Slam bidding

Great to see 3 out of 7 pairs bid this slam.

This week I will give insight as to how top NZ players will bid this hand.

West opens 1H and East responds 1S. No need for East to jump showing a heart fit.

West now realizes the enormous potential of the spade fit and splinters.

Splinter bids are used to show a great fit with the last bid suit and a singleton or void.

 A jump to 3NT shows an excellent spade fit and a void somewhere.

East asks which and West can show the diamond void.

East then bids 4NT as roman key card ask. West responds 3 key cards.

East asks about the Q spades and West says yes.

Next ask is for extra kings. West answers 1.

East can now confidently bid 7S. Baring a 5-0 spade break it makes easily.

An added feature is that 7S is superior to 7H, even though both make. Why ?

Another point is that East has few wasted points in diamonds.

Opposite the diamond void, all diamond honour points are essentially wasted.

Here a grand slam is made on 26 points (KD is wasted) with a void.