[jillybean]

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What else?

[smerriman]

I have an inkling if we bid exclusion, there's a fairly high chance partner is going to show 0 keycards outside of diamonds Then you'll be asking about kings at the 6 level?

4♣, plenty of room to find out controls.

[jillybean]

Yep, zero KC

If we start cue bidding

4♣:4♦
4♥: what does partner need to cue over 4♠?


4♣:4♦
4♥:4♠
5♣:5♥. S,V or K?

edit
Is this the hand for an immediate 4nt, followed by specific king ask?

[mikeh]

The purpose of exclusion is to ask for keycards outside of your void. You hold all of the keycards outside of your void, plus you may have a need to pitch a club…wouldn’t the diamond ace be useful….if only you had a way to find out whether partner has an ace. Hey…what about normal keycard?

Too many players learn a gadget without understanding when to use it or, in this case, when not to use it. Say you held AKQxxx KQJx void AKx. Regular keycard leaves you guessing should there be a 1 keycard response, so this is perfect for exclusion (I’m assuming the same auction to this point). Yes, I know that you may reach a terrible contract opposite something like xxx xxx Axxx xxx. But if, reasonably enough, you want to try for slam, I’m not sure there’s a way to get to slam opposite, say, Jxxx Jxx Axx xxx but stay low opposite xxx xxx Axxx xxx.

Alternatively, you could cuebid. And that might be sensible if you had the agreement that partner shouldn’t cuebid a second round control over 4C. In that way, you might be able to stop at the 5 level…but even if he has xxx in hearts…the worst possible holding….you may still make slam, and Jxx or xx with an extra trump gives you good play.

[jillybean]

The title was intended to be humorous but it was the first thing that came to mind when I saw the hand.

We have a void, Exclusion. No that's not going to work.
Cue bid 4♣, that's not going to work. (We do cue 1st and 2nd round control)
Simple keycard.

All this takes time. If it's being played online I am likely to be removed from the table.

Here's the full hand

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[mw64ahw]

Showing keycards works ok
4N even keycards - 6♥ all keycards no Q♠, K♥

[jillybean]

mw64ahw, on 2025-May-20, 23:08, said:

Showing keycards works ok
4N even keycards - 6♥ all keycards no Q♠, K♥

I know I shouldn't ask, show me the auction please?

[mw64ahw]

jillybean, on 2025-May-21, 06:28, said:

I know I shouldn't ask, show me the auction please?

Option 1 - if North wants to make an aggressive move showing good playing tricks and controls in all suits
4N shows even keycards & controls in all suits
6♥ all keycards & K♥, no Q♠

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Option 2 - if North wants to take a more measured approach
4♣ is a slam try with at least two ♠ honours
South accepts the try and shows odd keycards (♦ covered) and K♥

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[mycroft]

I want to hear a heart cuebid by partner. I don't know how to convince partner of that, especially if she does have a diamond card.

2♣-2♦;
2♠-3♠;
4♣-4♦;
4♥-4♠;
5♦-5♥ (or 5♠)?

[pescetom]

mycroft, on 2025-May-22, 15:21, said:

I want to hear a heart cuebid by partner. I don't know how to convince partner of that, especially if she does have a diamond card.

2♣-2♦;
2♠-3♠;
4♣-4♦;
4♥-4♠;
5♦-5♥ (or 5♠)?

Trivial using Italian control-bidding with Turbo:
2♣ - 2♦
2♠ - 3♠
4♣ - 4♦
4♥ - 5♥
6♠ - P

The 5♥ bid affirms odd keycards (must be the ♦A), denies clubs control or a second diamonds control and affirms ♥K.