Slam Menagerie #3 by Owen Roth oroth@att.net It's instructive to consider why it is that matchpoint players avoid slams -- the zero from a slam disaster much more painful than an ordinary defensive zero! I think it's the adrenaline and tension from handling a high-altitude contract; I know my heart gets racing when I'm in the slam zone. Maybe yours does too? Here partner got a little too excited (5/2/06), and we got stung: Matchpoints North Vul: Both ----- Q A Q 8 A Q J 9 7 3 K T 9 West East ---- ---- 6 5 4 A 8 7 3 J 9 4 3 2 7 6 8 K T 4 2 8 7 6 4 Q J 3 Results South Bidding: - ----- P-1S-P -2D 2@3NT 690 K J T 9 2 P-3N-P -6NT 4NT 660 K T 5 3NT 660 6 5 2NT 210 A 5 2 3@6NT -100 6D -200 - I'm not proud of 1S at second seat vunerable, but we were on a roll at this table, so I decided my good spade suit was worth the risk. 2D was game forcing, and 3NT was a 5-3-2-3 minimum. Partner was also, unfortunately, adding points and upgrading her spade honors, and blasted into the slam. Not a terrible bid, it needs the K onside plus no extreme breaks, so a sub 50% position. I thanked partner for the confidence in my playing skills, then quickly went down one. Blasting was wrong on three counts -- see if you've got the handle on slam bidding by naming them. 1) Disuse of tools: Over 3NT, 4D is a mild slam try. It's not anything funky like minorwood, since diamonds have not been supported, and of course it's not passable since we're in a game forcing auction. I would still not be excited by my subminimum, and I'd bid 4NT and play there, as one pair did. (Nice Job, Brian B.) 2) Tactical reasons: If partner goes slow, she might also be able to decide that 6D is signifigantly better. Changing my heart K to the spade A or the diamond K makes the heart suit open to attack, but only if LHO is on lead. 3) Controls: I could have two more points, and we could still be off two aces, likely both cashing as one defends our spade trick source. The correct contract this time is 4NT; slam investigation tools also win by keeping you out of slams you don't want to be in. A second point is to know when the mild slam tool is on; game forcing auctions when an unsupported minor is rebid at the 4 level over a "serious" 3NT: A1 A2 A3 A4 1C - 1S or 1H - 2D or 1C - 1H or 1C (1S) 2H 3C - 3NT 2NT- 4D 2D - 3NT 3S (P) 3NT 4C 4C 4C This takes precedence over other gerber when there's not room, as in the first auction, but not: B1 B2 B3 B4 1C - 3NT or 1D - 1S or 1C - 1H or 1D - 2C 4C 2D - 3C 3C - 3D 2D - 3C 3D - 3NT 3H - 3S 3D - 4C 4D 4C Compare the first four to the second four. In A2/3/4, the minor bidder is UNLIMITED. In A1, the immediate 3NT showed CONFIDENCE, so the 4C is again the mild slam. In B1 we have an exception, clubs are not assumed to be a long suit, and we're out of room, so this is GERBER. In B2 we have a "Weak 3NT" auction, where 4 of the minor shows only unsuitability for 3NT, and is passable. B3, 4C was forced and is passable, and in B4, this is just a non-game forcing sequence. Remember 1) in a TRUE GAME FORCING auction, when 2) THE MINOR IS UNSUPPORTED and 3) The 4 of a minor bidder is UNLIMITED or in a STRONG 3NT AUCTION, the mild slam try is on. The next slam also involved a mild try -- but with a twist... PS If you enjoy car-crashes, you might amuse yourself by figuring out how one pair stopped in 2NT with only 29 high-card points. I know them, so I'll give them a call and see if they're game enough to share!