Let’s speak capabilities first. Typically, Grand Slam shouldn’t be bid except one can determine all 13 methods anticipated to be made.
If North is making the ultimate 6/7 choice in Spades after a Blackwood public sale then solely 12 methods may be counted except the Diamond J is by some means situated: 5 Spades; 3 excessive Diamonds; fifth diamond after one ruff; and A,A,Ok in Golf equipment and Hearts.
If South is making the ultimate choice small slam is likewise the utmost. It’s exhausting to conceive any public sale enabling South to depend methods as a substitute of counting on controls and an total energy evaluation of 32-43 mixed factors.
Now for a doable public sale taking part in Two-Over-One-Sport-Pressure, (assuming no interference from the weak and unshapely E-W arms):
- N: 1 Diamond
- S: 1 Spade:
6+ factors, 4+ Spades. - N: 3 Spades:
Sport invitational in Spades exhibiting 18-19 factors, and both 4 Spades or 3 to a high honour (ie A/Ok/Q) with a aspect singleton. - S: 4 Hearts*:
Slam invitational exhibiting a (both first or second) excessive card management in Hearts and denying such in each minors. - N: 4 Spades:
Nothing additional. - S: 4NT:
Roman Keycard Blackwood (1430) as South can see the 8/9 card slot in Spades and 32-34 factors within the two arms. - N: 5 Spades:
Two plus the Spade Q. - S: 6 Spades:
As mentioned above, there is not any means for South on this public sale to determine the methods wanted for Grand.
* This cuebid sytle is one effectively price discussing with associate:
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First cuebid by every associate should be a high-card management, both A or Ok, and denies such in any go well with left out.
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Subsequent cuebids by every associate may be both a high-card or a distributional management, however once more denying such in each go well with left out.
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First and second spherical controls are handled equally.
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The purpose is to extra rapidly determine, or get rid of risk of, any go well with with two quick losers. This expedites small slam investigation on the doable expense of grand slam investigation. Many partnerships discover this trade-off worthwhile.
Additionally, some partnerships reverse the which means of North’s 3 NT (to convey “simply joking associate – I’ve misplaced curiosity.” In that case North would name 4 Golf equipment as a substitute to indicate continued curiosity, and the public sale would proceed as earlier than.
Here is an public sale that finds 7 Spades with out being ridiculously aggressive:
- N: 1 Diamond
- S: 1 Spade
- N: 3 Diamonds:**
Sport invitational exhibiting 16-19 with 5 or extra good Diamonds. - S: 3 Hearts:
Sport forcing as exhibiting 10+ vs 16+. - N: 3 Spades
- S: 4 Diamonds:***
I’ve a face card for you, however no A/Ok in Golf equipment. - N: 4 NT:
RKC-1430 with Spades agreed. - S: 5 Diamonds:
Zero or three. - N: 5 Hearts:
Do you’ve the Spade Q additionally?. - S: 5 NT:
Sure I do. - N: & Spades:
I can depend 13 methods: 5 Spades, 5 Diamonds, and A/A/Ok within the spherical fits.
** It’s unclear to me that the North hand right here is sort of the appropriate holding for a rebid of three Diamonds as a substitute of two Golf equipment, most significantly as a result of it each hides the Spade match and may promise a great six card go well with; however it definitely would work on this hand (with the appropriate partnership agreements).
*** One should have good understanding with Accomplice when making a name equivalent to this to make sure Accomplice does not mis-read it – specifically:
– when it exhibits a management;
– when it exhibits a excessive honor (ie A/Ok/Q); and
– when it exhibits a face card (ie A/Ok/Q/J).
One doable settlement is to make use of them when Accomplice has, respectively:
– opened or just bid;
– opened and rebid; or
– opened and leap rebid
the go well with.
Hand Analysis
The South hand evaluates as about 14 factors on the deal, and presumably upgrades to about 15 if North rebids Diamonds strongly:
- A/Ok/A within the majors for 11;
- J/J within the quick minors for 1; and
- Each doubletons (Goren type) or one doubleton and Spade size (extra fashionable) for two;
The North hand evaluates to about 18-19 factors as follows:
- Spade Q, Diamond AKQ, CLub A for 15;
- Coronary heart Ok for two; and
- Coronary heart Singleton and Diamond size for 2-3
Name it both a great 18 or a weak 19.
With a complete mixed energy of 32 on the deal, rising to 33-34 on the bidding and each an simply recognized slot in Spades and a robust aspect go well with in Diamonds, discovering small slam at the least shouldn’t be troublesome.
In a robust membership sport or higher I might anticipate at the least half the sector to discover a small slam in both Spades or Notrump. With two good 5 card fits in 8 and seven card matches respectively, plus all of the aces and keycards in each fits and no interference, there appears no excuse to overlook the slam except one has poor partnership understandings. Even a devoted Goren partnership with simply 1430 RKC ought to discover at the least small slam in Spades or Notrump on both the identical public sale as (1) above or:
1D 1S; 3D 3H*; 3S 4D; 4NT 5D; 5H 5NT; 6S/NT Cross
the place [*] creates a sport power.
Evan an egregious first rebid by North of two Golf equipment ought to nonetheless discover a small slam after a 2 Coronary heart (Fourth-Swimsuit-Forcing (and synthetic) rebid by South.
The auctions described above and within the reply by ruds all hinge on the primary rebid by North, and its appropriate interpretation by South. There are three prospects:
- 2 Golf equipment:
Non-forcing, non-invitational, and hides the spade match: an issue. Accomplice can move 2 Golf equipment with higher Golf equipment than Diamonds and a naked minimal of factors, say 5-7. A hand equivalent to KJTxx xx xx Jxxx will discover it troublesome to keep away from passing 2 Golf equipment regardless of being nearly chilly for a 4 Spade contract. - 3 Diamonds:
Non-forcing and invitational, however nonetheless hides the Spade match. It really works on this deal as a result of South has extras, and specifically the Diamond J. Nonetheless once more associate can move with a desire and a naked minimal, say on KJTxx xxx xxxx x. -
3 Spades:
Sure, this shall be taken as exhibiting 4 Spades; however three to a excessive honour, a working singleton, and full values elsewhere is sort of acceptable. With a balanced hand and a bit additional Accomplice can (and may) settle for the invitation with 3NT quite than 4NT when holding a 4-card Spade go well with.All selections for East are a lie in some regard: however which name includes the smallest or least error-prone lie? To not make this name places a variety of strain on Accomplice to rebid a 5 card Spade go well with – which is a nasty behavior to be prevented not inspired. Therefore that is my selection of name for the hand.
