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(1) Is between 5S and 6S for me. I think 6S is a pressure bid. LHO
may sacrifice, putting partner in charge. But SK is no shrinking
violet, so maybe only 5S - he may be bidding some of my hand already !!
At any rate, nothing else appeals. I'm inclined to 6S.
(2) Surely have to bid 6S. No speculative grands for me - bad Imp odds.
bb
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| Hand 1: Qxx-KJxxx-T9xx-T.
Partner has 8PT (hence 5 losers). This hand covers a spade and a heart
loser and 1 or 2 club losers. Maybe the hearts run, covering more club
losers. I'd be aggressive and bid 6S. Pushing to a grand with an aceless
hand is too rich for my blood.
Hand 2: AJxxxxx-AQx-AQ-J.
After bidding 2C - 2N* - 3S - 4C - 4D - 4H - ...
* 8-10 flattish
I wouldn't cue the club singleton. I'd try a leap to 5S which asks
partner to go to 6 with good trump quality. If there is a diamond
loser I'd like a good chance of picking up trumps without a loser.
With the actual bidding sequences, I'd feel more confident bidding
6 after the cue bids because partner made the first move towards
slam (he has some good "stuff"). I don't like the Gerber sequence.
As I play it, asking for kings is a move towards grand slam. Therefore,
any bid short of small slam is forcing.
Dave
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| 1) Why is 3N** great news? Is it natural, or pick a minor? If it's
natural, I think I'd rather be doubling. If it's support for both
minors, then I want to take the push and bid the freaks.
Do I really think 6S is there? Maybe. If a 5H bid by me would be
a cuebid in support of spades, then that sounds like the best move.
If not, I'm gonna bid 5S now, telling partner that we're certainly
making, and hope he can go on with the right hand.
2) I assuming that 4C is a cuebid in support of spades. Partner has
a decent chance of having QS/K, HK, and CA for his 8-10 balanced. You
now need one of the two finesses to work to make 6S. 75% chance.
What if partner doesn't have to have good trump support - xx or xxx.
If partner has Sxx, you will most likely need a 2-2 spade split
*and* the diamond finesse to work. Not nearly as good a slam.
If partner has xxx, you might be able to handle KQx onside for
only one loser, but the diamond hook still needs to work. I suppose
there's a chance partner has C-AQ, in which case I have a choice of
finesses.
I'm not sure I like either auction. I'd really like to know if
partner had either spade honor before bidding the slam. Gerber
won't tell be partner's spade holding. So bidding 3S over 3N
seems right. Would 4N over the 4H cue have been RKCB? Now I
might have room for the queen-ask, if needed.
I guess I blast 6S here. Not real scientific, but I bet I'll
have company.
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| Well, both hands, happening by the end of a 'fun' club turney, were
disastrous.
1) Pard culpa.
You are right - responder must bid. As the level is too high and
the hand is aceless, 5S is enough. Pard took the wrong view,
passed 5D and led CT. 5D made. 3N meant good support for both
minors - pick one.
Qxx-KJxxx-T9xx-T
x-Ax-AKxxx-J9xxx Txx-x-QJxx-Axxxx
AKJ9xx-QTxxx-void-KQ
Yes, I'm underpowered DT-wise, and in any other circumstance would
open 1S, intending a H-jump-rebid. Now I fear they'll sac us out
of vul game.
2. Mea culpa.
Bemused by (1), and seeing too many holes, I unilaterally bid 4S/2N.
Here it doesn't preclude responder from cueing (as 2N may have
been on aceless hand and no trump support, eg xx-Kxxx-xxx-KQxx.)
It only shows a one-suited hand by the top of the 2C-opening range.
4S made with 2 overtricks, responder having QTx-Kxxx-Jx-Axxx. Right,
Dave, the trump situation is not clear, and opposite eg xx-Kxxx-xxx-AQxx,
slam should not be bid.
I only gave the sequences that we might have used. In the second,
4C might be construed as splinter with yet unknown trump.
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