Comments: I know partner isn't super-strong or she would double and then bid spades but I have a lovely hand. The right contract could be 4S, 6S or 7S With first round control, there may be a Grand! I need to find out if she has first or second round control in clubs. How can I do this?

And Peter's Response:

Hi Maura,

Excellent question!

A decade ago, I could have answered this question quickly and succinctly. Bidding theory has marched on however and, as a result, I will have to traverse more ground to get to the crux of the issue. Note, in looking at this question I consulted several experts and received a different point of view from each.

What I suggest below is one sensible method but there is no unanimity of opinion.

The cue raise (i.e. the bidding of the opponents' suit to denote a quality raise of partner's suit, as opposed to direct raises that suggest modest values but adequate trump length) dominate the landscape of competitive bidding. Thus, here, a bid of 4C would mean "spade raise, too good a hand to bid 4S".

With sufficient values to be confident of safety at the five level, a cue raise and then control bid at the five level after partner's expected sign-off, will suggest a very good hand pointing partner in the direction of which controls in his/her hand will be needed for slam.

A direct bid of five of partner's major can be used in conjunction with the above approach to ask partner to bid six with control in the opponent's suit, since, with control, you would first bid 4 of the opponents' suit to denote the quality raise and then control bid at the five level.

A jump to 5C here ought to denote support for partner, a no-loser holding in the opponents' suit (probably a void) and expected safety at the five level. A jump to 5S suggests no worries about the hand except for fast losers in the opponent's suit.

Holding the hand you have given me, 4C will describe the quality raise, then 5D (cheapest cue) should highlight the lack of club control together with serious interest in slam.

I would not want to bid 5S or 5C directly on this hand.

Partner might feel pretty good about bidding 7S with AKJxxxx, xxx, xx, A and be crestfallen when your hand appeared in dummy.

Partner might feel pretty good about bidding 6S with AJ10xxxx, Qxx, Qx, x and the spade finesse looks odds-on to lose.