Been busy, hadn't posted in a while. Right-click here for hands.
Board 3: A reasonable N/S auction might start 1C-1H; 1S-3D (game-forcing, at least 5-5); South has 16 hcp but the hands don't appear to fit well, so 3NT-4H; all pass. Three pairs reached slam, I assume North must have been more aggressively. North counts about 4.5 losers and partner opened, but the club and spade bids suggest mostly wasted values.
Board 10: East opens 1C or 1D on Axx Jx Axxx KQxx and West responds in hearts with
KJ AK987 Jx A1097. West should be thinking slam if East has good clubs and controls, or support for hearts. The simplest approach is a strong jump shift: 1C-2H; 2NT-3C; 3D-3H; 3S-4NT; 5C (0 or 3)-5D (Q ask); positive reply (5S if playing no/yes replies; playing "Specific Kings" East would bid 5NT to deny the trump Queen, since 5C is not available; here East bids 6C to confirm the Queen.) Note that East can visualize slam opposite as little as xx AKQxx xx Axxx, a rather light hand for a jump shift, so East might well jump to 4NT over 3C.
For those playing weak jump shifts, West must begin with 1H; and if East opens 1D West's is not quite worth a strong jump anyway. Possible auction: 1D-1H; 1NT-2C (artificial, the New Minor Forcing gadget); what now for East? NMF promises 5+ in respoinder's major and game invitational values; East has a maximum 14 hcp for his 1NT rebid, so he should drive to game. 3C seems to be the best description: no 3 card heart support, no 4 card spade suit, no 5 card diamond suit and only one spade stopper. West can picture the 3244 shape but it seems a bit much to hope partner has such excellent cards for slam. I'd sign off at 3NT.
As it happens, 6C (and 4H, which we stumbled into) falls prey to the horrid 5-1 heart split while nine or more tricks are easily available at notrump, but this is a slam I'd want to bid.
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