[mikeh]

1C. 1H. 1N

1C is long clubs or any balanced hand not in a notrump opening bid range

1H shows 3+ hcp and 4+ spades

1N shows 17-19, 2-3 spades

2H. 2S. 3C. 3D. 3H

2H shows 5+ spades, 3C shows 4+ diamonds, game force values. 3D shows 2 spades and 3+ diamonds with some reason not to bid 3N. A 3N bid would look vaguely like 2+ hearts stoppers, 2+ club stoppers, only 2 spades and 2-3 diamonds.

Over 3D, responder has choices. I’m suggesting 3H to show values there. Since 3H implies doubt about 3N, which could be because of concern about clubs…opener could be 2=3=5=3 here, with a minimum….or concern about level.

Now the spotlight switches back to opener. he has a super max in hcp and playing strength and his diamonds could hardly be much better, but he doesn’t know responder isn’t say 5=3=4=1. So it’s hard to be objective, knowing what responder holds. I do think he’s too strong for 3N, and he shouldn’t bid 3S, which would be Ax or Kx on this auction. So maybe 4D, but since opener could very easily hold 4 diamonds, it’s not clear to treat KQ10 as sufficient.

Maybe a generic 4N….most definitely not any form of keycard in our methods. Followed by 5N? Pick a slam. Opener bids 6C, since responder could be 5=2=4=2, unlikely though that would be, and responder corrects to 6D. Maybe opener guesses to bid 6N. But, realistically, it’s not possible to be certain how it would go at the table once we see both hands (even if one of them has shrunk to 12 cards)

[Cyberyeti]

pescetom, on 2026-April-17, 14:03, said:

I agree that an NT opening of an unbalanced hand backfires here, as is often the case (but not as often as some detractors seem to expect). Much easier if we start 1C.

After 2NT, Responder will transfer spades. In our agreements, I would bid 3NT which probably ends things. Even in your more conventional auction I'm not sure I would have bid Kickback over diamonds with no real fit in either of partner's suits and if I did I think I would stop in the small slam.

I don't have the option of a balanced 2N rebid unless I want to show this as a bad 19, that's why I opted for 2N opener

[pescetom]

Thanks for the interesting replies and my apologies for delay due to a national pairs tournament.

mikeh, on 2026-April-17, 14:28, said:

Maybe a generic 4N….most definitely not any form of keycard in our methods. Followed by 5N? Pick a slam. Opener bids 6C, since responder could be 5=2=4=2, unlikely though that would be, and responder corrects to 6D. Maybe opener guesses to bid 6N. But, realistically, it’s not possible to be certain how it would go at the table once we see both hands (even if one of them has shrunk to 12 cards)

Here is the full diagram.

MP

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6NT East will not go well on a spades lead, found by only one table in our club.

[AL78]

pescetom, on 2026-April-19, 14:54, said:

Thanks for the interesting replies and my apologies for delay due to a national pairs tournament.



Here is the full diagram.

MP

---

6NT East will not go well on a spades lead, found by only one table in our club.

It looks like it needs opne of two spade honors to be onside or the jack of clubs to come down in three rounds. I wouldn't lose any sleep going off in a slam with such good odds.

[Cyberyeti]

AL78, on 2026-April-20, 08:09, said:

It looks like it needs opne of two spade honors to be onside or the jack of clubs to come down in three rounds. I wouldn't lose any sleep going off in a slam with such good odds.

It's nothing like that good, needs the diamonds to behave for a start (or BOTH clubs to behave and the spade K onside).

6♦ is best, not sure if 7♦ is better than 6N

[pescetom]

Cyberyeti, on 2026-April-20, 08:33, said:

It's nothing like that good, needs the diamonds to behave for a start (or BOTH clubs to behave and the spade K onside).

6♦ is best, not sure if 7♦ is better than 6N

Pretty much my thoughts, although East has an extraordinary hand in the diamonds context and only needs a few key pieces of information to call the grand .
But I'm conscious that I am influenced by seeing the diagram and I certainly would understand if she settled for 6♦ all the same.