[jillybean]

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I'm not sure how to post this as the interference you get will vary across tables.

Some auctions with be uncontested, others 1H (1S) 2H (3/4S)
You are dealer, partner will raise hearts.

Whatcha gonna do?

[jdiana]

Is this an advertisement for namyats? I never learned it because I didn't want to tax my memory for what I thought were very rare hands, but maybe it's worth playing. Without that, and maybe even with it, this would be a 2♣ opener.

[smerriman]

Open 4NT, specific ace ask. While we could technically have a heart loser if partner is void and trumps don't break 2-2, I'm happy to ignore that and play in 5+#aces while making interference as hard as possible.

[mw64ahw]

jdiana, on 2024-November-04, 15:02, said:

Is this an advertisement for namyats? I never learned it because I didn't want to tax my memory for what I thought were very rare hands, but maybe it's worth playing. Without that, and maybe even with it, this would be a 2♣ opener.

Yep 4♣ gets the hand out of the way.

[mike777]

Seems far too strong for Namyats

[DavidKok]

There are multiple styles to play Namyats. The old school required it to be close to slam in hand (10 solid tricks, or 9 solid tricks but 10 with even splits, or something like that). Since that almost never comes up I think if you play Namyats it is wise to relax the requirements quite a lot, instead using it to get two ways to preempt at the 4M-level rather than one slam-seeking way and one preemptive way. In general I dislike starting my slam investigation at the 4-level anyway.

Either way I'm happy to not play Namyats. I would open 1♥ here, and don't really see merit in the alternative suggestion of 2♣. On the auction 1♥-(1♠)-2♥-(4♠); ? my 4NT is RKC (both 'looking for a better strain' and 'quantitative' do not make sense with a known fit and a known fit by the opponents), though I have also played it as 'generic slam try, do you have a good hand for slam?'. Notice that this hand is perfect for an early ace-ask, the only slight gamble being the queen of hearts (but after the raise we can likely pick that up even if the queen is missing).
On 1♥-(1♠)-2♥-(3♠); ? things are slightly different. 4NT should likely be RKC here, but I haven't discussed it. And my general meta rule is that jump bids to not ask for aces. So instead I will bid 4♣ and hope to get another chance - definitely unpleasant! In general I dislike asking for aces early, so when the perfect hand for it pops up I am in some amount of trouble.

Lastly regarding opening 4NT - for me that is a non-slamgoing hand with both minors, typically 6-5 either way or longer. Same story as above - this hand type is a few times more common than the I-only-care-about-your-aces battleship hand. If I had 4NT ace-asking available I would use it.

[Cyberyeti]

When I played namyats, the hand required was one where 2 aces and a trump gave good play for slam, not that for grand, 4N for me

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

you could start with 1H, but I guess starting with 2C is simpler.
The adv. of starting with 1H is / was, that you heard them, so the chances, that you are missing both Aces
are increased. And the Grand is basically ruled out.

My plan is to bid 5H at one time, trying to send the message, that p should raise with 1 useful card, and
useful cards are Keycards.

I dont like blasting slams, if I see a reasonable (at least for me) alternative.

with kind regards
Marlowe

[jillybean]

No NAMYATS
If you open 2C, you are fortunate, partner responses 2D
6H+1


Some players opened 1H and stalled in 4 or 5 H

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[Cyberyeti]

4N-5♠-6♥ unopposed

2♣-(2N 5-5 without clubs)-3♣-(5♦) and now you're on a guess

1♥-(2♥)-3?-(4/5♠) and again you're guessing

[apollo1201]

A living as for a direct axé asking bid

More seriously if opps interfere and partner shows values (I think X with 5332 rather than introducing a mediocre C suit, but it does not really matter here), you can always pass and remove partner s X to 5H (better than a direct 5H) and now partner with Qxx and an A might try 6.

Of course if opps kid to 5S before you can bid sth, you have to guess.

[apollo1201]

A living as for a direct axé asking bid

More seriously if opps interfere and partner shows values (I think X with 5332 rather than introducing a mediocre C suit, but it does not really matter here), you can always pass and remove partner s X to 5H (better than a direct 5H) and now partner with Qxx and an A might try 6.

Of course if opps kid to 5S before you can bid sth, you have to guess.

[pescetom]

apollo1201, on 2024-November-05, 12:47, said:

A living as for a direct axé asking bid

More seriously if opps interfere and partner shows values (I think X with 5332 rather than introducing a mediocre C suit, but it does not really matter here), you can always pass and remove partner s X to 5H (better than a direct 5H) and now partner with Qxx and an A might try 6.

Of course if opps kid to 5S before you can bid sth, you have to guess.

I agree and do play 4NT as Specific Ace Ask, so a no-brainer here.
Nevertheless I am tempted by davidkok's idea of 4NT as slammish minors (then 5♥/♠ = RKCB(♣/♦) I imagine).
The partnerships that play 4NT SAA also play Notyats for a very good 4M, which covers some variations on this hand.

I dislike the idea of opening 1♥ or 2♣ here, opps are likely to go wild in the boss suit before I can ask for controls and partner is very unlikely to have fit.

[DavidKok]

To be clear, my 4NT opening is non-slamgoing with the minors. It is typically around 4-5 losers, strong enough to make playing at the 5-level not suicidal, but too weak to be a serious slam hand.

Cyberyeti, on 2024-November-05, 09:33, said:

4N-5♠-6♥ unopposed

2♣-(2N 5-5 without clubs)-3♣-(5♦) and now you're on a guess

1♥-(2♥)-3?-(4/5♠) and again you're guessing

I can't help but notice you've added two levels to the 3♠ interference by the OP. Mayhaps this shows a slight bias regarding your favourite option?

[Cyberyeti]

DavidKok, on 2024-November-05, 13:36, said:

To be clear, my 4NT opening is non-slamgoing with the minors. It is typically around 4-5 losers, strong enough to make playing at the 5-level not suicidal, but too weak to be a serious slam hand.

I can't help but notice you've added two levels to the 3♠ interference by the OP. Mayhaps this shows a slight bias regarding your favourite option?

No, it's because there's a known HUGE double fit in the second case, and likely club shortage opposite your xxxx in the first. In the original version you just have a spade fit.

[johnu]

jdiana, on 2024-November-04, 15:02, said:

Is this an advertisement for namyats? I never learned it because I didn't want to tax my memory for what I thought were very rare hands, but maybe it's worth playing. Without that, and maybe even with it, this would be a 2♣ opener.

2 loser hand? Way too strong for Namyats (which in my version is around 4 to 4-1/2 losers). Good play for slam opposite a single ace.

[fuzzyquack]

1♥ got you to the best possible start since the partner's support means no trump loser. B-wood over 3/4♠ makes you sail to slam. Facing soft opponents you may be even left playing it. BTW, over 2♣, 2♠ looks like an automatic overcall to me.

[mw64ahw]

Any of the proposed bidding solutions works here depending on what you have available
There seems to be some sort of consensus that the hand is too strong for 4♣, but 15hcp doesn't seem too strong leaving plenty of room for a positive response. You may take issue with the 3.5 rather than 4.5 modified losers, but if partner signs-off in 4♥ they have nothing to contribute.

[Cyberyeti]

 mw64ahw, on 2024-November-06, 07:45, said:

Any of the proposed bidding solutions works here depending on what you have available
There seems to be some sort of consensus that the hand is too strong for 4♣, but 15hcp doesn't seem too strong leaving plenty of room for a positive response. You may take issue with the 3.5 rather than 4.5 modified losers, but if partner signs-off in 4♥ they have nothing to contribute.

They will sign off in 4♥ with ♠A ♥xx, this is a fraction over 2 loser hand, never more than 2.5

[mw64ahw]

 Cyberyeti, on 2024-November-06, 11:33, said:

They will sign off in 4♥ with ♠A ♥xx, this is a fraction over 2 loser hand, never more than 2.5

You still of course have the option of an Ace ask so equivalent to a 4N opener, but with a positive response you look for the grand