[barmar]

Scoring: IMP

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You're in a low bracket (9 out of 12, I think) of a KO at the NABC. Do you want to be in a slam with these cards? If not, how do you keep out of it? Playing common ACBL 2/1 methods, how do you think the auction should go (opponents silent)?

[FrancesHinden]

If the weak hand has the 8 of diamonds that would make slam noticeably better.

As it is, it depends on how revealing your auction is. On a non-heart lead, slam needs one of

i) diamonds 2-2
ii) diamonds not 4-0, and either spades 3-3 or the queen onside

On a heart lead, slam needs one of
i) diamonds 2-2
ii) diamonds not 4-0, the club finesse, and spades either 3-3 or the queen onside

This seems to be just about with the odds.

If you have the 8 of diamonds as well, you are now making on more of the 3-1 breaks when there is singleton jack.

You are also making on some layouts you shouldn't be if the opponents aren't up to ducking the second round of clubs.

[barmar]

In fact, South DID have the ♦8. Although I have a hard time imagining South bidding differently depending on whether he holds this card.

[FrancesHinden]

barmar, on Nov 28 2008, 10:16 AM, said:

In fact, South DID have the ♦8. Although I have a hard time imagining South bidding differently depending on whether he holds this card.

So do I.

But you asked if we wanted to be in slam or not, and we do more if South has the 8 of diamonds.


As for getting to slam, I think the North hand is close between a 1D and 2C opening. If North opens 2C, I expect South will virtually drive to slam when he discovers a diamond suit opposite.

If North opens 1D, I can see the final contract being 3NT.

[barmar]

I held the North hand and opened 2♣. The auction started 2♣-2♦-3♦-4♦. I then Blackwooded, found out that South had the ♥A, and bid slam. Partner criticized me for driving to slam when all he did was show a positive hand with 3 ♦. My feeling was that I need very little extra from him, and without very fancy agreements there's no way to find out if he has the right stuff.

I think the other table was using a strong ♣ system, and they ended up bidding 3NT.

It ended up being a push board because both tables got a ♥ lead and the ♦Jxxx was offside, and none of the lucky positions materialized.