[Flem72]

Opener:

KQxx
--
AJxx
AJxxx

Responder:

xx
AKJTxx
KQx
Kx

6D looks pretty good, but it seems to me that someone has to take a leap of faith, at least playing a 2/1 with 4thSF or XYZ.

[mfa1010]

I disagree.
I think 6♦ would be a pretty lucky make, and I prefer to play 3NT.

[ahydra]

I'm not sure I want to play slam on a 4-3 fit?

I'd end up in 4NT:

1C (nat or 15-19 BAL) - 1D (hearts)
1S - 2D (4SF)
3D - 3H
3NT - 4NT (NAT INV)
pass

ahydra

[Flem72]

ahydra, on 2013-May-21, 08:26, said:

I'm not sure I want to play slam on a 4-3 fit?

Yes, but it always wins the bidding contests

[gszes]

1c 1h
1s 2d (fsf)
3d 3h
3n 4h mild slam try and self sufficient hearts
turn those quacks into the spade A and
this hand goes rkc as it is pass

6d is not a very good contract 1 sure spade loser
and almost no way to use trumps effectively
and still not need a 33 trump break (ick)

[aguahombre]

1C-1H
1S-2D
3D...At this point, partner's distribution is known exactly for us; 3NT would end it.

Opener has 4-0-4-5 and did not rebid 2S. Won't try to thread a needle, just take the practical strain and level.

[Zelandakh]

I expect 3NT to be the popular contract here; 4NT to be more common at the table. Finishing in 6♦ probably requires a small accident somewhere along the way (or hearing something at the bar).

[benlessard]

In Comedy club

1C--1H (strong, Spades w or GF)
2H--2S (6H 15-17, no H fit GF)
2Nt--3C (bal, nat)
3Nt--pass (denies 3C but show a D stopper)

[gnasher]

Is 6♦ that good? I'm not quite sure what the best line is, but it's not obvious that any line is better than 50%.

In fact, you need it to be 52%, because game is worth 460/660 but slam is 920/1370, so making slam is worth one IMP less tha usual.

[CamHenry]

gnasher, on 2013-May-22, 12:54, said:

Is 6♦ that good? I'm not quite sure what the best line is, but it's not obvious that any line is better than 50%.

In fact, you need it to be 52%, because game is worth 460/660 but slam is 920/1370, so making slam is worth one IMP less tha usual.

Isn't the best line going to be to ruff a ♣ in the short hand, making when ♣ are 3-3, or the Q is in the short hand; with setting up ♥ (requiring ♦ 3-3) as a backup)? Admittedly it's going to be difficult to keep entries around to combine chances.

[mfa1010]

CamHenry, on 2013-May-23, 09:40, said:

Isn't the best line going to be to ruff a ♣ in the short hand, making when ♣ are 3-3, or the Q is in the short hand; with setting up ♥ (requiring ♦ 3-3) as a backup)? Admittedly it's going to be difficult to keep entries around to combine chances.

Clubs ruffing up is not enough to bring it home. The communication is too bad. Try with the natural ♦ lead. We pretty much need diamonds 3-3 also.

[gnasher]

CamHenry, on 2013-May-23, 09:40, said:

Isn't the best line going to be to ruff a ♣ in the short hand, making when ♣ are 3-3, or the Q is in the short hand; with setting up ♥ (requiring ♦ 3-3) as a backup)? Admittedly it's going to be difficult to keep entries around to combine chances.

You play two top clubs and East plays the queen. Then you play another club, and he ruffs from a doubleton trump.

Or he doesn't ruff because he has three or four trumps, but when you cash dummy's trumps and play a spade, West wins and gives his partner a club ruff.

Or you play two top clubs and West plays the queen from his doubleton. When you play another club, you have to rufff high, so you need trumps 3-3.

Or you play two top clubs and West plays the queen from his Qxx...

And as MFA says, having sorted out the club suit you now have no entry left for the hearts, so you have to cash them straight away, leaving yourself open to a force, so now you need trumps 3-3 anyway.