Tuesday, June 29, 2004 3:46 AM

Grand Slam Tries

PITBULLS:

One of the most single handed bids in Bridge is the leap to a small slam. The leap to a small slam should show a flaw that prevents a try for a grand slam as it pre-empts partner out of any further action. Maurice & Susan had a hand in Saskatoon where Susan’s hand was still unlimited as she made a splinter and a Q bid. Hearts were agreed upon after she had splintered in clubs and then Q bid diamonds at the five level. A jump to slam opposite an unlimited should be a picture bid just like a jump to game is a picture bid . In this case a jump to 6♥ by Maurice should say partner we are lacking 1^st round control in clubs so 7 is out of the question. If partner has the club Ace he should bid it as a courtesy on the way to 6♥. In other words if you decided to bid slam it does not hurt to Q bid opposite an unlimited hand.

What if the other hand is not unlimited ? Maurice & Susan had an auction tonight that shows the subtle nature of Q bidding in those auctions. Susan held Ax Ax Axx A109xxx and Maurice opened 1♦ and RHO overcalled 1 spade . Susan bid 2♣ and LHO bid 2♥ and Maurice bid 3♦. RHO bid 3♥ so Susan Q bid 3 spades. LHO bid 4♠ and around to Susan again. Partner is not an unlimited hand this time. He failed to Q bid but he shows some interest with his pass. Do you bid 6♦ now ? No because it pre-empts the auction. You have decided to bid at least 6♦ so Q bid 5♥ along the way. O.K. now the table has turned as you are the unlimited hand. As you have forced the partnership to 6♦ , partner is obligated to Q bid if he has a useful control. Partner now bids 6♣ and around to you again. All you need for 7♦ is a long diamond suit and Kx of clubs so your 6 card suit gets established. You bid 7♦ as partner has opened 1♦ , rebid them at the 3 level and passed the opponents game bid in a forcing pass auction to show a lack of wastage in their two suits. He can not have anything less then the KQJxxx & Kx of clubs ( A Barton weak two in diamonds ) . You bid 7♦ and that is lay down even with a 4-1 club break.

These slam auctions follow “serious 3NT” theory . In serious 3NT theory , if one hand is unlimited the other hand can Q bid as a courtesy as long as the auction is below game. A jump to game is not allowed opposite an unlimited hand unless you have no outside controls. There is no reason not to apply the same concept for slam bidding. As long as you keep the Q bidding below your small slam level , Q bidding opposite an unlimited hand is mandatory and does not show extra. Maurice was forced to show his club King when Susan makes a 2^nd Q bid and forcing the side to slam with an unlimited hand. A 6♦ bid by Maurice should deny a biddable control in this auction. A leap to 6 or bidding a small slam should not be allowed unless there is an obvious flaw that eliminates a grand slam.

Some partnerships use the 5NT bid in these kind of auctions as “tell me more” i.e. a “serious 5NT” . I think that 5NT bid is overused already . It can mean the grand slam force , a choice of contracts or a Q bid by itself. I would avoid a 5NT bid in these kind of auctions unless the auction clearly defines the meaning of the bid. Comments ?