[AyunuS]

http://tinyurl.com/m9awxnq

Just played this hand where my team had a combined 34 HCP, and yet there's no way to play this in order to make any slam. Has anyone ever been stuck where there was no way to make a slam with more? In theory, it's possible to not be able to make any slam with 40 HCP, if everyone has a ridiculous 2-suited hand. I mean more like normal-shaped hands like these are. So maybe what's the most where the offense has entries to both of its hands and the defense doesn't ruff?

[Fluffy]

AyunuS, on 2014-November-09, 09:34, said:

http://tinyurl.com/m9awxnq

Just played this hand where my team had a combined 34 HCP, and yet there's no way to play this in order to make any slam. Has anyone ever been stuck where there was no way to make a slam with more? In theory, it's possible to not be able to make any slam with 40 HCP, if everyone has a ridiculous 2-suited hand. I mean more like normal-shaped hands like these are. So maybe what's the most where the offense has entries to both of its hands and the defense doesn't ruff?

I guess for balanced you could make a QJ9x behind to score 2 tricks or simply QJ109, even 2* J109x would be possible on mirror hand. But I haven't seen any 34 HCP hand yet. Only one 33 HCP with AK missing.

EDIT, it looks like nobody reads my posts, so I will add a diagram (rolls eyes)

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[nige1]

AyunuS, on 2014-November-09, 09:34, said:

what's the most HCP where the offense has entries to both of its hands and the defense doesn't ruff?

To get the ball rolling:
37 HCP

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[AyunuS]

That give me an idea. It could just be an offsides QT.

North:
AKQ
J109
AK
AKJ32

East:
87
654
8765
Q1098

South:
J109
AKQ
QJ
7654

West: Whatever garbage is left lol. Does that work for getting it up to 38 HCP? Or can it be forced into an endplay?

[nige1]

AyunuS, on 2014-November-09, 11:28, said:

That give me an idea. It could just be an offsides QT.

North:
AKQ
J109
AK
AKJ32

East:
87
654
8765
Q1098

South:
J109
AKQ
QJ
7654

West: Whatever garbage is left lol. Does that work for getting it up to 38 HCP? Or can it be forced into an endplay?

If you give South a 13th card, say a ♦, and you give NS appropriate entries (as above), then the defender will succumb to a "shape-shifter" squeeze-strip. Here, ♦AK, ♠AKQ, ♥AKQ, squeeze RHO out of a ♦, then ♦Q strips him for the end-play.

But if NS lack sufficient entries, then this would work.

[AyunuS]

Oh oops lol didn't realize south only had 12 cards. Any 13th will either mean N/S have too much length in the 4th suit for east to have enough cards to stop it, or just a 12th top trick. So it doesn't work. New idea. 2 offsides jacks?

North:
AKQ10
AK
J109
5432

East:
J543
109872
876
8

South:
9876
QJ
AKQ
AKQ10

West:
2
6543
5432
J632

Edit: Fixed, I think

This post has been edited by AyunuS: 2014-November-09, 12:18

[nige1]

AyunuS wrote:

"New idea. 2 offsides jacks?"

Oh!. I see that Fluffy has now posted a similar hand diagram.

38 HCP.! Brilliant, both of you!

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This is a variant of AyunuS's previous hand, modified so that the only communication is in ♣ --- and only a ♣ lead defeats 6N -- by attacking that communication!
38 HCP but slightly marred by West's void

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[Lord Molyb]

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40 HCP as mentioned as being possible in the OP

[cloa513]

A better question is without extreme breaks. What is the most HCP where you can can't make slam.

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Just give East-West a normal 4-2 breaks in minors and no contract has any chance.

[Lord Molyb]

cloa513, on 2014-November-13, 18:47, said:

A better question is without extreme breaks. What is the most HCP where you can can't make slam.

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Just give East-West a normal 4-2 breaks in minors and no contract has any chance.

You have 12 top tricks in this diagram.