billw55, on 2014-December-10, 13:08, said:
I'm not impressed with east either, but I guess that is west's problem not mine.
That was my initial reaction as well, but if he can infer that S's 3
♦ was based on a heart fit, looking for a 5-level save, and this isn't necessarily a fair inference, then he can legitimately expect no more than 1 red loser. I would discount the idea of a heart void, since I think W would bid 4
♥ with that. So now he is thinking: nothing in hearts, noting in diamonds, and the spade K.....what are his clubs? AQJxx is enough to make this a reasonable slam, since N rates to hold only red values for the 5
♦ call.
I wouldn't go so far as to agree with the decision to bid slam, but it is far less offensive to me than the ridiculous 2
♥ opening. I didn't like the 3
♦ call much either.
'one of the great markers of the advance of human kindness is the howls you will hear from the Men of God' Johann Hari