[AL78]

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MPs in a mixed field playing 5CM, strong NT. How do you continue?

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

you could give up on the grand and just bid 6C.

The alternative is 4D, giving up on the grand, when p
bids 4H, planning to followup with 5H otherwise,
hoping p will raise to 7C with both black Aces.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[Cyberyeti]

P_Marlowe, on 2023-July-29, 06:13, said:

Hi,

you could give up on the grand and just bid 6C.

The alternative is 4D, giving up on the grand, when p
bids 4H, planning to followup with 5H otherwise,
hoping p will raise to 7C with both black Aces.

With kind regards
Marlowe

The problem is that a 5233 you may have an inescapable diamond loser unless you make 5 spade tricks opposite AQxxx or AJxxx. Even Axxxx, QJx, Jx, A43 may not survive diamonds 4-2 unless spades are 3-3.

[P_Marlowe]

Cyberyeti, on 2023-July-29, 08:30, said:

The problem is that a 5233 you may have an inescapable diamond loser unless you make 5 spade tricks opposite AQxxx or AJxxx. Even Axxxx, QJx, Jx, A43 may not survive diamonds 4-2 unless spades are 3-3.

Yes, diamond is an issue, ..., but do I have a realistic way of finding out? Not really.

[AL78]

I decided this was going to be played in either six or seven clubs but we don't have a way of asking for keycards excluding the heart ace. I went through RCKB which isn't ideal and may be classed as bad but it did work, may be as much through luck as judgement.

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I judged that partner may have bid 3NT instead of 4♣ holding the heart ace (because MPs) so played him for no more than a half stop in hearts at best, hence he holds the two black aces. I decided on the grand as there are plenty of layouts where it is cold and more where it is 75+%, and I think it is losing bridge to hold back just because the worst might happen.

After the club lead I cashed two rounds of diamonds hoping they would be 3-3 or 4-2. The queen came down on the third round and I claimed. Arguably questionable to risk the grand in a mixed field as two out of the other five pairs stopped in game, one went off in 6♠, the other two found 6♣+1.

[Cyberyeti]

Partner has the nuts in the club suit, A43 and it's nothing like as good, even worse if he has ♠AJ rather than AQ

[thepossum]

6 clubs I guess - now to read the thread - its a bit of a gamble

[pescetom]

In one partnership we have 4D as RKCB(clubs) and 5H as ERKCB(clubs), both of which would have worked here - as you say, she already effectively denied a hearts stop. In others 4D would be a control-bid in clubs and now when she replies 4S we can already see slam looming.



If partner did say 3NT, were you happy to bid 4D? If I didn't trust partner or system with that then I think I would have rebid clubs over 2NT (assuming 2C created an unconditional game force) rather than risk 3D.

[akwoo]

I'd just blast 6♣.

I could bid exclusion to find out, or just suppose partner didn't have the heart ace - but I'm worried about the third round of diamonds and don't see any way to find out about that.