Subject: Hand Evaluation - Slam Trys
From: Bob Crosby <[email-masked]>
To: 'Doug Hawrelak' <[email-masked]>,'kismet fung' <[email-masked]>,Al and Nancy Cook <[email-masked]>,Dora Lee <[email-masked]>,John Trelford <[email-masked]>,Leslie Pettie <[email-masked]>, Perry khakar <[email-masked]>,Susan <[email-masked]>,Tom Gandolfo <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2008 18:36:55 -0700

Sunday, July 20, 2008 3:59 pm

Hand Evaluation - Slam Trys 

PITBULLS:
 
         One bid that has been around a long time but not used enough , in my opinion , is the 5 of a major slam try. In many hands , we just want to flash our slam intentions without having a specific meaning for the bid. When the context of the auction  negates the systemic use of 5 of a major , the bid should be just interpreted as a general slam try. Two hands bid by local players demonstrate the lost art of the 5 of a major as a general slam try.
 
           Susan Culham held this unlikely looking hand ♠K ♥AJxx ♦AJxx ♣AJxx &  Maurice opened 4♠ vul. Susan can count 8♠ tricks & 3 Aces for 11 tricks. Does he have anything else? How do you invite partner to the party ? A 5♠ bid can not be asking for trump as KCB or 5NT does a better job. A 5♠ bid in this context is a general slam invite asking for any additional source of tricks. Maurice had outside cards so 1430 is easy as he accepts the invitation.
 
         Tom Gandolfo held ♠A10xx ♥AKx ♦x ♣AQ10xx & the auction proceeds 2♥ & Leslie doubles vulnerable vrs not. Tom bids 3♥ & Leslie bids 4♦ with ♠KJ98 ♥x ♦AJ98xx ♣Kx . So far so good but what now ? With take out double auctions , partner is supposed to be short in the opponents suit. I think that should be a basic assumption on all these auctions. If not , a doubleton in the opponents suit should be factored in on general slam try auctions. Tom now bids 5♠ thereby flashing his slam intentions & asking partner a question. How do you like your hand in support of spades ? Leslie has a nice hand in support of spades so with good trump & a stiff in their suit she carries on to 6♠. Tom makes 7 with a trump finesse & 1470 is the final result.
 
         Deliberately bidding past game in NT is an obvious slam inviation. Bidding past game in a major is also an obvious slam invitation. The bid should become more common in our auctions. The bid invites partner to the party.