[pescetom]

Cyberyeti, on 2026-September-03, 06:40, said:

Can you show the other hands please and the lead ?

Sure, would have done so earlier but I was struggling on phone.

MP

---

Lead ♦Q.

You could even make +1 if cheating with DD.
3NT is trickier but so is the defence too.

[mike777]

pescetom, on 2026-September-03, 06:19, said:

Sorry about the slow pace, but I think we covered some interesting ground about this nook of 2/1.

What happened at my table was:

MP

---

South felt that 3♠ should show a control in spades, North took it as a stopper ask (the defined meaning in our system).

South brought home the contract for 50%, with most of the room in 3NT=. But I think we were lucky.

My first question, after the game, would be what was the thinking for your making a slam try with 3S?
That is much more the issue here, 😎🧐

Hand evaluation, at MP

[jillybean]

If it's a slam try, it's a mild one , we are simply progressing the auction.
What is your bid after 3♣?

[Cyberyeti]

I saw the line that makes the overtrick single dummy, might be auction dependent, but I'd be inclined to cash ♠A early before they know how many I have, and if it looks like they might be 3-3 go for it.

Is there a prize for 4♠ here ?

[mw64ahw]

mike777, on 2026-September-03, 08:31, said:

My first question, after the game, would be what was the thinking for your making a slam try with 3S?
That is much more the issue here, ����

Hand evaluation, at MP

with Q♣ or K♥ onside you can make 6. I'd also make the slam try
In fact with the Q♦ lead I think you can make 6

[Cyberyeti]

mw64ahw, on 2026-September-03, 08:46, said:

with Q♣ or K♥ onside you can make 6. I'd also make the slam try
In fact with the Q♦ lead I think you can make 6

It wouldn't be a good slam even though you can make it on a red suit lead.

Yes partner could be a touch better, Jx, Kx, xxxxxx, AKQ is legit and could make 13 on a dummy reversal, but very unlikely

[pescetom]

Cyberyeti, on 2026-September-03, 08:42, said:

Is there a prize for 4♠ here ?

There is indeed, both meeting the PAR and being the one pair at national level that bid it.
Can you see a realistic auction?

[pescetom]

mike777, on 2026-September-03, 08:31, said:

My first question, after the game, would be what was the thinking for your making a slam try with 3S?
That is much more the issue here

I suspect partner was already worried about 3NT and confused, or has been reading too much dissing of stopper ask in internet
I only smiled after the game and at end of the tournament suggested rereading the system about when 3NT is still in play.

But my interest here was by no means an ATB, rather how people address this tricky situation.

[thepossum]

pescetom, on 2026-September-03, 15:40, said:

There is indeed, both meeting the PAR and being the one pair at national level that bid it.
Can you see a realistic auction?

Following

[mike777]

pescetom, on 2026-September-03, 15:58, said:

I suspect partner was already worried about 3NT and confused, or has been reading too much dissing of stopper ask in internet
I only smiled after the game and at end of the tournament suggested rereading the system about when 3NT is still in play.

But my interest here was by no means an ATB, rather how people address this tricky situation.

Smile

I definitely believe it would be a helpful partnership discussion of what was the thought process that made this hand worthy of a control bid of 3Spades, especially if MP.

Did partner think the void in Diamonds improved the hand? The quality of the club suit? What was partner's actual thought process?

[pescetom]

mike777, on 2026-September-03, 17:14, said:

Smile

I definitely believe it would be a helpful partnership discussion of what was the thought process that made this hand worthy of a control bid of 3Spades, especially if MP.

Did partner think the void in Diamonds improved the hand? The quality of the club suit? What was partner's actual thought process?

I imagine something like "WTH should I do now? Oh wait, clubs have been fitted in a game force, maybe I am supposed to make a control bid anyway?".

I'm keener on post mortems than most, but asking people to explain their mistake is a waste of time at best, IME. The important thing is that both agree about what should have happened: in this case, bid 3NT.

[Cyberyeti]

pescetom, on 2026-September-03, 15:40, said:

There is indeed, both meeting the PAR and being the one pair at national level that bid it.
Can you see a realistic auction?

If you have the agreement that a raise of the 4th suit if it could be natural, is and shows extras (which we do, but couldn't have this auction due to the 2♥ being a relay)

1♦-2♣
2♦-2♥
2♠(4SF)-3♠ (4405 extras, spades prob decent, 2N is bid if not)

now 4♠ is in the frame along with 5♣ and 3N.

[P_Marlowe]

Cyberyeti, on 2026-September-03, 07:39, said:

Meanwhile in fantasy land the club and heart are offside, but spades are 3-3 but you make 620 in 5♣ if they don't lead a trump

Also is 3N in danger on a diamond lead and a heart switch if you duck

If you reach 3NT fast, the prob. for a diamond lead goes down, the prob. for a major suit lead goes up.
Now, the player on lead has QJT9x, which means the diamond lead is clear cut, but even than you have
pretty good chances to make 3NT+1.