Natural or conventional?

Hi all

No money at Star yesterday. René had troubles with public transportation so he asked me to find a substitute 40 minutes before kickoff. Yikes!

@Remco: Thanks for playing on such short notice.

No real misunderstandings, but we just didn’t score much. Add the few disasters we encountered and the minus 30 imp has been explained.

South Dealer
All Vul
North
KJ86542
Q9
K4
AJ
West
93
K42
QT953
K52
East
Q
JT873
862
T987
South
AT7
A65
AJ7
Q643

Our opponents couldn’t get to the good slam. After a strong 1NT in South you have problems in describing your playing strength. I guess the most reasonable (natural) sequence to slam is something like this:

West
North
East
South
 
 
 
1NT
pass
2
pass
2
pass
4
pass
6
a.p.
 
 
 

This is only playable if you also play transfers on the four-level. You need them for hands that are just worth game. Via a transfer on the two-level and then bid game like above is mildly slam going. South has a true fit + three Aces and should advance to the slam. Holding three keys I wouldn’t even ask for Aces. Have a little faith.

Now how would I bid this one with René? Probably something like this.

West
North
East
South
 
 
 
1NT
pass
2 1
pass
2
pass
2 2
pass
2NT3
pass
3 4
pass
3NT5
pass
4 6
pass
4 7
pass
6 8
a.p.
 

1. Stayman or GF relay
2. GF relay
3. No 5 card minor
4. relay
5. 3-3-3-4
6. relay
7. 3 Aces
8. This should have play, but you’d better not have that wasted Queen of trumps!

It’s so simple.