[HeartA]

First time partnership. North and South are BBO "expert".

North held: ♠Kxx, ♥AKxx, ♦Axx, ♣Axx
South held: ♠Qx, ♥x, ♦xx, ♣KQJxxxxx

West opens 1♠, the bidding went:
(1♠) - 1NT - pass - 5♣.

A slam is missed. Who should take more blame?

[eagles123]

I think south to blame surely take it slowly rather than blasting to 5♣

[mike777]

I assume south was unsure of how to gameforce and go slow with a new partnership
also north does have perfect cards.

[billw55]

There are methods for such things, but with a first time pickup partner, it would be risky to assume anything. In this circumstance I would say no blame, maybe talk it over briefly for next time.

[Cyberyeti]

I would bid 6♣ over 5 with the N hand. You didn't specify vulnerability, but certainly vulnerable partner will have a lot of clubs and be expecting to be close to making it. With the ♠A onside, you'd be unlucky not to make it (partner would need to be 1228 or similar, and opener would need to lead a ♦).

[HeartA]

vulnerability is red to white.

[Cyberyeti]

HeartA, on 2013-April-09, 13:30, said:

vulnerability is red to white.

If you're red, I'd definitely bid 6♣ with basically 5 tricks opposite a partner who's bid 5♣ to make.

[HeartA]

I was sitting South, holding the hand of long clubs. At the table I just mentioned "I am not sure 4♣ would be asking or 4NT". But I do think North should raise it to 6♣, hold a hand of extra-maximum, full of controls, no wasting hcp.

Even if I ask, after one key card is missing, could I expect he had 3 Aces+2 Kings?

[aguahombre]

6C raise seems automatic with that North hand. It not only is a maximum NT overcall, but is totally "pure"; not a quack in site.

[Codo]

The automatic 6 ♣ raise would lose a nice swing if partner has the more likely 2137 hand...

I would blame South: He has 7 1/2 tricks opposite a strong NT. I had bid "Gerber" before I had just blast 5 ♣, but I had been able to bid 2 ♠ with all of my partners...

[aguahombre]

Codo, on 2013-April-10, 01:07, said:

The automatic 6 ♣ raise would lose a nice swing if partner has the more likely 2137 hand...

Unlikely to bid 5C with QX X XXX KQJXXXX. Must have the eighth club or an outside K.

[lowerline]

HeartA, on 2013-April-09, 11:29, said:

First time partnership. North and South are BBO "expert".

North held: ♠Kxx, ♥AKxx, ♦Axx, ♣Axx
South held: ♠Qx, ♥x, ♦xx, ♣KQJxxxxx

West opens 1♠, the bidding went:
(1♠) - 1NT - pass - 5♣.

A slam is missed. Who should take more blame?

North. He could have started with a double or he could have raised to 6 with his perfect hand.

Steven

[Codo]

aguahombre, on 2013-April-10, 01:23, said:

Unlikely to bid 5C with QX X XXX KQJXXXX. Must have the eighth club or an outside K.

He must? You find a 2137 hand unlikely for this bidding, but a hand so strong normal. I disagree. With the given hand I can simply ask for aces and base my slam descission on the answer. No need to play a guessing game with partner..

[aguahombre]

Codo, on 2013-April-10, 04:36, said:

He must? You find a 2137 hand unlikely for this bidding, but a hand so strong normal. I disagree. With the given hand I can simply ask for aces and base my slam descission on the answer. No need to play a guessing game with partner..

Not familiar with ace-asking while holding QX and XX in two suits with no certainty pard has controls in those. Sometimes, partner figures out she has super controls all by herself and takes a guess that I have the tricks for my bid.

[HeartA]

Codo, on 2013-April-10, 04:36, said:

He must? You find a 2137 hand unlikely for this bidding, but a hand so strong normal. I disagree. With the given hand I can simply ask for aces and base my slam descission on the answer. No need to play a guessing game with partner..

Not guaranteed with 8 ♣. But with North's hand, it is a "must“ to raise to 6♣. If it fails, it would be South to blame. From South's perspective, swith of position of an Ace would be no slam. By the way, West (1♠ opener) did lead a ♦.

Start to ask? Would you expect, or image that North had such a pure, more than maximum hand (hcp wise, 1NT can be 18)? Tell me how would you ask and bid slam.

[PhilKing]

I can't think of many South hands that offer no play for slam. My guess is that North did not even bother thinking about it, and then blamed partner for not exploring!

[inquiry]

I would split the blame. I think south s too good for 5♣ and North should at least stongly consider 6♣.

[Zelandakh]

HeartA, on 2013-April-09, 11:29, said:

First time partnership. North and South are BBO "expert".

HeartA, on 2013-April-09, 15:43, said:

I was sitting South, holding the hand of long clubs.

As an expert, you should know to take some of the blame here. In a first time partnership, any given South might even be bidding 5♣ as a preempt - you just do not know in those circumstances and there were options for South to take things more slowly when slam is in the picture.

[aguahombre]

It never would occur to me that 5C was bid with preemptive intent opposite a NT overcall.

[Cyberyeti]

aguahombre, on 2013-April-11, 04:02, said:

It never would occur to me that 5C was bid with preemptive intent opposite a NT overcall.

Particularly at this vulnerability.