like a hopeless card, and those small cards in ♥s probably contained a loser too.

I envisaged the bidding using 2/1 too, and I still feel it is probably impossible finding 6♠. We were playing IMPs here, but obviously the hand could be in an MPs setting too. And, as always, thank you for your replies.

---

[HardVector]

In 2/1, you'd have a different problem. It would probably go 1s-1n-3h, now you'd be wondering how high to bid in hearts. I doubt you'd ever get to spades at that point. Be happy you got to the best game.

[Cyberyeti]

HardVector, on 2019-August-22, 09:45, said:

In 2/1, you'd have a different problem. It would probably go 1s-1n-3h, now you'd be wondering how high to bid in hearts. I doubt you'd ever get to spades at that point. Be happy you got to the best game.

Not just in 2/1 playing Acol it's very difficult to get out a 4-4 heart fit once you discover it, the only possible shot is to get to 6N(S) and hope the leader has the ♣A or they're not led and the diamonds cooperate.

I think 5♥ is a very possible resting spot in Acol after you find out you're missing ♥Q/♣A when on your auction partner could have had Q10, KQ10x, xxxxx, Ax where 7♥/♠/N are excellent.

[pescetom]

I agree that in 2/1 the spades are out of the picture, at best we might stop at 5♥ in a MP tournament.

[ahydra]

I'm not sure I could get to 6S either, which does require the diamonds to co-operate somewhat. 1S-2D; 2H is generally played as forcing, probably gets 4H from North and then South can just ask for keycards, stopping in 5H when he discovers he's off one keycard and the queen. North should obviously regard the SQ as a very useful card after the 1S opening.

ahydra

[miamijd]

Probably impossible to find 6S in a natural bidding system (SAYC, 2/1, Acol, and the like). You are going to end up in hearts -- period.

With something like Meckwell Precision, you might have a shot. Maybe.

Cheers,
Mike

[Cyberyeti]

miamijd, on 2019-August-23, 13:17, said:

Probably impossible to find 6S in a natural bidding system (SAYC, 2/1, Acol, and the like). You are going to end up in hearts -- period.

With something like Meckwell Precision, you might have a shot. Maybe.

Cheers,
Mike

Could do it with N opening and having some irrelevant club quacks to make it an opening bid, but if S opens, not going to happen

[pescetom]

Cyberyeti, on 2019-August-23, 15:10, said:

Could do it with N opening and having some irrelevant club quacks to make it an opening bid, but if S opens, not going to happen

Even if N was dealer I wouldn't have the temerity to open as it is, but add in J♦ and we would probably end up in 6♠:

1♦ - 1♠
1NT - 3♠ (GF)
4♦ (=♦, denies ♣) - 4♥ (=♣)
4NT (even KC) - 5♦ (=♦, denies ♣)
5♥ (=♥) - 6♠ (he's shown just 2 kings so far, he must have some quacks to open)
p (if you say so)

[Cyberyeti]

pescetom, on 2019-August-23, 16:16, said:

Even if N was dealer I wouldn't have the temerity to open as it is, but add in J♦ and we would probably end up in 6♠:

1♦ - 1♠
1NT - 3♠ (GF)
4♦ (=♦, denies ♣) - 4♥ (=♣)
4NT (even KC) - 5♦ (=♦, denies ♣)
5♥ (=♥) - 6♠ (he's shown just 2 kings so far, he must have some quacks to open)
p (if you say so)

I was thinking essentially a 1♦-2♠ start, and now N's next bid for us would show (as well as 5 diamonds) at least Q or xx in spades, which should encourage S. Yes I wouldn't open the hand as is, would need maybe ♣Q or ♦J as well, with ♦J 6♦ or 6♠ work.