[pescetom]

In hijack of another hand, Cyberyeti posted this equally interesting one.

Cyberyeti, on 2025-December-21, 05:29, said:

Nowhere close to the best hand I've had opposite a strong 2♣

---

4♠ was solid suit

How would North have continued over 4♠ holding ♠3 ♥T ♦KQJT92 ♣A8632?

Cyberyeti, on 2025-December-21, 05:29, said:

A 2♣-3♦ start really cramps the auction, and we probably reach 7N which is likely to have good chances

We would start 2♣-2NT (minors 5-5), which still has a fair bit of room if Opener has a decent minor fit or a huge single suited major like this one. 3♠ imposes trumps and we still have full space to control-bid.

[DavidKok]

I think a 1♠ opening is much better than 2♣, over which we have an easier auction.

1♠-2♦;
3♠!-4♣;
4♥-5♣;
5♦-5♥;
7♠-?

I think this is the most likely auction for me, though North might take more initiative as well over 4♥ (counting 12 almost certain tricks in 7♠, 2♥, 2♦, 1♣ with chances for a 13th).

[mikeh]

I’d be very tempted to roll out a bid that I’ve seen made only twice in my life…and once it was a grotesque misbid by an opponent. 4N…specific aces. I’m willing to bet that we have 5 level safety. Partner bids his ace with one, jumps to his lower with two and with this hand just bids 7N.

While I’m generally conservative on my 2C openings, I couldn’t stand the pressure of 1S ppp. Sure, it never happens but…

Plus I have a trivial 3S rebid after 2C, showing a no loser suit

Basically any plausible auction will reach 7N. Of course spades are occasionally 4=0, lol.

[Cyberyeti]

pescetom, on 2025-December-22, 10:27, said:

We would start 2♣-2NT (minors 5-5), which still has a fair bit of room if Opener has a decent minor fit or a huge single suited major like this one. 3♠ imposes trumps and we still have full space to control-bid.

The point about 3♦ cramping the auction was about the hand in the OP of the other thread

[pescetom]

Cyberyeti, on 2025-December-22, 14:11, said:

The point about 3♦ cramping the auction was about the hand in the OP of the other thread

I wondered, it seemed to fit both a bit.

You didn't reply to my question about how North can proceed over the 4♠ jump.

[pescetom]

DavidKok, on 2025-December-22, 10:55, said:

I think a 1♠ opening is much better than 2♣

How do you plan to continue over 1NT?

[mw64ahw]

How about for the original hand
4♦ SI Namyats - 5♦ odd KCs (must be 3) & K♦
7N counting tricks
or
4N - 6♦ 3 Aces
7N
With the caveat as mikeh raised that a 4-0 split will be an issue

with the hand mod.
4♦ - 4♥
4N even
Now partner can sign-off seeing 3-KCs or bid 5♣ as a wait perhaps envisioning a void.

Now with 11 tricks in hand
4N Specific Ace ask - 6♣
6♠

[pescetom]

mw64ahw, on 2025-December-22, 16:48, said:

How about for the original hand
4♦ SI Namyats - 5♦ odd KCs (must be 3) & K♦
7N counting tricks
or
4N - 6♦ 3 Aces
7N
With the caveat as mikeh raised that a 4-0 split will be an issue

with the hand mod.
4♦ - 4♥
4N even
Now partner can sign-off seeing 3-KCs or bid 5♣ as a wait perhaps envisioning a void.

Now with 11 tricks in hand
4N Specific Ace ask - 6♣
6♠

How about posting that in the original thread instead of the one created to split discussion cleanly?

[mw64ahw]

pescetom, on 2025-December-23, 02:51, said:

How about posting that in the original thread instead of the one created to split discussion cleanly?

Because the original thread was about 4405?

Better to focus on the best opening rather than to force 2♣ and let responder show their shape, plus I like the elegant 3 bid approaches to get to 7N

[pescetom]

mikeh, on 2025-December-22, 13:52, said:

I’d be very tempted to roll out a bid that I’ve seen made only twice in my life…and once it was a grotesque misbid by an opponent. 4N…specific aces. I’m willing to bet that we have 5 level safety. Partner bids his ace with one, jumps to his lower with two and with this hand just bids 7N.

So you adopted my 5♣ showing clubs Ace or no Ace? How you get to grand here if he has clubs and hearts Aces?
With that combination we jump to 6♦ showing either both curly Aces or both pointed Aces. Easy for Italians to remember because it derives from an old convention they all learned as beginners.

[Cyberyeti]

pescetom, on 2025-December-22, 16:06, said:

You didn't reply to my question about how North can proceed over the 4♠ jump.

Difficult to be objective, 5♣-5♥-5♠ and now what does the big hand do ? I guess assume partner has first round club control and no other first round control and just bid 6. Could be wrong if you have a slow heart loser.

[mikeh]

pescetom, on 2025-December-23, 04:37, said:

So you adopted my 5♣ showing clubs Ace or no Ace? How you get to grand here if he has clubs and hearts Aces?
With that combination we jump to 6♦ showing either both curly Aces or both pointed Aces. Easy for Italians to remember because it derives from an old convention they all learned as beginners.

I didn’t adopt anything. 4N asking for specific aces has been around for longer than I’ve been playing bridge. But I wasn’t really serious about using it here. It’s best used when opener holds first round club control. And 2C gets the job done

[pescetom]

 mikeh, on 2025-December-23, 09:17, said:

I didn’t adopt anything. 4N asking for specific aces has been around for longer than I’ve been playing bridge. But I wasn’t really serious about using it here. It’s best used when opener holds first round club control. And 2C gets the job done

4N was part of Acol, but I don't think a 5♣ response to show clubs Ace or none was ever even discussed, though. Some advocate 5NT (or a 5♦ step response) to show clubs Ace which is certainly better than 6♣, but inferior to 5♣ IMO. At first sight something similar seems necessary to make your stated scheme of jumping with two workable when holding clubs and another, hence the question.