Bridge for Beginners

1. Bridge for Beginners Lesson 13 Bidding to Slams

2. Homework – Question 1  AKQ9  KJ7  AQ2  AK5  AKQT72  652  AK  AK  KQ7  AK53  KT4  AJ3  QT8  AK  KQ753  AJ3 • What is your opening bid? 2 2 2NT 1  AKJT6  AQT7  9  KQJ  A9  AKJT  AQ62  KQJ  KJ7  AK53  KT4  AJ3  A  KQJ7  AKQ952  62 2 2 1 2

3. Homework Question 2a • What is your response When partner has opened 2 2 2 2 2NT 2 2NT 2NT 2NT PASS  6  5  3  2  4  3  9  6  5  2  T  J  7

4. Homework Question 2b • What is your response When partner has opened 2 2 2 2 2NT 2 2NT 2NT 2NT 3NT  8  5  4  7  2  T  8  3  Q  5  A  4  7

5. Homework Question 2c • What is your response When partner has opened 2 2 2 2 2NT 2 2 2 3 3NT  Q  T  5  4  3  J  T  7  Q  9  K  7  Q

6. Homework Question 2d • What is your response When partner has opened 2 2 2 2 2NT 2 2 3 3 3NT  A  K  6  8  5  Q  9  2  6  5  T  3  7

7. Homework Question 2e • What is your response When partner has opened 2 2 2 2 2NT 2 2NT 2NT 2NT 3NT  8  7  3  7  6  5  4  K  4  Q  3  2  5

8. Homework Question 2f • What is your response When partner has opened 2 2 2 2 2NT 2 2NT 2NT 2NT 3  K  Q  8  7  3  3  Q  T  5  4  3  6  2

9. Bidding to Slams • We looked at opening bids with strong hands last week • And responses • Some hands had slam possibility • But any slam bid would have been made in hope rather than expectation • To help we will learn a Conventional Bid • Called ‘Blackwood’

10. Blackwood Convention • If you bid 1NT and partner responds 4NT • This is a ‘minimaxi’ slam try • You Pass with a minimum opener • Or bid 6NT with a maximum • But 4NT is not otherwise used • Because 3NT is game • If you agree a suit and then bid 4NT • Shows slam interest and is Blackwood

11. Blackwood Convention • After a bidding sequence you bid 4 and partner bids 4NT • Partner thinks you may have slam on • And is checking that you are not missing more than 1 Ace • There are 2 versions • Standard Blackwood • Roman Key Card Blackwood (RKCB)

12. Blackwood Convention • When partner bids 4NT • Although a Conventional Bid do NOT alert • No alerts over 3NT • The 4NT bid says: • How many top cards have you?

13. Standard Blackwood • Top cards are the 4 Aces • With 0 or 4 Aces bid 5 • With 1 Ace bid 5 • With 2 Aces bid 5 • With 3 Aces bid 5 • These bids say nothing about the suit bid • They reply to partner’s request

14. Standard Blackwood • Partner knows how many Aces you hold • And whether to bid a slam (12 tricks) • Or look for a Grand Slam (13 tricks) • Partner can ask for Kings • If a Grand is likely • But only do this with all Aces present • Because you are committed to at least a small slam

15. Standard Blackwood • Partner asks for Kings by bidding 5NT • Responses are: • With 0 Kings bid 6 • With 1 King bid 6 • With 2 Kings bid 6 • With 3 Kings bid 6 • With 4 Kings bid 6NT

16. Roman Key Card Blackwood • King of trumps is counted as a top card • So 5 Key Cards • 4NT asks how many of these do you have • Partner then responds: • With 3 or 0 Key Cards bid 5 • With 4 or 1 Key Cards bid 5 • With 5 or 2 Key Cards, no Q trumps bid 5 • With 5 or 2 Key Cards, + Q trumps bid 5 • Remember the sequence 30, 41, 52

17. RKCB • Partner asks for Kings by bidding 5NT • But not including the trump King • Responses are: • With 0 Kings bid 6 • With 1 King bid 6 • With 2 Kings bid 6 • With 3 Kings bid 6

18. Blackwood – Example 1 Partner opens 1 Your bid? 2 Partner bids 4NT What is your response Ordinary Blackwood? With 1 Ace 5 RKCB? With 1 Key Card 5  A  5  4  5  4  9  8  T  7  4  Q  4  5

19. Blackwood – Example 2 Partner opens 1 Your bid? 2 Partner bids 4NT What is your response Ordinary Blackwood? With 1 Ace 5 RKCB? With 2 Key Cards and not Q trumps 5  A  5  4  5  4  K  8  T  7  4  J  4  5

20. Blackwood – Example 3 Partner opens 2 Your bid? 2 positive 8+ HCP Partner bids 4NT Agreeing your suit Ordinary Blackwood? With 1 Ace 5 RKCB? With 2 Key Cards plus Q trumps 5  A  5  4  8  5  K  Q Now partner bids 5NT Asking about Kings Ordinary Blackwood? With 1 King 6 RKCB? With No Kings to count 6  T  7  4  3  4  5

21. Blackwood – Example 4 The Bidding Goes Partner opens 2 2 4NT Ordinary Blackwood? With no Aces 5 RKCB? With 1 Key Card 5   5  4 2 3 ?  Q  5  4  K  8  T  7  4  J  4  5

22. Blackwood – Example 5 The Bidding Goes Partner opens 1 3 4NT Ordinary Blackwood? With no Aces 5 RKCB? With no Key Cards 5  Q  5  4 1NT 4 ?  Q  5  4  8  Q  7  4  Q  4  5

23. Blackwood – Example 6 The Bidding Goes Partner opens 2 4NT Ordinary Blackwood? With 2 Aces 5  RKCB? With 2 Key Cards plus Q trumps 5  A  5  4 3 ?  Q  5  4  8  A  7  4  4  3  5

24. When do You Bid the Slam? • If you have all Aces or all Key cards present bid the slam • And think about asking for Kings • Missing 1 Ace or 1 Key card • Bid it with good suit(s) to run • Using RKCB bid it if you hold the trump Q • Missing 2 Aces or Key cards • Stop at the 5 level

25. Blackwood or RKCB • Blackwood is slightly easier • Blackwood is universal • RKCB gives you more information • Making judgement on bidding the slam more accurate • If you play RKCB all the time it becomes the norm • RKCB can give you an edge

26. Summary • You MUST use one or other version • I strongly advise RKCB • Don’t panic when partner bids 4NT • All you have to do is make the correct response • Partner has the difficult job to decide where to stop • Bidding and making slams gives tremendous satisfaction!!!