[jdeegan]

Simple hand. N opens 2♣. S has an easy 2♦ response (I like to play this shows 2 queens or better). Regardless, N has an automatic 4NT bid showing the next HCP step above a 3NT rebid. Now S can bid 6♠ with the expectation that it will have a decent play.

For the serious, established partnership, there are some excellent ways to show the N hand w/o getting above 3NT. I have forgotten exactly how they go. I see the Kokish relay mentioned in one thread - I recall that is a very good method.

[benlessard]

I prefer to have 2nt as 24+ and make an extra move when I hold 29+. in short i dont like jumping to 3Nt with a balanced hand.

When responder show 6S its clueless for north to just bid 4S.

[mikeh]

Let me add a new take on this.

My take is that it is mostly S who is at fault.

The auction to 3N had shown nothing other than hcp in N, 26+, and (I assume) a hand for S that could be a zero count. Moreover, I am not as confident as some that S has promised 6 spades. With, say, Jxxxx x xx xxxxx I would probably transfer.

That last point persuades me that it is wrong for N to super-accept with the actual hand, tho I confess it is close and I wouldn't strongly criticize any N who chose to bid, say, 5♠.

However, I think it poor bridge for S to pass 4♠. It is always difficult, at least for me, to realize just how strongly our modest hand will play opposite a 26 count. 26 counts just don't have a lot of fast losers! That's why I recommend mentally creating some hands. In this case, I'd be worried that maybe the 5 level is too high OR that he might accept with a hand that won't fetch slam. I think a little mental effort will go a long way to reassure us that, while there are never guarantees, we will always have play at the 5-level, and will often be cold for slam, and that if he bids slam we should expect to make it.

Say partner has a terrible hand: Kx AKQJ Kxx AKQJ.

Can we imagine a worse 26? 10 hcp opposite our stiff. Only 2 trump? Only 2 Aces. I admit that 5♠ isn't a good contract, but it is far from down and we have created what must be the worst conceivable hand. I don't think you can create a 26 count that is worse.

I think S should bid 5♠.

[Lovera]

In Stayman is said that (OPENER BIDDING 3 NT) :"Because opener has an hand with one of these shapes 4-3-3-3 or 4-4-3-2 that will make 9 tricks helpness, every high card upper J in the hand of partner can be valutated like a winner and a long suit having Queen or a higher card will be source of many tricks. Ex 35) (Opener) ♠ AK5 ♥ AQ10 ♦ AKJ7 ♣ AQ7 (Partner) ♠ Q8762 ♥ 954 ♦ Q6 ♣ 832 3NT - 5 NT, 6NT - p 36) (Op.) ♠ AK2 ♥ KQJ9 ♦ AKQ ♣ AJ5 (Pa.) ♠ 986542 ♥ 76 ♦ 52 ♣ 1076 3NT - 4 ♠ , p 37) (Op.) AK5 ♥ AK72 ♦ A95 ♣ AKQ (Pa.) ♠ Q86542 ♥ 954 ♦ 10 ♣ 873 The spade Q of partner and 4th, 5th and 6th card of spade are sure tricks coverred by A and K of opener ( pagg. 178 and 179.. Stayman systeme..)

[Lovera]

Bidding in post #24 of ex 3) is 3NT - 4♠, 5♠ - 6♠, p.

[Zelandakh]

Lovera, on 2015-March-23, 11:05, said:

(Opener) ♠ AK5 ♥ AQ10 ♦ AKJ7 ♣ AQ7 (Partner) ♠ Q8762 ♥ 954 ♦ Q6 ♣ 832 3NT - 5 NT, 6NT

How do you think he would have bid this pair of hands?
(Opener) ♠ A35 ♥ AQ10 ♦ AKJ7 ♣ AKQ (Partner) ♠ Q8762 ♥ 954 ♦ Q6 ♣ 832 3NT - 5 NT, 6NT

[Lovera]

Zelandakh, on 2015-March-23, 17:25, said:

How do you think he would have bid this pair of hands?
(Opener) ♠ A35 ♥ AQ10 ♦ AKJ7 ♣ AKQ (Partner) ♠ Q8762 ♥ 954 ♦ Q6 ♣ 832 3NT - 5 NT, 6NT

In book indicated, under ex. 35) was written this :"the two Queen of partner can consider sure tricks and yet the 4th and 5th card in spade suit sound be strongly precious. Because opener sure 27 points partnership has a combined force of 31 points in high cards and also a suit with five cards; generally it is enough to realize a little slam. Bidding of 5 NT by partner asks for 6 excluding grand slam". If you move King of spade in club we cannot say that spade Queen is a sure trick in the same way how in ex. 35) was said and than 3NT - 5NT, p

[Zelandakh]

How did Opener know to discount the Q in this example but count it on #37 from your earlier post where ♦A95 was also held?

[Lovera]

Zelandakh, on 2015-March-24, 14:04, said:

How did Opener know to discount the Q in this example but count it on #37 from your earlier post where ♦A95 was also held?

I think i have understood (in traslation) what have you asked for: this is the explanation by Stayman about ex. 36): "bidding 4♥ or 4♠ answering 3NT by opener, partner simply tells that there is major productivity in suit[=because unbalanced- 6/+ cards] vs NT[=balanced hand]. Opener can single raise to show an maximum hand, highly efficent, with all points make by Aces and Kings how in the example 37): (see) [en passant the same points but with 4 Aces +1point, different plus values].

[Lovera]

Obviously in ex. 37) without Q in spade 3NT - 4♠, 5♠ - p and, for the hand of this topic 3NT - 5♠ (or 5♥ transf. here, two winners Q), 6♠ counting 12 tricks. But i suggest with hands with no queen and shape 6-3-3-1 to use South African Texas(=double transfert in major suit) meaning 4♣ transfert for heart and 4♦ for spade and opener decide to end in slam or not (i.e. AKQ in spade and Axx in club in ex. 36) knowing in hand of partner there is a singleton, bye.

[PhantomSac]

Surely north can just keycard and ask for the queen if his partner shows six spades. You have 12 tricks if you have 6 spade tricks, and 11 tricks if you have 5.

I would assume when my partner pulls 3N to 4S they have 6, they would just pass with 5 (unless they are going to bid or try for slam in which case we are gonna make 7N).

I also think you should not jump to 3N after kokish to show a different range, it is more important to be at 2n and let partner stayman or transfer especially when your hand is that strong rather than try to show 27-28 or whatever. In this case partner will texas or bid 3H planning to slam try, in either case you can get to slam (even over texas, since as described earlier it is safe to keycard and ask for the queen if partner has shown 6 spades).