[sailoranch]

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Both vulnerable at IMPs. What's the best way to reach slam if the opponents remain silent? The agreements are first or second round cues, Last Train, and Kickback if a minor is explicitly agreed, but feel free to use your own methods.

(I would also love to see Zelandakh's relays. )

[Cyberyeti]

1♣-(1♥)-2♦
3♣(guarantees 6 in a weak no trump context and prob not 6322)-3♦(forcing the way we play it)
3♥(stop, no spade stop)-4♣
5♣(nothing else to cue minimum ish)-6♣(very unlikely to be worse than a finesse, could easily be laydown)

[Phil]

Cyberyeti, on 2012-August-10, 12:02, said:

1♣-(1♥)-2♦
3♣(guarantees 6 in a weak no trump context and prob not 6322)-3♦(forcing the way we play it)
3♥(stop, no spade stop)-4♣
5♣(nothing else to cue minimum ish)-6♣(very unlikely to be worse than a finesse, could easily be laydown)

Why would you have North rebid those diamonds when he has the nuts dummy for clubs?

I would also have my doubts if 4♣ is forcing. It sounds like the partnership tried for 3N, and whiffed. I suppose it depends on how good your minor suit openings are.

After 3♣ I prefer:

.....3♥
3N...4♣
4♦...4♥

and getting to 6♣ should be routine, especially if you play some sort of lower level RKC.

[lalldonn]

After south rebids 3♣ can't north just bid keycard for clubs (agreeing the suit first if by agreement he must in order to bid keycard)? At worst you might need a diamond finesse through the overcaller. Why are we making this so complicated?

[ggwhiz]

After 3♣ I don't mind 4nt by north at all but a 3♥ cue should easily lead to slam as well.

I would return a 4♥ cue as south but if 3nt is your choice, either 4♣ or 4♠ by north will get you there.

[kenrexford]

If you want a simple auction, how about:

1♣(clubs)-1♥(hearts)-2♦(diamonds)-P(Y'all have fun)
3♣(I really have clubs)-P-4♠(me too, and a stiff spade)-P-
6♣?

That might seem tad aggressive, but North has quite a hand with clubs as trumps.

[Cyberyeti]

Phil, on 2012-August-10, 12:10, said:

Why would you have North rebid those diamonds when he has the nuts dummy for clubs?

I would also have my doubts if 4♣ is forcing. It sounds like the partnership tried for 3N, and whiffed. I suppose it depends on how good your minor suit openings are.

After 3♣ I prefer:

.....3♥
3N...4♣
4♦...4♥

and getting to 6♣ should be routine, especially if you play some sort of lower level RKC.

3♦ is GF for us so yes 4♣ is forcing, the reason for bidding 3♦ is that 3♥ is exactly what I want to hear, heart card no spade card means I'm now bidding a slam whatever, I could have bid 6♣ over 3♥ thinking about it.

[TWO4BRIDGE]

Are we opening all "tens" now ?
South looks more like a 3C open, Vul .

I don't know how many systems , including Zel's, can get to a 24 combined hcp slam without identifying shortness .

[Cyberyeti]

TWO4BRIDGE, on 2012-August-10, 17:27, said:

Are we opening all "tens" now ?
South looks more like a 3C open, Vul .

I don't know how many systems , including Zel's, can get to a 24 combined hcp slam without identifying shortness .

It's easy, if I hold the N hand and partner shows 6 clubs to the AQ and the K♥ I know the slam is no worse than 50% and could be a lot better so I bid it.

If partner opened 3♣ 2nd vul I'd ask for aces and bid 6. Again unlikely to be much worse than 50% opposite AQ to 7♣ and could be a lot better.

[Zelandakh]

Sorry, no relays after a 2♣ opener in my system. A couple of possibilities exist to reach a slam here but simplest is

2♣ = 10-14, 5♣4M or 6+ clubs
... - 3♠ = 3+ clubs, slam try or better
4♣ = accept slam try
... - 4♦ = RKCB
4♥ = 1 key card
... - 4♠ = Q ask
5♥ = ♣Q and ♥K
... - 6♣

The problem is that I am not certain I would bid that way in practise. I generally accept that this hand type - reaching 6m after a 2♣ opening - is something of a weakness in the system so would not be too upset about missing this one if it came to it.

[ahydra]

I think I agree with TWO4BRIDGE's assessment of the South hand as a (heavy) 3C opener 2nd seat vul. Can North envisage slam? I think so, given his trump K + two aces + source of tricks. Plus this is IMPs, so no harm trying (surely 5C makes). So:

3C-4S (SPL) <<< ensure you've discussed with partner that this is a SPL, not to play!

South readily accepts the slam try with barely any wasted values, a max and the HK:

4NT-5D (0 or 3)
6C

After the given start South bids 3C and North 4C, that should get you well on the way.

ahydra

[han]

ahydra, on 2012-August-13, 06:09, said:

3C-4S (SPL) <<< ensure you've discussed with partner that this is a SPL, not to play!

Or better yet: ensure with your partner that this is to play and don't bid it with a splinter.