[Quartic]

Playing in a club pairs competition, I pick up a nice 17 count as dealer:

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3♠ was intended as a cue for clubs. I got the ♦A lead, and a heart continuation:

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Unfortunately with hearts 5-1, I was unable to avoid a second loser.

How should I have continued after 3♣, and should I be looking for slam, or just settle for 3NT?

[Fluffy]

27 HCP with 2 balanced hands... you don't have to press for slam.

[Mbodell]

Quartic, on 2011-December-15, 18:18, said:

How should I have continued after 3♣, and should I be looking for slam, or just settle for 3NT?

What is your agreement on 3♣? I play it as natural and invitational (stronger hands go through 4sf). If you play it that way (and partner's hand matches that), then you know partner has at most around 11 points. Slam is unlikely. If it is pairs it is likely 3nt scores better, and your heart holding is pretty good, so I'd bid 3♥ hoping partner can bid 3nt. Note on this hand that 3nt from partner is much better then from you as the diamond lead comes around to partner. Take your +630 (more if opponents pitch wrong).

I mean you were a little unlucky that hearts split so badly, but you were a little lucky that diamonds weren't AQ behind you, or that you didn't get a low lead from the S hand or some other thing that could sink your slim slam.

[gnasher]

After 3♣, I would expect that 3♥ would show 4315 or perhaps 4324, and 3♦ would be FSF, asking for a diamond stop. That would make this a 3♦ bid.

[Quartic]

Mbodell, on 2011-December-16, 03:14, said:

What is your agreement on 3♣? I play it as natural and invitational (stronger hands go through 4sf). If you play it that way (and partner's hand matches that), then you know partner has at most around 11 points. Slam is unlikely. If it is pairs it is likely 3nt scores better, and your heart holding is pretty good, so I'd bid 3♥ hoping partner can bid 3nt. Note on this hand that 3nt from partner is much better then from you as the diamond lead comes around to partner. Take your +630 (more if opponents pitch wrong).

I mean you were a little unlucky that hearts split so badly, but you were a little lucky that diamonds weren't AQ behind you, or that you didn't get a low lead from the S hand or some other thing that could sink your slim slam.

It was a (very) infrequent partnership, so we didn't have any detailed discussion of 3♣. As long as the ♦A is onside I can still make on a spade lead if I can bring hearts in for no loser (discard 3 spades from hand). I agree that opposite this dummy I don't want to be in slam, but its not quite as bad as it looks at first glance.

[Fluffy]

Quartic, on 2011-December-16, 04:52, said:

It was a (very) infrequent partnership, so we didn't have any detailed discussion of 3♣. As long as the ♦A is onside I can still make on a spade lead if I can bring hearts in for no loser (discard 3 spades from hand). I agree that opposite this dummy I don't want to be in slam, but its not quite as bad as it looks at first glance.

you have 2 obvious losers, even hearts 4-2 mean inmeadiate defeat. For 3 spade pitehs you need ♥3-3, or just because partner has ♥9, a ♥J doubleton.

[Cascade]

Opposite an invitational hand you require partner to cover four of your losers (losing trick count) plus something good to happen with the fourth spade.

All of this is possible but it is unlikely. At any rate assuming you optimistically make a slam try you should be leaving the decision to your partner. You need your partner to like his hand for there to be a slam.