[HeartA]

This is the first time I got all the blame. There must be a conspricy here.

I was sitting North, we have played a few hundreds of boards. Though we agreed that 2♠ does not guarantee 6+, for the hands we played as I remember, we took it as 6+. I didn't think of 2S, but decided to bid 2NT after all with 5332 distribution. After 3C (2C is game forcing as you can guess from sequence, otherwise I would have passed 3C), I did think of 4C as well. But I was afraid of by-passing 3NT with my aceless hands and 3Qs.

Finally, if I held South's hand, I would rebid 3H (surprise, only one person mention that) after North's 2N. IMO, thought North denied 4-card of ♥, 3♥ would still be good, showing an unbalanced hand and suggested long C as well. So if a clone of mine sit South, we would not reach 3NT.

[Winstonm]

Depending on your systemic approach, I don't have a big problem with the 2N rebid - if that is what you agreed to then you live with it; however, if partner were interested in NT then he would simply raise NT and not bid 3C - 3C in itself in this auction has to imply 1) and unbalanced hand 2) a powerful hand, or 3) both of the above.

As such, I think a bid of 3S is most descriptive of the north hand - it implies doubts as to the correct-ness of 3N, does not show any extras, and gives responder the chance to support on Ax.

As there is a "known" 6/2 fit and doubt about 3N, I would not object at this point for South to try once more for slam with whatever the system calls for: 4C is no longer a force in some methods. Give North the same hand with the K of hearts and the slam is at least decent. Even the QJ of hearts helps.

I am extremely aggressive to a point when trying to bid low-high-card slams, so I would make one more try over 3S, (4C-forcing in my systemic approach) but when partner can only bid 5C I will have to respect that decision and pass.

I wouldn't reach the best MP contract of 4S, but I would reach a good 5C contract and avoid the hopeless 3N.

In my opinion, the problem bid on this hand was 3N.

WinstonM

[adf]

Walddk, on May 31 2005, 04:25 AM, said:

adf, on May 30 2005, 09:58 PM, said:

6♣ is better, as you need only a good spade break on any lead...

Not sure if we are on the same wavelength. If they knock out your ♥A, you need spades to break 3-3 or 10x with either defender.

Maybe that is what you mean by a good spade break?

Yep. And in 6♣, it doesn't much matter if they knock out the ♥A.

(And my earlier post erroneously stated 10-8, rather than 10-x, in addition to 3-3 breaks.)