[mikeh]

You pick up AQ43 AK4 K1062 Q3. You are playing VP Swiss. Your opps are not strong, and tend to be wild. It is the third match of the day and you are 1 and 1, with a good win and a small loss so far. Your teammates are a very good player playing with a significantly weaker player.

Red v white, you deal and open 1♦.

1♦  [2♠]  3♣  [3♠]

You are playing with a real expert, but someone with whom you have played only a handful of times, and the last time was several years ago. You have had maybe 20 mins to discuss methods.... and this sequence wasn't part of the discussion.

If your immediate reaction is to launch into keycard, let me caution you that it is not clear that 4N would not be natural... an 18-19 hcp hand... how else are you showing that hand? If your immediate reaction is that 4N is natural, let me caution you that it is not clear that it would not be keycard.

Yes, I am sure that you and your regular partner have agreements here, but pretend you are at the table in this scenario... you don't have the ability to establish an agreement... you have to cope.

Anyway, it is your decision, and you may shortly be answering another, tougher question.

[FrancesHinden]

Well I can put off the problem for a round by passing.

[JLOL]

just 3N, partner is probably light because he has a spade void and felt compelled to bid.

[whereagles]

That might very well be the case, but 3NT is very likely to be passed out, so you prolly have to guess the contract, right NOW.

3NT on a bad day, 6NT on a good one. I'm in a good day today

[P_Marlowe]

X.

Given the vulnerability, it is not clear, but I would
bid 3NT with a weaker hand, and since we have no
idea, how partner would take 4NT, X is what is left.

With kind regards
Marlowe