[InTime]

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North/South keeps quiet throughout the auction.
Playing 2/1, how do you bid this hand to it's full conclusion?
East opens 1♠, EW Vul.
Regards

[Fluffy]

If I start with 2♣ it will be very very easy:

---1♠
2♣-2♥
3♥-4♣ (No spade cuebid where partner might have shortness, no shortness cuebid where partner is long, this means that 4♣ must be ♣K and no ♠A allowing blackwood later)
4♦-4♠
4NT-1 ace
♥Q?-yes with ♠K
7♥

However I might start with 2♥, hard to tell, I never had a 7-5 hand as responder so I can't tell you objetivelly.

[TWO4BRIDGE]

I can't improve on Da Fluster's .

[mikeh]

Close to fluffy's, but I think he has an unnecessary step:

1♠ 2♣
2♥ 3♥
4♣ 4N

The only judgment issue is the choice of 4♣ as the cue. I am a strong believer that the first cue in partner's suit is always strength-based, not length-based. I would never make my first cue on a stiff or void in partner's suit, and this hand is a classic example of why.

If we allow West to draw the inference that the club cue denies the spade A, as I think it has to, then why waste time with a meaningless 4♦ cue? The only question we have at the point of 4♣, is whether partner holds the heart Q....I mean we'd like to know if he has 5 hearts or the J as well, but we can't find out anyway....the heart Q makes us at least 68% for the grand...so haul out keycard.

BTW, the idea of responding 2♥ to 1♠ makes me feel quite ill.

[mtvesuvius]

I'd duplicate Mike's auction I think -- The choice not to cue 3♠ might be a bit difficult for me, however even if E were to do so, I think they could still find the grand via Exclusion (4♠ over 3♠ should be ERKC)

[TWO4BRIDGE]

mtvesuvius, on 2010-December-13, 11:16, said:

I'd duplicate Mike's auction I think -- The choice not to cue 3♠ might be a bit difficult for me, however even if E were to do so, I think they could still find the grand via Exclusion (4♠ over 3♠ should be ERKC)

I don't know if the Meckwell agreement applies to this auction when 1S is responded, but when Hts are agreed, 4S! = kickkback RKC for Hts and 4NT! becomes Voidwood for Hts, excluding the Sp Ace.