Ok … finally, I played my first real small slam 💃…
My hand had 14 hpc, 17 with singleton (2 pt) and doubleton (1 pt)
♠️KQ8762, ♥️3,♦️Q764, ♣️AK
My partner has 17 hcp, 20 in total distribution.
♠️J, ♥️AKQ42, ♦️AK92, ♣️42
Slam bidding by MIT is a good read:
- To make a small slam (bid of 6) ↔ 33 pts.
- To make a grand slam (bid of 7) ↔ 37 pts.
Our bidding:
- P; me 1♦️; P; 1♥️
- P; me 1♠️; P; 2♦️
- P; 4NT; P; 5♥️ which means 2 As
- P; 6♦️
At Step 3, I asked for my partner’s As
Blackwood convention: 4NT is asking for how many Aces (such as this dream hand), 5NT for kings, the reply should be:
- 5♣️ = None or all four aces
- 5♦️ = One ace
- 5♥️ = Two aces
- 5♠️ = Three aces
… 5NT is asking for kings, the reply should be
- 6♣️ = None or all four kings
- 6♦️ = One king
- 6♥️ = Two kings
- 6♠️ = Three kings
My first set of question to Ira the expert:
Conventionally, I should open with 1♠️ ? … I didn’t bec I want to give my partner a chance to bid at 1 level, to know her hand better.
With distribution, you have 16 points. Conventionality, bid s/b 1NT BUT you’re short in clubs. Better opener is 1S bc of strength and length. You’ll probably end up in 6D anyway but you asked for correct opening bid.
Make it short in clubs and hearts
Irene, rule of thumb, if you have opening, by point count OR length of suit, ALWAYS bid your strongest and longest suit.
My subsequent questions:
- Does winning 12 or 13 tricks but bid at level 5 or below, still consider a small / grand slams? … Yes
- The conventionally method to bid longest and higher suit, vs bidding low to let my partner to bid at lower level hence to know her/his hand better?
This hand I’ve 11 hcp +2. I shouldn’t have forced the issue – should stay put. The bidding:
