[mr1303]

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State of the match: 5 Imps up with 2 boards to play, and the last one is love all.

What do you bid (if anything) here?

[eagles123]

4 spades

[FrancesHinden]

Partner is typically 2425 18-19 for this bid (unless you are playing some system here, but I would have assumed you would have said if you were).
Opposite Kx AJxx Kx AKxxx slam needs clubs to come in
Opposite Ax Axxx Kx AKxxx grand needs both suits to come in
Opposite Kx A9xx Kx AKQxx 6C is cold barring 5-0 hearts

So yes, I make a slam try. The tricky part of the auction is getting to clubs for slam, but not committing to the 6-level in case we are missing two aces.

[P_Marlowe]

We have a double fit, I will check key cards,
if we are not missing 2KC, I will bid it.

I was thinking of suggesting 6C, but the 5th club
may be the discard you need.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[ahydra]

Does depend on the 1C somewhat - for example in a "1C = clubs or balanced" context partner can have e.g. 4423 and there might be a lot of spade losers to ruff in your 4-4 fit.

ahydra

[rmnka447]

Partner looks to have a hand where if you can respond in ♥, partner wants to be in game. So it sounds like a good 19-20, maybe flattish, or for some reason not biddable by another method (splinter, reverse, etc.).

You're looking at controls in the outside suits, 11 HCP, trump honors, and fitting cards in both suits partner has bid. Certainly that is enough to put you in the slam exploratory zone. So some preliminary move toward slam should be made.

Can you learn enough from partner to tell if slam is a good bet? NO!!! It'll be a good guess at best.

So it's probably better and easier if you start to tell partner where your values are and let partner make the decision.

If you cue any 1st or 2nd round control, I'd start with 4 ♠.

[mr1303]

Does anyone think the state of the match makes a difference here? You're playing on BBO with the barometer on, so they know they're 5 down at the other table.