Xridge - Men

Scott Prashanth Summers (Cyclops) was trying to fight his distraction and concentrate on development of his mutant powers. He has been distracted by telepathic interaction with Jean X Gray. Cyclops looked at his partner Guthi Logan (Wolverine) his cards with his adamantium claws. The bidding was brisk until this point.

Cyclops held:

-Void-
AKT9xx
K8xx
Qxx

Bidding so far uncontested was (all non-vul)
1D-1H
2c-?

Cyclops was thinking, thought was his mentor Professor X would do at this situation. Then his thoughts wandered to Jean X Gray. Then he saw his partner wolverine's claws sharp edges. They were aching for some action. As though that was an inspiration, he called 6D. All said pass.

Analysis: The mutant pair is playing modified precision club. 1D opening promises no diamonds at all. But the 2C rebid confirms at least 9 cards in minors. If partner had 4Ds and 5Cs , its better to play in a 4-4D with the 5-3 as a potential source of tricks. If partner has 5Ds and 4Cs, there should be entries to cash those juicy hearts, which look rather easy to establish - entries being the only question. there could be two key cards missing, but is there a convenient way to ask for them?

How about a 4th suit force? If you are looking for a 3 carder heart, its not so useful as this partnership raises with three cards on unbalanced hands and tends to rebid 1NT with all balanced hands. 9 cards in the minors implies its not a balanced hand - so unlikely opener has 3 hearts. there is no point trying for a 6H, the short trump hand can't take the spade ruffs. So 4th suit force should be with an intention of setting diamonds as trump and investigating slam. Ok-a?

If you are a regular partner ship, and have agreements on void wood, its the best. I expect the auction to go like this: 1D-1H; 2C-2S; 2NT-3D; 3S* - showing spade king and (no heart honour?). Will you still push for a slam with that hand? Will 4S still be void wood? Confusing-a?


Q1) Do you agree with Cyclops's bid - the blast to 6D?
Q2) after 4sf and setting Ds as trump, in that sequence with 3-1-5-4 and spades and hearts being KJx and Q what will you respond over 3D ?
Q3) will 4S be void wood in that sequence? 1D-1H; 2C-2S; 2NT-3D; 3S*

The play:

-Void-
AKT9xx
K8xx
Qxx


KJx
x
AJTxx
A9xx

Lead: small Spade.

Quick analysis: Do not discard anything from dummy - you are in danger of losing a trump trick. just ruff the spade in dummy. Establishing hearts seems to be the best plan.
If hearts break 3-3 and trumps break 2-2; there are tricks all over the place. 5 trumps, two spade ruffs, 5 hearts and a club - 13 tricks.
If hearts break 3-3 and trumps break 3-1; you can still make 12 tricks and may be even 13 if the Q dropped and RHO has the 3 carder trump.
If hearts break-4-2 and trumps break 2-2; can make only 12 tricks; 5trumps + 2 spade ruffs + 4 hearts + 1 club. (don't consider Ace of spade dropping/being played on J)
If hearts break 4-2 and trumps break 3-1; most interesting case: Now the heart spots become important. The analysis of that will call for another post I think. So I leave it you junta!

Opener's hand - choice of rebid

Note the choice of rebid - there is a close call between 1NT and 2C. So far - Vinoth and Prajwal answered that they will rebid 1NT; SP, Ashok and I say 2C.
I think if you the rebid is 1NT, there should be methods to make sure partner doesn't push to heart game thinking there is at least a 2 carder with the opener.
Playing 2-way checkback there is a lot of advantage but can it address this problem?

PS: I hope you all got the references to X-Men characters.