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Board 6: South opens 1H on xx KJ109x AQ9x A9. West has the shape for an Unusual 2NT but likely passes with such a weak hand vulnerable vs. not. North has a monster: AKQx Axxxxx Jxx -- . If you play splinters, North can bid 4C to show a game-going hand (usually 11-14 hcp) with 4+ hearts and 0-1 clubs. This covers South's club loser, and counting on 11+ points outside clubs, South can picture something like Axx AQxx J10xxx x. Slam would depend on the diamond finesse, or a non-spade lead. If North has a bit extra, slam may be cold, so I think South is justified in making a slam try. With two fast spade losers and some doubt about overall strength, South should control-cue 4D rather than launch into 4NT himself. North is eager to cooperate -- he was planning to bid again even over a 4H sign-off -- should he show the spade control or the club void? As South might have bid 4NT with a spade control, I think that's the more useful information -- North bids 4S. Now South can safely bid 4NT; North replies with two Aces or two Key cards plus the Queen of trumps (!) When you know the partnership has ten or more trumps, pretend you have the Queen -- it is a heavy favorite to drop. North would like to also show his void but I doubt if many partnerships have an agreed method of doing that -- here, 5NT ought to carry that message; perhaps 5NT = 2 key cards + void, while 6C = 2+Q+void. But I think that would come up too rarely to remember. In any case, the void isn't important on today's hand.
Our complete splinter, key-card auction was: 1H-4C; 4D-4S; 4NT-5S; 5NT-6D (one side King); 6H-pass.
Not playing splinters or control cue-bids, I think North should simply drive to slam. Even if partner doesn't control the diamonds they might lead a spade or club if you don't give them any clues. On today's layout twleve tricks are easy.
Board 7: West opens 1C on Jx A98x A AKxxxx. North has an ugly suit and hand for a vulnerable overcall, but with no agreed way to show 5-5 in spades and diamonds I went ahead and bid 1S on K9xxx Q KJxxx Jx. East should not act startled or ask "what does 1S mean?" When they bid your long suit, just pass, or perhaps bid notrump. South passes and West, short in spades, should re-open the bidding. With length in their suit it is reasonable to assume partner is weak and pass, but shortage calls for action -- partner may be trap-passing as on today's hand, or in any case it's worth trying to push them up a level. A double, however, is unattractive -- partner might have made a negative double with four hearts, so you can expect a diamond response. To double and rebid clubs (or, worse, bidding 2H yourself) forces your side to the three level with no assurance of a fit. I think I'd re-open with a simple 2C, suggesting the long clubs and an unbalanced hand.
North's hand really isn't worth another bid; over to East, looking at AQ1087 KJx 10 Q1098 . Someone has diamonds, and partner's decision to bid 2C rather than double suggests it may not be him. East wants to be in game, at least, in either notrump or clubs. A 2S bid makes sense -- that can't be to play in the teeth of North's overcall, but suggests a strong, trap-pass hand. If you think partner might get confused, 5C looks like the practical bid, or 4D if you're confident partner will read that as a splinter.
OK, 1C-(1S)-pass; 2C-2S (forcing to game); 2NT (with stoppers in both red suits)-3C; 3D-3S (control bids; usually bids at this level are notrump probes, but it seems we've already shown those so control-bidding for slam makes sense); 4NT-5D (one Key card); 5H (Queen ask)-5NT or 6C (yes.) We have all the controls needed for grand slam, but it isn't clear we have 13 tricks, and there's some risk of an opening spade ruff. Nor is it obvious we have 12 tricks at notrump, so I think I'd settle for 6C. Thirteen tricks actually make when the Queen of hearts drops unexpectedly.
What if West does reopen with a double? North and East pass, and if South does also the result could be -1400, better than a club slam for E/W. But South has a rare hand worth a rescue attempt: 1-5-6-1 shape. If nothing else, South should bid 2D, retreating to his longer suit; that strikes gold. More experienced players would redouble for "SOS", showing at least 5-5 in the two unbid suits (and no promise of strength whatsoever.) This hand is ideal for SOS, but in 35 years of duplicate bridge I've seen maybe one genuine SOS redouble. Most redoubles show strength, not weakness; it is only when that interpretation is implausible that SOS can be asssumed. Either way, N/S escape into their 11 card fit. East can bid 2S as discussed above and perhaps reach the good slam.
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