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Slam Auctions 8 by David

In this quiz, we will be looking at some potential slam auctions. They may involve techniques that we have studied before, such as Roman Keycard Blackwood and control-bids (sometimes still called cue-bids).

Question 1

  Your Hand
♠ A J 6 5
♥ K 7 4
♦ A Q
♣ A Q 6 5 		 
Q: 1 - This deal comes from the 2022 Vanderbilt, a match between Rosenthal and Amoils. What action will you take on this hand?
SouthWestNorthEast
---Pass
2 NTPass4♦Pass
4♥Pass4♠Pass
?

4♦ is a 'two-over transfer' showing at least six spades. 4♥ shows a good fit for spades.

 Your choice:
A: Pass. You have a good hand in support for spades, yes, but you have already shown that! The South player advanced with 4 NT, hearing of one keycard (5♣). He continued with 5♦, asking for the ♠Q. His partner responded 6♠, showing the ♠Q but no side-suit king. The spade slam was deservedly very poor indeed and went one down.

NORTH
♠KQ10832
♥Q10
♦97
♣1094

SOUTH
♠AJ65
♥K74
♦AQ
♣AQ65

It is a common mistake for inexperienced players to overbid very good hands, and to underbid poor hands. South, here, was playing a top-class international event and had no justification for his bidding.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 2

  Your Hand
♠ K 8
♥ J 3
♦ Q J 6
♣ A K Q 8 4 3 		 
Q: 2 - You hold Fleisher's cards in the Vanderbilt round-of-16. What will you bid next?
SouthWestNorthEast
-Pass1♠Pass
2♣2♦2♠Pass
2 NTPass3♣Pass
3♠Pass4♦Pass
?


Playing two-over-one, the 2♣ response is forcing to game. 4♦ is a control-bid, showing the ace or king of diamonds.

 Your choice:
A: 4 NT. Fleisher knew of a six-card spade suit opposite (from the 2♠ rebid). The club suit appeared to be solid and a large number of tricks could be established in the spade suit. He therefore bid Roman Keycard Blackwood. When partner responded 5♣ (0 or 3 keycards), he jumped to 7♣. These were the two hands:

NORTH
♠A J 10 9 6 4
♥A Q
♦A 8
♣10 7 2

SOUTH
♠K 8
♥J 3
♦Q J 6
♣A K Q 8 4 3

East held ♠Qxxx and the grand slam was made. The same contract was bid and made at the other table. Well done!

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 3

  Your Hand
♠ 10
♥ K
♦ A 10 6 3 2
♣ A 10 9 8 5 4 		 
Q: 3 - What will you bid next in this auction from the Vanderbilt?

Your 3♠ is a splinter bid, agreeing clubs as trumps. 4♦ is a control-bid, showing the ace or king of diamonds.
SouthWestNorthEast
---Pass
1♦1♠2♣Pass
3♠Pass4♦Pass
?


 Your choice:
A: 4 NT. Despite the potentially low combined point-count, South could sense that a slam was possible. He bid Roman Keycard Blackwood. His partner responded 5♠, showing two keycards and the ♣Q, and South ended a splendid auction with 6♣.

NORTH
♠J752
♥A104
♦J
♣KQJ73

SOUTH
♠10
♥K
♦A10632
♣A109854

The slam was easily made. At the other table, they stopped in 5♣.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 4

  Your Hand
♠ 10 7 2
♥ K J 7 2
♦ 6
♣ A K 9 7 3 		 
Q: 4 - Your partner opens 2NT and you respond 3♣ to look for a 4-4 heart fit. Partner's 3♠ denies four hearts, so you bid a natural 4♣, showing at least five clubs. What action will you take when partner bids 4 NT?
SouthWestNorthEast
--2 NTPass
3♣Pass3♠Pass
4♣Pass4 NTPass
?


 Your choice:
A: Pass. When you have reached 3NT and the next player bids a natural four of a minor, to look for a possible slam in that suit, 4 NT is a sign-off. On your present hand, you will pass, as both South players did in the Vanderbilt semi-finals.

NORTH
♠AQ98
♥AQ5
♦KQJ7
♣J4

SOUTH
♠1072
♥KJ72
♦6
♣AK973

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 5

  Your Hand
♠ K 7
♥ A Q 5 2
♦ A K Q 10
♣ A K 8 		 
Q: 5 - Your partner shows one keycard, probably the ♥K. What will you bid next?
SouthWestNorthEast
--3♥Pass
4 NTPass5♣Pass
?


 Your choice:
A: 6 NT. If you play in the heart fit, it is possible that a spade lead may give the defenders the first two tricks. It is a better bet to bid 6 NT. Your ♠K will be protected from the opening lead and a fourth diamond trick (or a successful squeeze) will bring your total to 12.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 6

  Your Hand
♠ A 4
♥ 10
♦ A K J 5 4 2
♣ 10 7 5 3 		 
Q: 6 - What will you bid next on this deal from the Vanderbilt quarter-finals?
SouthWestNorthEast
--1♥1♠
2♦2♠4♦Pass
4♠Pass5♣Pass
?


 Your choice:
A: 6♦. Your partner has shown a club control. You can now bid 6♦, trusting from his jump to 4♦ that there will be sufficient playing strength for a small slam.

NORTH
♠K8
♥AK852
♦Q10863
♣8

SOUTH
♠A4
♥10
♦AKJ542
♣10753

You can see the value of making a control-bid with a singleton.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Play this Hand

Now that you've bid five hands, let's see how your play goes.

Overall Results

Your results:   out of    Average: 

What next? You may enjoy playing our prepared hands series.
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