Dear Ed & Peter,

Someone asked me to comment on a very long bidding sequence. It started as follows (none vulnerable): 1♥ (11-15, 5-card) - p - 2 NT(Jacoby) - 4♣? and after that a lot more, which I might tell you another time.
What would you bid and be your plan with the following hand:

And what should in more general be your agreements here?
Thanks and I will let them know it wasn't me who came up with this brilliant scheme, though probably it is not necessary to do so, as they know me quite well.

Nanning van Mulken

Reply from Ed Hoogenkamp ('South'):

Dear Nanning,

As you can see I put a (1) behind the title. That's because some things are not clear, and after you have answered to my questions we continue with part (2) :-)
First of all: I assume this is the opener's hand...
Second: what does 2NT mean?
- 4-card fit, 10⁺ points?
- 4-card fit, game forcing?
Third: what are the agreements on 2NT? Could opener have enquired with 3♣? The spade position will be important so I would like to know more about his distribution.
4♣ is Splinter I presume.

Ok, Ok, does it show I'm ducking the question?
Seriously, it would be pretty ideal to play Exclusion Blackwood here: 5♣, asking for key cards ignoring the ♣A (after having asked about the hand with 3♣). Opposite two key cards it's all about spades. 5NT would be the bid to say: I'm still interested in the grand, but I have to admit it becomes more unclear by the moment. Improvisation is at hand!

The plus side of 4♣ is that you know when partner bids 4♠, he will either not have spilt values in clubs or have a whale.

I think I have told you in a clumsy way I don't know....Let's make room for Peter who will tell you in a very scientific way he doesn't know....

Un saludo desde Barcelona

Reply from Peter van der Linden ('North'):

Dear Nanning,

I have taken a close look at your question - closer than Ed has done, that is. As I read it, the bidding starts: 

¹ 11-15, five card
² Jacoby (heart fit)

(From Ed's answer - or non-answer if you like - I take it he thought South bid 4♣...).
So I think you are asking what South should bid over East's 4♣ bid.
I agree more or less with Ed about: is 2NT game forcing or can North bid it on invitational values as well? The answer might influence my decision, but I am not sure... If the bid is game forcing I will certainly not stop below 6♥, if it can be invitational I will probably not stop below 6♥.
The four cards you need partner to have for the grand (of course that is what this is all about) are: the ♠AQ (or the ♠Ax), the ♥K and the ♦K (although this card sometimes will not be needed, e.g. if partner has the ♠AQ and his losing diamonds can be pitched on your spades). These are 12 points only, so partner can very well have them.
Has East ruined or at least limited the relay-possibilities you had over 2NT?
If not I would use the relay - see #1 below. Partner's answers are a matter of partnership agreements (that is why Ed asks about them).
I see four possible ways to tackle this problem:
1. You pass. This is a forcing pass opposite a game forcing 2NT (therefore I do not recommend pass if 2NT can be invitational).
Many partnerships play the pass as the relay: 'Describe your hand'.
If not, 'sound, common principles' apply:
- You hope to hear 4♦, after which you can bid 5♣, hoping to hear 5♠ (that should be a first round control). After that 6♣ should be a serious invitation for the grand. Partner will not bid the grand without an honour card in trumps now (meaning he has the ♥K) but whether he can judge he needs the ♠Q or a doubleton in spades as well...
- If partner does not bid 4♦, I would forget about the grand and leap to 6♥.
2. You bid 5♣. I fear this would not be Exclusion Blackwood now, even if you have agreed upon the convention. Therefore this bid is probably inferior to the forcing pass since it takes away bidding space for no gain.
3. You bid 6♣. The fast approach, a direct invitation for the grand. This way partner has a little less information than after the forcing pass auction but he will have about the same problem.
4. You bid 6♥. This is the lazy way out since partner is not asked to co-decide. But since you cannot find out for certain whether the grand is ok in the other three methods, the leap to 6♥ might be a very practical move. Yet I think you should show your first round control in clubs in some way. Therefore I would not take the leap.

My favourite is the forcing pass.
I hope my pseudo-scientific way (thank you Ed) of telling 'I don't know' has helped you (but I think it has not...).

En hils fra Orkanger