[Fluffy]

♠AKJ4
♥J1093
♦A4
♣A74


1♣!-1NT
2♣!-2♦!
2♥!-3♥!

partner shown 12-14 with 2344 shape.

Should I move this hand or stay low? My system forces me to pick trumps at this point, so 3♠ sets up clubs as trumps and partner will answer 1430 with clubs as trumps, same happens in hearts where he will answer the same. Stopping in 4NT will be avaible for clubs, but other than that we will be forced to play on the strain we pick.

[Statto]

You need to explain the 2♥ and 3♥ alerts. But as far as I can see we are minimum so just sign off in 3NT. Partner can bid on if appropriate.

[Fluffy]

partner cannot bid partner has shown all his hand, we have shown nothing. We are to decide if 3NT is all or if we try something else.

[WGF_Flame]

3NT

[gnasher]

Are you sure you've given us the right hand? I haven't yet managed to construct a hand where I want to play in slam.

[rbforster]

Max of 31 and no 8 card fit and no long suit? Where are our tricks coming from? Our hearts are so poor that partner can't really have a strong enough holding like AKQ and still have enough strength for us outside, and while it's possible partner could have 4 strong clubs that play well opposite our Axx, there's not enough strength left to make a slam good. Something like

♠Qx
♥Kxx
♦Kxxx
♣KQJT

is a maximum 14 count and we can plan on ruffing 2 diamonds (with low and then A) and still draw trump, but sadly we're playing 6♣ and partner's Kxx♥ is exposed to the opening lead. I suppose you could try to draw an inference that partner bid hearts artificially twice with no X but still. For hearts to work, I guess maybe:

♠xx
♥AKQ
♦xxxx
♣KQxx

and ruff 2 spades high. Anyway, all of these seem super specific, require decent trump breaks, and I'm not sure just a simple key-card answer will tell us whether it's safe to explore past 4N when we could easily be off the cashing AK♥.

[Fluffy]

I was thinking of ♥KQ with K KQ in the minors wich gives 12 easy tricks if hearts behave and they don't lead a trump. If they lead a trump ♠Q fallng or a jack in a minor or a squeeze would work.

I love slams with AKxx opposite doubleton, but here I might have pushed too much.

I went for the heart slam and it worked ok, partner had ♠Qx ♥AQx ♦xxxx ♣KQJx. Diamond lead defeats, but opening leader had not much clues from the bidding except that dummy had 1 ace ♥Q and ♣KQJ with declarer having whatever. One of the advantages of relay systems (althou here it could be found)

[bluecalm]

I these kind of sequences it's important for responder to show min/max in 12-14range below 3NT. It's more important than exact shape if there is no space.
Anyway, it's easy 3NT.

[Valardent]

Fluffy, on 2012-March-07, 14:40, said:

I was thinking of ♥KQ with K KQ in the minors wich gives 12 easy tricks if hearts behave and they don't lead a trump. If they lead a trump ♠Q fallng or a jack in a minor or a squeeze would work.

I love slams with AKxx opposite doubleton, but here I might have pushed too much.

I went for the heart slam and it worked ok, partner had ♠Qx ♥AQx ♦xxxx ♣KQJx. Diamond lead defeats, but opening leader had not much clues from the bidding except that dummy had 1 ace ♥Q and ♣KQJ with declarer having whatever. One of the advantages of relay systems (althou here it could be found)

6♣ is better than 6♥/6NT :

- On a non♦ lead, it's the same contract (except for 5-1♣).
- On a ♦lead, 2 ruffs in dummy are manageable.

More chances to get there if the other hand is relaying, i.e :

1NT (15/17) 2♠ size ask
3♣max 3♦ AK ask
4♥ 7ctrl, no 4m 4♠®
5♣ 4423 6♣ (A♣ highly probable)

[Free]

3NT wtp

[benlessard]

3Nt. Here you just need to much stuff ... Dont give up on those slam in 4-3 fit they happen all the time.

[Fluffy]

playing online going for the slam was obiovus, 3NT is boring and there is no playing challenge, but in real life I chicken out a lot more.

[dake50]

Is this a serious tournament?
Or a club game for fun?
Serious, too far a reach.
Fun, I want to try 6C -
keep my 'bid 120% of slams' reputation.

[dake50]

Oh, yeah, I really excel with 4424 shapes.

[DrMunk]

Easy 3nt.

[relknes]

3N.

I go by the general rule that if you can't see a way that a "perfect minimum" is a virtual laydown, then sign off in game rather than risk getting too high. Here, 12 perfectly placed points just don't seem to do it.