Help In Bidding Slams

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Most NLMs playing West will open this hand starting with 1♦ - then try to jump or come up with some other bid later on to show the strength of this hand.

A better opening bid with a 4-loser hand like this might be 2♣. This is a game-force for most partnerships, so you'll end up in either NT or diamonds down the road. . .and it shows the strength of your hand right away to East - who in this case has 14 HCPs and a 6-loser hand. While it is true, you don't have 22+ HCPs, you do have 8 quick tricks in diamonds - and 17 HCPs (plus 5 for a void) will justify a 2♣ open here.

Expecting to play in a diamond slam once partner shows either aces or controls (depending on your 2♣ convention responses), once you find a heart fit, the score will be better in the major suit. A hand that makes 6♦ and 6♥ should be played in the major. Keep in mind there's no bidding convention that works all the time; but here, controls show exactly what East has. With five control points, that means either a combination of A-A-K or A-K-K-K (with Aces counting as 2 control points and Kings as 1).

West knows it's not possible for East to have three kings, so West knows right away both missing aces and a king are in East's hand. That should be enough to bid onward. Can you bid 7♥? It's tricky. The reason it can make is because of East's doubleton club, supported by West's A♣, and with the hearts only missing the Q♥ it can be finessed by either direction. There's yet to be a well-defined bid that shows the 10-9 in addition to the K♥, or the J-8 with the A♥ - so the 7-level will be strictly for the adventurous.

Nice day to be South - opening a 2-loser hand. If you play a 2♦ response denies the A♣, then there's no reason to ask for keycards - you have all but one of them, and bidding up to 5NT to ask for outside Kings will get you to 6♠ anyways - so you may as well just bid it.

If you play 2♦ waiting, or it is possible that North does have the A♣, then it's important to ask for keycards in the event that you have a 7♠ bid - you don't want to miss that!

It's possible 6♠ could go down (very, very few hands are "sure things" in bridge) but with at least a 9-card fit in the suit, no heart losers, a lead coming to the A-Q of diamonds and that singleton club loser, South should give it a try at 6. After all, you only get a 2-loser hand once every so often.

As it turns out, careful play can make a Grand Slam in clubs! The question is can you bid that? Playing 6♣X (which happened at my table) was a great result (+1540).

With a self sufficient club suit (number of cards in the suit [7] plus honors from the top [3] equalling 10 or more), the only question you'll have is how many diamonds you can lose. 4NT is a safer bet out of the chute, but how often do you pick up a 1-loser hand?

Bidding 4NT asks West to choose a minor suit. When West bids 5♣, now East should bid 6♣!

Unfortunately, we don't have ten minutes each hand to figure everything out. But if you did, here's what you can learn from the 3♠ open:
1) Most players will not preempt with four cards in the other major. So South shouldn't have more than three hearts.
2) With ten hearts left out there, your partner is likely to have at least four - they may even be split 5-5 between partner and North.
3) North did not bid a game in spades; so either North has no HCPs, or shortness in spades. If North has two spades, partner has four of them.
4) Marking West with 8 (or 9) major cards, West must have 5 (or 4) minor suit cards. What are they?
5) If 4 diamonds and 0 clubs, you should make 7♣ or 7♦ (North and South should each have a minor suit card, so an immediate ruff isn't a big concern.)
If 3 diamonds and 1 club, you should still make 7♣ or 7♦ if the remaining diamonds are 2-2. But 6♣ or 6♦ is more likely.
If 2 diamonds and 2 clubs, you have all the club tricks (unless the split is 4-0 to the J♣, and if so 6♣ still makes) and you'll be able to ruff a low diamond from your hand to make the rest of your diamond tricks good.
If 1 diamond and 3 clubs, you might still make 7♣ since even a club lead will allow two diamond ruffs to make your other diamond tricks good.
If 0 diamonds and 4 clubs, you can trump all your low diamonds and make 7♣ easily.

Playing a small diamond at trick 3 will allow South to get their 10♣. . .so to make 7 you'll have to draw trump once at trick 3, then ruff a small diamond, come back to your hand, ruff another diamond, come back to your hand, now the Q♦ falls on your K♦. Pull the other trump and you're home free.

East's double implies four hearts, but at the 1-level could be only three. Not vulnerable, East doesn't care what suit West has - but to bid it at the 2-level. South is already a passed hand, and doesn't have three spades - but can show the 11 HCPs by redoubling.

Now North can show a very strong hand and long spades by jumping to 3♠, and when South shows a couple by bidding 4♠ North will investigate a slam. (After all, South has shown 10+ HCPs, and you'll want to know which, if any of those, are aces!)

Even if South bids 2♦, or some form of a "long suit" relay bid, West can still bid the "Texas Transfer" with 7+ cards in the suit. This should be marked on your Convention Card if you play this kind of transfer - it's just like a regular transfer (4♦ is xfer to 4♥, 4♥ is xfer to 4♠) but with 7+ in the suit.

There is a difference, however - when 4NT is bid after a regular transfer (1NT - 2♦ - 2♥ - 4NT) that's a Quantitative bid. If the NT opener is at the top of the range (17 HCPs) then the NT opener should go ahead and bid 6 of the transferred suit.

With the Texas Transfer, bidding 4NT asks for keycards (1NT - 4♥ - 4♠ - 4NT). It's a great tool for your bidding toolbox!

South's initial rebid of 1NT is a little weaker than the hand - but there's not enough to reverse to 2♥ or bid 2NT. Once the spade suit is confirmed, North can show a much stronger hand and support for the clubs by jumping one level - this also demonstrates slam interest.

West's 2NT open with two doubletons is permissible since one of the doubletons is an A-K. After East transfers to spades and asks for keycards, East will know that of the 1 or 4 keycards West has, it must be 4. The reason? If West does NOT have 4 keycards, then West can only have at most 17 HCPs - and would never have opened 2NT.

Now that East knows West holds at least the A♠ and K♠, along with two outside Ks, East can comfortably bid 7♠. Keeping in mind that some hands which make 7♠ also make 7NT, but with East's singleton heart spades will be a much easier contract to make.

North's overcall makes this a more difficult spade slam to find, but who won't be overcalling in 2nd seat, not vulnerable, with 9 HCPs and six hearts?

East's first dilemma is whether to bid 2NT to show heart stoppers or bid 3♦ to show a new suit and unlimited hand. West can show a two-suited hand here by bidding 4♣ (not easy to do at the 4-level with J♣ high) - but West has no real other bid available.

East has enough points and shape to investigate a slam; and can now show the heart control(s) by cuebidding the opponent's suit. 4♥ is a bid which indicates first-round control of the suit - either a void or the A♥. But it says, "partner, do not worry about the opponent's suit."

West again must reluctantly rebid a 5-card spade suit, to show he's got nothing else to offer here. But East will ask for keycards, and finding they are missing one can try a spade slam. (NOTE: East already has two keycards in spades, so at most West can have three. . .that's why East knows when it's "2 or 5 keycards" that is only two.)

Although East figures West is missing either the A♣, A♠, or K♠, the two cards that West DOES have total at most 8 HCPs. So West must have some outside points to "fill in" gaps. Or, a finesse might have to work to make the contract. But many players feel it's better to bid the slam and go down one, rather than not bid it and have it make.

A 4-loser hand is often opened 2♣ to show the strength right away. Opening this hand 1♥ doesn't convey the strength immediately to West - and East will always have a rebid of 2NT (to show 22-24 HCPs flat) or a suit (here, 3♥) to show a long, strong suit preference.

If you play control point responses, 3♣ will show 4 control points (A=2, K=1). Since East is staring at three Kings in East's hand, East knows right away that West has the two missing Aces.

When West hears 3♥, West is planning to support the hearts when possible. But West can show a 5-card spade suit (in case East has four spades, or even three, and can show a double-fit). 3♠ won't get passed, and neither will East's 4♣ bid to show a second suit. Now when West shows support for East's long, strong suit, East might even be interested in a Grand Slam! Some days, 7♥ will be there and biddable. With East's hand, you might be a little worried that a club lead by the opponents will find a void - and a ruff at trick 1.

East has a good non-vulnerable overcall, since a diamond lead (especially if North shows up with the K♦) will be a good lead. South has the stoppers in East's suit, and with 13-15 HCPs, can easily bid 3NT.

It's possible that North might not go on - North has a near minimum opener, with 13 HCPs and 6 losers. But if North is going to bid to try and find something more than a game, North will not likely find a major suit slam.

However.

By bidding 3NT, South is saying South has no 4-card major. That means South has at least seven minor suit cards. If South had 5 diamonds, there might have been another bid - like a pass at first opportunity, waiting for North to double and then passing that for penalty. North can pretty much guess that there are at least three clubs in South's hand - and between the 13-15 HCPs and A and two Ks (counting for 10 of the 13-15 HCPs) there should be some fillers, too.

Don't be surprised if there are many pairs in NT - and unless you play the spades for the 3-3 split or double-finesse the hearts, you'll only make 4NT (and not 5NT).

When West opens, East must already be thinking about a slam with 19 HCPs. So the trick is to keep making bids that West can't pass - until you're in an exploratory stage to get to the 6- or 7-level.

When East responds 1♠, West might say 1NT, although it's not really descriptive of the hand. It does show a minimum opener, but with two doubletons, and possibly no stopper in either red suit, 2♣ is a better bid.

East could bid 2♠, but that also doesn't convey the strength of the hand - and West could pass 2♠. So a jump to 3♦ shows both a GREAT hand, along with a nice diamond suit. Now West can support the diamonds (having three of his own) and East can find out about the two missing keycards (A♠, A♣) and one outside K.

Now East should count his tricks. Assuming the spades are not 5-0, you've got five spade tricks. With the known diamond fit, it's possible that there's a 4-1 diamond split (four to the J♦) but if there is, you might be able to make a squeeze play. Or take a finesse to make 7. Assuming diamonds are 3-2 (the odds are with you!) you've got five diamond tricks. That's ten. Two outside As and one K make 13 tricks. 6NT is safe - too safe - and with two long, running suits, if you need to squeeze one of the opponents or take a finesse it's worth it to try and make 7 if it's there. Bid 7NT.

East's lead: ♣K

My partner (North) and I (South) wound up with this player-shuffled hand in a KO where we were ahead by quite a bit at the half (47 IMPs), and while 6♠ was pretty much a lock I figured my partner could use some practice at making a Grand Slam. Plus, when they're there, they're fun to have bid. And with the other team so far behind, I thought they might have bid it at the 7-level, too.

Anyhow, looking at the N/S hands, the problem is pretty much limited to the hearts. You've got a heart loser, and nowhere to throw it. But don't ever give up hope on these kinds of hands! As you progress through your bridge playing career, you'll find chances to short other players, or squeeze opponents, making them throw cards they don't really want to. This hand makes 7♠, but looking at all four hands you can see how the squeeze will have to be set up.

East's lead should promise the ♣Q, so North will have to leave the ♣10 as a threat card down the line. And even if a third diamond is trumped (and East shows out), the ♦8 then can be a threat card for West. With those two threat cards, and two hearts in South, that means when everyone has four cards to go, you'll want to play your last spade (♠A) at that time - to "squeeze" both players.

This hand took me several hours to figure out, and I wouldn't expect my partner to figure this out at the table (good grief!) - but I'm showing this because sometimes hands that seem hopeless - really hopeless - actually will make. This one does.

With careful declarer play, North can end up in North's hand with this holding. East must keep the ♣Q, and West must keep the ♦Q, thanks to the two threat cards in dummy.

NOW North plays the ♠A. If East throws the ♣Q, then the ♣10 in dummy is good. North crosses to dummy to the ♥K, plays the ♣10, and back to North with the ♥A and it's easy. (What West does here doesn't matter.)

If East throws the ♥9, now North must throw the ♣10. What does West do!? If West throws the ♦Q, now dummy's ♦8 is good. So West must throw the ♥5. East and West each have two hearts and a minor suit card - so playing to the ♥K and back to the ♥A will draw all the hearts, leaving North's ♥4 as the 13th trick.

Although a spade slam may be difficult to find, West's 2NT open should at least give East pause for thought about maybe going to a slam. Should East ask for keycards, West will show 1 or 4 keycards in spades. East will know right away it's 4 - and not 1 - because of the 2NT open (if West had just one ace, there aren't enough HCPs in the deck to get to 20-21 HCPs with just Ks and Qs).

To make 6♠, East will have to lose a heart - but can throw the ♣3 on the third diamond (won in East). The problem is West won't want losing hearts and East won't want losing diamonds. Don't pull trump here - you'll want to cross ruff. Try it and see!

Four keycards will account for 15 of West's 20-21 HCPs. This means West must have some combination of Ks and Qs available. . .East should therefore give 6♠ a try.

East's jump to 4♠ shows a very powerful hand. Although more experienced players will go slower, and cuebid As, our Friday morning group will be more likely to show a hand that can handle a spade game even in the responder (West) has the minimum - only 6 HCPs. Also, if you play splinter bids, East's bid over West's 1♠ would be 4♦ (to show spade support and a singleton or void in diamonds).

In our Friday group, the jump to 4♠ will be more common. And with West having many more than 6 HCPs, West should investigate for a spade slam once West understands the strength of East's powerhouse.

Normally, when East responds 5♦ (3 or 0 keycards), and you don't know which it is - 3 or 0 - you bid 5♠ and let East go to 6♠ if it is 3 keycards (East will pass if it is 0). Because East has shown a powerhouse hand, West will know quite easily that it's not 0 keycards but 3. If East had no keycards, then West can tell the only HCPs East could have would be:
♠J ♥K ♥Q ♥J ♦K ♣K ♣J
With those 14 HCPs, East would not have jumped right to a spade game. So it's impossible for East to have 0 keycards. . .and East must have 3.

How do you make 7♠? Here is how: If anything other than a spade is led, don't pull trump. Play the ♥A, play the ♦A, play three clubs, and cross ruff your remaining red cards. By the time your opponents are out of red cards, your trumps will all be higher than theirs. Trump the ♣3 at the end with the ♠K. If a spade is led, then you'll have to play the ♦A; then the ♦Q, hoping that North has the ♦K. If North doesn't cover, play your ♣3. You can't cross ruff this card at the end if they lead a spade. If North does cover with the ♦K, then trump it - and go back to play the ♦J and get rid of the club on the ♦J. Now cross-ruffing the rest of the red cards gets you 7.

South's jump to 3♦ shows a very strong hand - and implies a 5-5 hand in hearts and diamonds. South could just bid 2♦, and by switching suits force North to bid anyway, but by jumping South is really showing a strong hand. When South bids 3♦, North expects South to have at most 4 black cards. Why should North look for a club slam, when there's probably a diamond slam already?

South would prefer a heart suit contract, to be in the major suit. But North could have responded 3♥ and did not. That means North doesn't have three hearts, and probably doesn't even have two of them. (North could have put South in a 6-2 heart fit with two by bidding 3♥.) South expects North's hand to be something like 4 spades, 4 diamonds, 1 heart, and 4 clubs. When South finds out about the ♠A and ♦K (not to mention the ♦Q) - South can ask for outside kings. North will show one.

South won't know which king it is - but if it is the ♥K, 7♦ is a lock. (7NT might also work!) If it is the ♣K, then South only has to worry about the ♥K. . .which might be finessable (here, it is) and if not perhaps some sort of squeeze play will force a 13th trick to be good. In any event, a Grand Slam is worth the try, and those that get to it will be richly rewarded.

How is East's poker face at your table? When West opens 1NT, you'll find out.

East's first job is to transfer West into bidding clubs. Once accomplished, East needs to find out about the two missing aces. If West has both, 7♣ or 7NT will be where you end up. When East finds out West has a single keycard (or ace, if you play straight Blackwood), East should go ahead and go for the slam. If South had the ♠A-♠K to set this contract, South should have doubled the 2♠ bid. The reason you can't stop at 5♣ is because the single ace that West has only represents 4 HCPs of the 15-17 HCPs West holds. Those other 11-13 HCPs can't be aces, so they must be kings and queens. With transportation and suits to run, a slam is the way to go.

NOTE: With East's hand and West's responses, if this hand goes down in 6♣ it goes down in 6NT. After all, West would not open 1NT with a singleton spade. Therefore, if 6♣ makes, then 6NT should also make - and that's a much better contract. Those that bid 6NT will be richly rewarded with a top score.

South will be happy to hear that diamonds are North's suit. It may be difficult, if not impossible, for North to find out that South has the ♦Q, but if South finds out about keycards it will be a lot easier for South to bid the Grand Slam. That's because South will know North has 4 keycards (not 0, to open 2♣); South has a great fit with diamonds (at least 11, since North should have at least six to bid diamonds as a suit after 2♣); that means that of South's cards, there is only one card that is not covered by North's hand. With a NT contract, this means 6NT is the safest contract, although you might make 7NT with a squeeze - but it's not a lock. With a suit contract, you should be able to trump the third club or the third heart - so 7♦ is a lock!

East's 1♦ open may be met with West going right to 4NT - but with those long spades, West might want to be in 6♠ instead of 6♦ - so there's no loss at all in starting with 1♠. (Really interested in a Grand Slam, I'd consider "exclusion keycard" but that's another discussion on a Friday morning.)

Once East limits the hand with 1NT, go ahead and bid Gerber. You're only missing three As, and once West finds out East has three of them West can count 13 tricks. Running suits are GOLD in situations like this, and always remember that some hands that play in a suit also play in NT. Even if you stop at 6NT, that'll be a better score than 6♦.

No matter what kind of game East at your table had today, partner opening 1NT when you've got 19 HCPs will MAKE THEIR DAY.

East could transfer to hearts first, but that presents some problems. First of all, the transfer is so that the weak hand goes on the table. East doesn't have the weak hand here - so East would prefer to be declarer. Second, East can always play a heart contract with that holding - even if West has only two in the suit (West MUST have at least two in the suit to open 1NT). Third, if you transfer to hearts - and then jump to 4NT - that is Quantitative. It means if West has the higher end of the 15-17 to bid 6♥. Here, West is a minimum hand and will bid 5♥ making 7 for a very, very bad board.

East's plan should be to play in a slam of either hearts or NT, because the hearts will fall nicely (barring six to the ♥10 in North or South's hand, but if that was the case the other N/S player will bid something else with that void. . .right?) - and if West has the spades NT will be a better score.

East should find out about the other A right away by bidding 4NT (Gerber) - and why stop at 6? Here's one reason why you shouldn't stop at the 6-level: West opened 1NT. West will show you one A and two Ks, for 10 HCPs. This means West must have between 5 and 7 HCPs in Qs and Js. As East, count up your tricks - if the hearts are all good, you'll have 10 tricks off the top. Can you generate three more with partner's Qs and Js? Why not give it a try!? It may come down something complicated like a squeeze - but it may not.

As East, can you tell from the bidding how many minor suit cards your partner has? You opened 1♣; partner did not respond with a major, so don't expect partner to have 4 of either major. When you jumped to 2♥, showing a very strong hand, partner did not support hearts. You might have five hearts but should have four, and since partner didn't support you NOW, you can figure West doesn't have even three hearts in the suit! This means at most, West has three spades and two hearts.

When West bids diamonds and then clubs, chances are good it's 5-3 or 4-4 with the two suits. And how does East make 6♣? By playing the spades - from West's hand, play a low spade. If North plays the ♠Q, it'll be easy - play the ♠K, let South take it, and your ♠J will be good. But you can't afford two losers in the spade suit - so if North plays low when you play the ♠4, you must play the ♠J. This is the favored odds play. If South has both the ♠A and ♠Q, you're going to lose them both no matter what. If South has the ♠Q, you're going to lose them both also (with North having the ♠A). But if the ♠A and ♠Q, or even just the ♠Q is in North's hand, you can lose just one spade trick playing the ♠J.

Although it's unlikely that any N/S pairs will get to a slam in diamonds in our Friday morning group, there might be a way for you to bid it - by cuebidding the opponent's suit. East has a good preemptive bid not vulnerable - six in the suit, two of the top three, and no defense against anything N/S want to play. East's 2♠ is getting in the way of N/S communication, and that's what a preemptive bid is designed for.

Of course, West has some HCPs and a few spades, so even a mildly aggressive West will raise the preempt to 3♠. This will make it even more difficult for N/S. The key to finding a slam is for South to let North know that spades are not a problem for them on offense. South has first-round control of spades, and that singleton ♠A means trumping any of North's remaining spades.

South's 4♠ bid, a cuebid of the opponent's suit, asks (or demands) that North further describe North's hand. With six diamonds, it should be easy for North to bid 5♦, and then it's a question of South being a little adventurous. 6♦ won't always work out; the preemptive bid makes it hard to ask for keycards, etc. But North's HCPs as opener aren't likely to be in spades at all - so even with the ♣A, that leaves 8-9 HCPs in the red suits. From the bidding, South can determine North holds three spades, six diamonds, and three or four clubs. At most this would mean a singleton heart in North's hand. With lots of diamonds available to cross ruff the majors, 6♦ seems as though it should be a worthy try.

For E/W to find a spade slam, there's going to have to be a lot going on. East must show a strong hand, and West's hand is stronger than the 8 HCPs would indicate. One way to find a slam is to start cuebidding suit controls once you've agreed to a suit - in this case, spades.

When West bids 4♣, East knows that the ♣7 is now a good trick. Either West has the ♣A or a void - but the ♣7 is no longer a loser. If East had the ♦A, then East would bid 4♦ - but East went to 4♥ instead. This means East doesn't have the ♦A, but that won't matter to West thanks to the void. When West bids 5♦ to show a control in the suit, East knows now that diamonds may not have a loser, either.

Cuebidding is little beyond most of our Friday morning players, but I wanted to show that there is a way to find a slam like this - there may be several ways! But cuebidding is one of them, and sooner or later you'll run into a pair that utilizes this method of showing controls. Even if you don't cuebid, it's always good to know what the opponents are doing.

West has a great hand to open, but East is going to be the captain of this ship. East has what's known as a "self-sufficient" suit. That's a suit where the number of cards in the suit plus the honors from the top equals 10 or more - and that means you don't care if partner has a void, you're not going to lose any tricks in the suit. (If South has five to the ♥J, that's another story, but East does have a self-sufficient suit.)

East's plan is to always play in hearts or NT, and there's no reason to pussy-foot around. When West shows the two suits that East doesn't have, East should investigate for a slam. East will find out West has two aces and a king. To East, it won't matter which ace is missing, because unless it is the ♠A and ♠K - and both are in the same hand - this should make a slam.

Some players may stop at 5♥ because there is that possibility that the ♠A and ♠K are both in North or South's hand; but North should double 1♠ for the lead if North has them both, and that didn't happen. Which leaves South. Odds are you're okay, and in duplicate bridge you must play the odds sometimes - and defy the odds others.

6♥ is an easier contract to arrive at, but remember that many contracts which make 6 in a suit also make 6 in NT, and with running suits you've got a great chance at a better score in NT.

North's preemptive bid will make it nearly impossible for E/W to find a minor suit slam. But by cuebidding the opponent's suit, West is demanding that East further describe East's hand. West expects East to have four hearts when East doubles the 3♠; but West isn't interested in hearts, of course. East does have a five-card suit to bid, and when bidding 5♦, West can either pass 5♦ or raise to 6♦. Look for most E/W pairs in our room to be in 5♦ making 6, losing only a small spade.

Here's a convention that doesn't come up often - but it's handy when it does. The Texas Transfer. This will be marked on your convention card, and should be checked if you and your partner decide to play it.

When East opens 1NT, West should immediately expect to play in spades - even with four hearts. The reason? You've got 7 spades, and partner must have at least 2 to open 1NT. There's a 9-card fit right there. Instead of bidding 2♣ (to ask for a major, because partner might say 2♦ and now West is stuck bidding the spades), West should transfer at the 4-level. It's known as a Texas Transfer. This also would work with a 4♦ bid as a transfer to hearts. This transfer at the 4-level is used when you have at least seven cards in the suit. Here, even IF East has four hearts, the combination of 9-card and 8-card double fit will come in very handy.

Once East accepts the transfer, West should investigate a slam - you've got two doubletons plus two great honor cards. When your partner opens 15-17 HCPs, even if just the ♣A is the only honor in East's hand you have no losers in that suit. What are the spade honors in East's hand? It won't hurt to ask. With West's distribution 5♠ should make if you need to sign-off, but the key to this hand is West showing the 7 spades right away - and expecting that's where you'll end up.

Bidding a Grand Slam here may come down to a finesse, but once South shows a club fit, North should be getting very, very excited.

South's hand is terrible to open, but because there's no reverse available 1♦ is a better open than 1♣. North's 2♣ bid shows 11+ HCPs, and five in the suit, but North is unlimited - so South owes another bid. . and 3♣ shows both minors nicely.

North has such a great hand, unless you cuebid aces (and I don't think anyone in our Friday morning group does), North can try changing suits but why not just ask for aces or keycards? You're expecting at least a 6♣ stop, but maybe more. South's response of 5♦ showing 3 or 0 keycards will put North in an interesting position. If South has zero keycards, 6♣ is going down at least two (you're missing all three aces!). But if South has three, then 7♣ is a good contract try.

If South has zero keycards, South's only face cards are:
♠Q ♠J ♥K ♥Q ♥J ♦J ♣Q
That's 12 HCPs. . .it's going to be a tough call for North!

North's hand is distributional enough and with enough HCPs that 2♣ is your best bet to open. When South shows four control points, that's either two As (which North knows can't be the case) or four Ks (also, North knows that's not it looking at one K) - or an A and two Ks (which North knows IS the case).

South can become the captain of the hand if South so desires; and when North shows a long suit with this 2♣ opener and South has three hearts to the ♥A, South may ask for keycards. North's response of 1 or 4 can only be 4; if North had just one keycard, North would have only 12 HCPs (excluding three aces and South's honors). North wouldn't open a 12 HCP hand 2♣, so when South hears you've got all five keycards - and South's super support in the minors, 7♥ is a solid try.

Although 6NT or 6♠ will be a better matchpoint score than 6♣, the minor suit slam should be an easier one to bid. South's distribution of 6-5 in the black suits will prompt more 6♣ contracts, but many players in this situation would believe that 6♣ would also make 6♠ (which it does, although it's a bit more difficult in the play of the hand).

West could really mess things up with a 4♥ bid; after everyone's passed to South's 1♠ opener, West should know someone has a huge hand. And N/S will probably be in a spade game at least. But West has so many losers, and is behind South, so down three doubled (-800) could be a bottom score. (Just because this hand makes a slam, doesn't mean everyone in our Friday morning group will bid it!)

North couldn't support both spades and clubs without either the ♠Q or ♣K or both; there is the possibility that West will throw down two red As to start and set the slam, but if you're like me you would rather bid a slam that can make - than be in a game when there's a slam to be made.