Fear and Loathing... at the local game.

[4sigma]

Originally Posted by E. Blackadder

Suggest a line of bidding, dear reader...

AKx       xx
AQJx      Kxxx
KQx       AJxxxx
Axx       x

2 - 2* - 2NT - 3** - 4 - 4NT - 5*** - 6... making an overtrick.
* 2 is the awful hand.
** Stayman.
*** 0 or 3.

I suggest that responder not launch into Blastwood™. He should not become captain on this hand, as there are too many cards in opener's hand (AK, AQ, KQ, A) that he needs to find out about to bid the grand. As long as I'm critiquing, opener should not jump to 4 either. Yes, he's got a great hand, but partner will not pass your 3, since he's already indicated he doesn't have the awful hand. Jumping to 4 doesn't leave partner much alternative to Blastwood™ for slam exploration.

Opener can bid the grand if he can find out about the K and the six diamonds to the ace. It should be possible to show that. You will need some methods in order to make this work. 4-suit transfers might work if you start by transferring to diamonds.

2 - 2* - 2NT - 3NT** - 4*** - 4**** - 4NT*(5) -- 5*(6) -- ?

*Not an awful hand
** Transfer to diamonds. Yes, it's pointless after the 2 bid, but...
*** I like diamonds!
**** cue bid (you can cue kings when partner opens 2NT)
*(5) RKCB for diamonds.
*6) I got one

Declarer can count 13 tricks at this point assuming that responder has a 6-card diamond suit.

This may be a bit of 20/20 hindsight. If you start with Stayman, you need methods for how to show your diamonds suit next. If opener rebids 3, you could choose to follow with 4, which must be forcing. The problem is that opener will not know you have 4 hearts (you would bid the same way with 4 spades and not 4 hearts.) Maybe that means you have to jump to 5 to confirm heart support with diamonds. Maybe you splinter with 5. and partner will realize he has no club loser. Again, it depends on your methods. Not many partnerships necessarily have them, so I hope you had a fair bit of company in your small slam (though perhaps some people had enough methods to get to 6NT.)