[Winstonm]

Scoring: IMP

1S-2D-P-2S
P -3S-P-4D
P -5D-P-P
P

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Again, playing once again with a fine player after a 20 year gap, this auction arises - is there a way to reach the very good slam?

[pclayton]

You won't get much support for that 2♦ overcall.

Ironically, if North passes and South balances with 2♦, North has a routine splinter.

Even then, whats so great about this slam?

[Winstonm]

Quote

You won't get much support for that 2♦ overcall.

Phil: I think you misread the post - RHO opened and South overcalls 2D - would you have him pass his excellent 17-count?

Quote

Ironically, if North passes and South balances with 2♦, North has a routine splinter.

Now I am sure you misread the post. East is your other right hand.

Quote

Even then, whats so great about this slam?

RHO opened, marking him with virtually all outstanding HCP - heart has to be in the slot.

[pclayton]

Winstonm, on May 6 2007, 08:32 AM, said:

Quote

You won't get much support for that 2♦ overcall.

Phil: I think you misread the post - RHO opened and South overcalls 2D - would you have him pass his excellent 17-count?

Quote

Ironically, if North passes and South balances with 2♦, North has a routine splinter.

Now I am sure you misread the post. East is your other right hand.

Quote

Even then, whats so great about this slam?

RHO opened, marking him with virtually all outstanding HCP - heart has to be in the slot.

Oh well then; North has the splinter. Rinse and repeat.

[Winstonm]

Quote

Oh well then; North has the splinter. Rinse and repeat.

I would venture that North has a mini-splinter, but splinter seems a stretch with so little hand. Might it be best to use 3S and 4S as mini and maxi splinter in this sequence?

After all, overcaller may hold AKx, xxx, AQ10xxx, x.

[han]

I despise the 2♦ call, but it should have worked well on this hand.

I understand that you don't like the splinter with only 8 working highcard points but the shape and support is incredible. I think that your suggestion to use 3S as a mini-splinter is a very poor idea.

The 5D bid by south is very pessimistic with all outisde aces, I don't understand it.

[hrothgar]

Winstonm, on May 6 2007, 07:32 PM, said:

Quote

You won't get much support for that 2♦ overcall.

Phil: I think you misread the post - RHO opened and South overcalls 2D - would you have him pass his excellent 17-count?

I consider both 2♦ and pass severely flawed.

A 1NT overcall seems clear cut

[mike777]

Winstonm, on May 6 2007, 09:44 AM, said:

Scoring: IMP

1S-2D-P-2S
P -3S-P-4D
P -5D-P-P
P

---

Again, playing once again with a fine player after a 20 year gap, this auction arises - is there a way to reach the very good slam?

1) I doubt I would bid this slam
2) Prefer 1nt to 2d overcall.
3) Given 2D prefer 3S splinter by responder.
4) I doubt I would bid this slam.

[mikeh]

This would have been an interesting problem to pose as South's first decision, since to bid 2♦ is far, far from clear. While I would not go so far as to say that 1N is clear, it certainly has attractions, and perhaps more so than any of the alternatives. I think there is NO clear bid, and I can see an expert panel of sufficient size coming up with large votes for 1N and 2♦ and minority votes for double and pass.

If you do overcall 2♦, I truly do not understand 2♠. This is a great hand for a splinter. For one thing, if my partner overcalled 2♦, I would give odds of 100-1 or more that we have NO trump loser. I should add, I am not a gambling man and hands like this show why.

After a splinter, wild horses couldn't keep me from slam as South: even if they lead trump and can play A and another, partner has to have some hcp in side suits that will combine with my round suit values to produce some discards for ♠s I can't ruff.

[Winstonm]

Jlall, on May 6 2007, 01:12 PM, said:

I like a 2D overcall, 1N is just too flawed for me. If my spades were better it would be more attractive to me.

I would splinter with the north hand. In the actual auction south should have bid 4H over 4D, and when he hears 4S he will go to slam.

Yes, this is most likely best.

[Winstonm]

mikeh, on May 6 2007, 01:05 PM, said:

This would have been an interesting problem to pose as South's first decision, since to bid 2♦ is far, far from clear. While I would not go so far as to say that 1N is clear, it certainly has attractions, and perhaps more so than any of the alternatives. I think there is NO clear bid, and I can see an expert panel of sufficient size coming up with large votes for 1N and 2♦ and minority votes for double and pass.

If you do overcall 2♦, I truly do not understand 2♠. This is a great hand for a splinter. For one thing, if my partner overcalled 2♦, I would give odds of 100-1 or more that we have NO trump loser. I should add, I am not a gambling man and hands like this show why.

After a splinter, wild horses couldn't keep me from slam as South: even if they lead trump and can play A and another, partner has to have some hcp in side suits that will combine with my round suit values to produce some discards for ♠s I can't ruff.

Perhaps the possession of the spade 9 holds sway, but to me this hand looked so strongly suit orientated that I didn't consider 1N - however, partner's heart suit cannot be good enough to want to introduce even with Kxxxxx so perhaps 1N is a better choice.

Normally I would prefer a much better suit for 2D; however, the strength and quality of the hand demands some type of action.

[skjaeran]

I don't like the ♦ suit much for an overcall. But I think 1NT is more flawed, so I'd land on 2♦.

3♠ as a splinter seems automatic to me with the north hand, and as Mike said - nothing can keep south out of slam then.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

2D was already strechting, and 3S as well (assuming 2S
promised at most inv. values).
I have to say, that there is no way, South stops in 5D
after those bids, i.e. over 5D 6D is clear.

Does this mean I like the seq.: no.
I would not make the 2D call and would not bid 3S.

With kind regards
Marlowe

PS: Just discovered, that the other guy made the 2D overcall.

[Fluffy]

No way north will splinter with a weak hand.

South could just overcall 1NT then slam is unreacheable

He could also had bid 4♥ over 4♦ (that hand deserves another move). North can imagine from the 3♠ bid that partner has Axx or Axxx, if he does, he should cue after 4♥, then slam might be reached.