[pescetom]

MP.

---

East's opening of 1♣ is natural 2+ cards and 12+ HCP.
South is showing 6+card ♥ and 4 card ♠.
North's 4NT is Roman Keycard Blackwood in hearts and South's 5♦ shows 1 keycard.
Any bids at 6-level are natural signoff.
What do you think about North's bidding so far and his choices now?
Please answer the polls about choices as North and comment here.

[mikeh]

The poll questions seem irrelevant to me. I have no idea why north thinks this is a slam hand. Bidding keycard seems inexplicable to me. Partner is likely 4=6=1=2 or 4=6=0=3. Why I’d play him for KQJx AKQJxx x xx or the equivalent seems weird.

Btw, what would you have South do with say KQxx AKJxx x xxx over 3C? Iow, how confident are we that partner is 4=6 majors?

[gordontd]

If you don't know what to do after the response to Blackwood, perhaps 4NT was not the correct call?

[pescetom]

mikeh, on 2020-February-19, 09:11, said:

The poll questions seem irrelevant to me. I have no idea why north thinks this is a slam hand. Bidding keycard seems inexplicable to me. Partner is likely 4=6=1=2 or 4=6=0=3. Why I’d play him for KQJx AKQJxx x xx or the equivalent seems weird.

Thanks for the comment. I am as puzzled as you about why North sought keycards here, but I am more interested in what happens afterwards, hence the poll questions.

mikeh, on 2020-February-19, 09:11, said:

Btw, what would you have South do with say KQxx AKJxx x xxx over 3C? Iow, how confident are we that partner is 4=6 majors?

I'm pretty sure he would have bid 3NT in that case. You can be confident he is 4=6 majors and has an Ace or the K♥.

[Cyberyeti]

What is 2♠ showing by way of values ?

I presume you're trying to defend pass by this poll.

[pescetom]

Cyberyeti, on 2020-February-19, 11:20, said:

What is 2♠ showing by way of values ?

Nothing much extra to the 1♥ vulnerable interference - if East has opened then South and West have at most 14 points between them anyway.

Cyberyeti, on 2020-February-19, 11:20, said:

I presume you're trying to defend pass by this poll.

I think you know me well enough by now to recognise that this is not our bidding. They did not pass but I'm interested to know if you would consider it.

[apollo1201]

I’d have pulled the brakes long ago. 3NT at some stage. Why the hell am I keycarding in the middle of a misfit and not really solid suits. Seems we’re f*** up at the 5-level with partner’s only KC. Especially if the reverse didn’t show extras. Maybe KQxx AQxxx T xx give me a chance in 5D. At least, I won’t have the shame to table such a dummy if I pass.

On a good day, ops X, partner has KQJTxx and reverts to H, and opps let us trump a losing S in my hand.

[Cyberyeti]

pescetom, on 2020-February-19, 11:40, said:

Nothing much extra to the 1♥ vulnerable interference - if East has opened then South and West have at most 14 points between them anyway.

OK, I don't understand how this is a playable method, how much did 2♦ show ? to me 2♠ would be the other 16 when E opened a 10 count.

[pescetom]

Cyberyeti, on 2020-February-19, 14:47, said:

OK, I don't understand how this is a playable method, how much did 2♦ show ? to me 2♠ would be the other 16 when E opened a 10 count.

I don't think their method (up to 3NT) is unplayable, at least in loco : 1♥ vulnerable is 11+ and/or 6 cards, 2♦ showed a strong game invite forcing and 2♠ is the rest. They know East would not open a balanced 10 count or even 11 without decent spades.

[Cyberyeti]

pescetom, on 2020-February-19, 15:09, said:

I don't think their method (up to 3NT) is unplayable, at least in loco : 1♥ vulnerable is 11+ and/or 6 cards, 2♦ showed a strong game invite forcing and 2♠ is the rest. They know East would not open a balanced 10 count or even 11 without decent spades.

Why doesn't he just have 6 or 7 clubs ? or do they play 2♣ for that

In that case 4N is barking, 3N was plenty

[msjennifer]

mikeh, on 2020-February-19, 09:11, said:

The poll questions seem irrelevant to me. I have no idea why north thinks this is a slam hand. Bidding keycard seems inexplicable to me. Partner is likely 4=6=1=2 or 4=6=0=3. Why I'd play him for KQJx AKQJxx x xx or the equivalent seems weird.

Btw, what would you have South do with say KQxx AKJxx x xxx over 3C? Iow, how confident are we that partner is 4=6 majors?

Sir,I,personally,fully agree with your reply.

[Zelandakh]

Am I allowed to back up and rebid 2NT, assuming that shows ~13-15? To be honest it is not even clear that 4NT should be RKCB, since with slam interest in hearts I could have bid 4♣. Not that I have slam interest, making the questions somewhat surreal.

If I am forced to step in for the waiter then passing seems the best shot now with 5♥ the only real alternative. I would consider 5♥ if I hate partner and just want to go to sleep for a few minutes while they struggle before collecting their bottom.

[pescetom]

Zelandakh, on 2020-February-25, 10:17, said:

Am I allowed to back up and rebid 2NT, assuming that shows ~13-15? To be honest it is not even clear that 4NT should be RKCB, since with slam interest in hearts I could have bid 4♣. Not that I have slam interest, making the questions somewhat surreal.

If I am forced to step in for the waiter then passing seems the best shot now with 5♥ the only real alternative. I would consider 5♥ if I hate partner and just want to go to sleep for a few minutes while they struggle before collecting their bottom.

I agree that North's bidding is curious.
The questions are real because what they bid after 4NT is not automatic and had some importance.
Thanks for your reply.
Five voters (considering you, even if you did not fill in the poll) out of five said they would pass and that only 5H (or for two 5S) were logical alternatives.