Long-Suit Trial Bids as an Advance Slam-Try

[khjbsc]

In the Romex BIL session, Oliver mentioned, “Suppose they are using a long-suit trial bid as an advance slam-try. Also suppose that partner is a bursting maximum with decent controls. Now instead of signing off in four of the agreed Major, they could cue-bid instead. I would reserve this for that sort of hand, and not just cue-bid any time they wanted to go to game. Other thing here is that you couldn't play this method AND have counter-game-tries at the same time. I feel you can only play one or the other.”

It was suggested that both could be used at the same time, but as we can understand, it is a discussion topic better suited for this forum.

[OliverC]

Hi All,

Take the following hand:

North
KQJ73
A4
Q976
A4

South
A1085
KQJ952
AJ
5

Dealer South
Bidding
S - N
1 - 1
2 - 3 (Long Trial)
4 - 4
5 - 6
6 - 7

This sounds fine: North is 16+ and South has the sort of hand you mention (bursting max with good controls), but in practice is this sequence likely? You will never get a 2-level suit agreement in a million years here. South is more likely to splinter with 4 (to show the Club shortage) over 1 than they are to bid 2 . I am struggling to think of any sensible hand where you are going to get a 2-level suit agreement, partner makes a trial bid and suddenly from agreeing the suit at the 2-level, the other partner is suddenly interested in a slam. I just can't see it, myself. In circumstances where North has a potentially slam-strength hand and South is a maximum bursting with controls, one thing you will never get is a natural suit agreement at the 2-level. At the very least, South will be bidding 3 over 1 because they are just too good to do anything else.

Brian, perhaps you could construct a hand where you think this kind of sequence might occur. I've tried for 30 minutes and cannot get close. Counter game tries I can see happening, but it needs a fairly tight agreement as to exactly what they show. Similarly I can see responder using a trial bid as an advance slam try. What I can't see is any situation where either someone agrees a suit at the 2-level and then when partner makes a trial bid is suddenly transformed into someone who wants to start cue-bidding.