[mtvesuvius]

Another hand from the Cayne match, how would you bid these two hands?
South is the Dealer, and W will overcall 1♠ if S opens on the 1 level, otherwise will pass.
You can relay and do whatever you'd like, but if possible, I'd like a 2/1 auction as well
All Vulnerable at IMPs.

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[Zelandakh]

I think I like your auction, short and to the point. I doubt I would reach the theoretical top spot in practise even though I can make up an auction and assumptions to get there. Relays for me are off in competition so it's natural bidding (yuck).

1H - (1S) - 2C; 3C - 4D; 4N - 5D; 5N - 6N

4D is kickback, 5D asks for kings, 5N shows no kings but a useful extra (in context the HQ). Perhaps that should be enough for the grand but I am confident I would not bid it in real play being scared of a 2524 hand opposite.

[mikestar13]

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1♥=11-16, 4+♥, unbalanced, may have longer minor.
(1♠)=overcall.
2♣=10+, 5+♣, forcing to 2NT.
2♥=5+♥,tends to be minimum.
2♠=cue bid to force.
3♣=second suit.
4♦=Kickback.
4NT=2 keys, no queen
5♦=Kings?
6♣=none.
7♣=gambling that the hearts are good. (Likely on your hand.)

7♣ over 4NT is a good alternative.

[dboxley]

mtvesuvius, on 2010-November-17, 20:52, said:

Another hand from the Cayne match, how would you bid these two hands?
South is the Dealer, and W will overcall 1♠ if S opens on the 1 level, otherwise will pass.
You can relay and do whatever you'd like, but if possible, I'd like a 2/1 auction as well
All Vulnerable at IMPs.

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I'm assuming rkc is for clubs, not hearts.

[gnasher]

Playing no-frills natural methods:

1♥ (1♠) 2♣
3♣ 4♣
4♦ 4♥
5♣ 5♦
5NT 7♣

All the bids after 4♣ are cue-bids, except 5NT which is GSF.
4♥ should be the ace or king, because it's in opener's suit.
5♦ obviously promises ♠A.

The key to reaching the grand slam is for responder to tell opener about ♥K. If responder takes control, he will never be able to work out what the right level is.

[Cyberyeti]

1♥-(1♠)-2♣
3♣-3♦
3♥-4♦
4N-5♦
5N-7♣

4♦ is keycard, 4N 2 without
5♦ in conjunction with 3♦ shows all the aces and ♦AK
5N shows a source of tricks and grand interest (presumably the heart suit as it denies the K♥ and K♠, so it more or less translates to bid 7 with the K♥)

It's possible the auction will continue 7♥-7N, but at teams will probably stop there.

[Fluffy]

I'd start with a pass, maybe not best, but when RHO overcalls my suit I pass in tenths of a second.

1♥-(1♠)-pass
2♥-2♠
3♣-4♣
4♦-4NT
5♥-

didn't expect this, but seems passing works wonders describing the 2614 perfectly, there is no clue about ♥Q nor a way to ask in my system, however partner must have 1 queen at least for opening strengh, since ♠Q might just as well be good enough he has 8 major cards versus 1 diamond so seems like enough 8/9 to be a right queen (not sure if this math is sound).

So 7♣ for me even though I didn't expect to reach it after passing.

The bid I have my most doubts is 4♦, minimum hand doesn't have to cuebid, and might just try natural 4♥, wouldn't blame anyone for doing so.

[Poky]

1♥
(1♠)
2♣ = natural, 10+
3♣ = raise, 11-14
3♠ = cue, setting GF
4♥ = suggesting a game (implying 4♣, because with 6♥3♣ opener rebids 2 ♥)
4NT = RKCB for clubs
5♥ = 2 KC, no Q
7♣

[Free]

Why are we all playing 7♣ instead of 7NT, especially Gnasher? Aren't you afraid of a ♠ ruff?

[TWO4BRIDGE]

mikestar13, on 2010-November-17, 23:56, said:

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1♥=11-16, 4+♥, unbalanced, may have longer minor.
(1♠)=overcall.
2♣=10+, 5+♣, forcing to 2NT.
2♥=5+♥,tends to be minimum.
2♠=cue bid to force.
3♣=second suit.
4♦=Kickback.
4NT=2 keys, no queen
5♦=Kings?
6♣=none.
7♣=gambling that the hearts are good. (Likely on your hand.)

7♣ over 4NT is a good alternative.

Re: 4D ( kickback, RKC for ♣ ) with North doing the asking:

4D! - 4NT! ( 2 - cQ )
??
.. 5C = to play
.. 5D! = specific K's ask; reply up-the-line
.. 5H! = 3rd Rnd Ctrl ask ( by-passing the K-ask ) in asked for suit, Hts
( partnership needs to know that this is not "to play" in Responder's suit )

Replies to 5H! ( this bid has guaranteed all 5 key cards ) :

6C = no 3rd Rnd Ctrl
5NT = ♥Q... ( no ♥J )
6H = ♥Q J...

then 7C ? or 6NT/7NT ?

North can count a sure 12 tricks at 6NT:

1s, 4h, 2d, 5c

If Responder only has 5 cards Hts, then would need a 4-3 split for 7NT to make;

And Opener doesn't know about the Responder's stiff Diam which would allow 7C to make
even with a bad split in Hts.

All contracts are assuming a favorable trump split ( no worse than 3-1 )

[gnasher]

Free, on 2010-November-18, 08:20, said:

Why are we all playing 7♣ instead of 7NT, especially Gnasher? Aren't you afraid of a ♠ ruff?

Because I was so pleased with myself for having got to a grand slam that I didn't think of it. I agree - in my auction South can count 13 tricks in notrumps.

[Fluffy]

Free, on 2010-November-18, 08:20, said:

Why are we all playing 7♣ instead of 7NT, especially Gnasher? Aren't you afraid of a ♠ ruff?

I never got to know about ♥Q , and I am worried about spade ruff but must live with it. Others are playing from north so don't have a ruff hazzard