[robzim]

NORTHSOUTH=West,N/S,IMP,
North ♠AQ,♥AQ962,♦K1032,♣QJ

♠KJ98643,♥3,♦AQJ7,♦A]

I was at a loss how to bid this hand -- the bidding went 1♥, 1♠, 3♦ and I saw slam in diamonds and didn't know how to pursue it in spades. What should my next bid have been? And the subsequent bidding? Give me a big hand, and I panic every time. Roberta[/NORTHSOUTH]

[mcphee]

I am curious as to why you perfer to play S with 13 top tricks in NT. Aside from that D on the 4-4 generally a grand you would rather be in as partner may not hold the Q of S.

Although to play in S may be a slight increase in score I would concentrate on locating your big slams with a keep it simple approach and support with support as soon as possible.
1D 1S
3D 4D this simple raise makes life easy and should start a cue bidding response. D are SET as trumps and once your partner makes any cue bid you can take control via RKC reaching 7D with ease even without the knowledge of the QS. Bottom line is your partners will be pleased you bid 7 regardless of the strain. Any grand will usually be a sound score winning imps more often than not.

[vuroth]

I'm guessing that half the cause of the panic is the likelihood of 4♦ Pass.....

[mcphee]

Passing a raise to 4D is not possible as it is a strong GF (many times slam interest) bid. It is not your fault if partner passes and something you are unable to control. Please bear in mind that at times this j/s (which is GF) might be on a 3 card suit, 2-6-3-2 shape that is too good to bid 3H for example. Judging from the hand responder holds a 3 card suit j/s does not look likely here, setting strain is what we want to do.

[Tola18]

vuroth, on Jan 6 2009, 09:39 AM, said:

I'm guessing that half the cause of the panic is the likelihood of 4♦ Pass.....

Now, if opener is a beginner and passes, so neither we can ever bid any slams using que-bids. Too complicated and too great risk for misbids.
In such case better to throw in slams, or possibly use the Blackwood/RKCB. But again - beginners / lower intermediates often do count wrongly their aces.... A quite common misbid.
(Im not at all ironic, I myself had done it several times during my earlier days ).


Nay, the real risk here partner doesnt understand the 4D is (GF and) a slamseeker, but thinks it is invite for game.
And thus - settle for 5D....


Or if responder is a lower intermediate - it IS perhaps a game-inviting bid...

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

3S.

You have a 7 card suit, you can rebid it.
3S does not show a 7 carder, just a good 5 carder,
but it is a start.

Thinks can get complicate after 3S, but that is the
price, if you prefer a easier auction, bid 4D, a spades
contract may be a better contract, but if you fear,
that you mess up the continuations, show the fit.

There are many reason, why one may feat messing up
the auction, one is, that you play with an unfamilar p,
and keeping things simple is a good sign.

With kind regards
Marlowe