SLAM BIDDING (ACE ASKING) Generally acceptable requirements for successful slam bids: After an opening bid of 1NT or 2NT or a natural response of 1NT or 2NT, a jump Small slam – 33 points to 4 is Gerber, asking partner: 5 shows all aces and asks partner: Grand slam – 37 points How many aces are held. How many Kings are held: A response of 4 shows 0 or 4 aces 5 shows no kings A response of 4 shows 1 ace 5 shows one king Count your HCP’s and add distribution points – also count your quick tricks. A response of 4 shows 2 aces 5 shows two kings Adjust point count: A response of 4NT shows 3 aces 5NT shows three kings  Add 1 point for a four card suit with 3 honours. If you have all 4 aces, you can bid 5 6 shows all four kings  Add 1 point for +3 aces and 10’s; deduct 1 point for +3 queens and jacks. ROMAN KEY CARD BLACKWOOD (1430)  Deduct 1 point for dubious honours such as K or KJ (add back in if After a fit is found, 4NT asks partner: 5NT asks how many other partner bids suit). How many key cards are held: kings are held? A response of 5 shows 1 or 4 key cards 6 shows no other kings Responder adjustments when fit is found: A response of 5 shows 0 or 3 key cards 6 shows one other king  Add dummy points. A response of 5 shows 2 key cards w’out queen 6 shows two other kings Opener adjustments when fit is found: A response of 5 shows 2 key cards with queen 6 shows three kings  Add 2 points for a singleton and 4 points for a . If you have all 5 key cards, you can bid 5NT  Add 1 point for each trump over 5.  Add 1 point for a 5 card side suit. CUE BIDDING CONTROLS Cue bidding can be very effective when you have a void or when you have an uncontrolled suit (two or more cards with no ace or king). It is also very effective when you need to know if partner has a specific ace. Control showing Cue bids How many aces are held. How many Kings are held: are easily identified and are bid up the line so if a suit is skipped, partner does A response of 5 shows 0 or 4 aces 6 shows no kings not control that suit. Rules for Cue bidding: A response of 5 shows 1 ace 6 shows one king A response of 5 shows 2 aces 6 shows two kings  After a fit is found, any new suit bid at 3 or higher is a .  After a fit is found, any new suit bid beyond 3NT is a Cue bid. A response of 5 shows 3 aces 6 shows three kings  First Cue bid shows slam interest. 6 NT shows all four kings  Cue bid “cheapest suit first” up the line.

 First round control = ace or void.  Second round control = king, singleton or void  After Cue bidding, 4NT can still be used to show key cards.

SLAM BIDDING WORKSHOP Jacoby 2NT (alertable) Advanced Concepts Partner’s 2NT response to your major suit opening is Jacoby 2NT and promises: Blackwood – Stopping at 5NT • 13 or more dummy points • At least 4 card support for your major suit When bidding Blackwood with a minor suit fit, you may find you are missing 2 • Generally no side singleton other than ace or king aces and you are too high to stop at the five level of the agreed suit. You can tell partner to bid 5NT by bidding the cheapest bid over their response to 4NT. Rebids by 1 opener after the Jacoby 2NT response: • 3 /3 /3 = Singleton or doubleton (not king or ace) You Partner • 4 /4 /4 = Good second 5-card suit headed by 2 of top 3 honors • 4 = no shortness 12-15 points 1 3 • 3NT= no shortness, 15-17 points 4NT 5 • 3 = no shortness, 18+ points 5 5NT

After opener’s rebid, responder may: RKCB 1430 – Queen asking • Bid game with non-promising values • Make first round control Cue bid If partner responds 5 or 5 you know if he has the trump queen. If he • Bid 3 of the major or 3NT as forward going bid responds 5 or 5 you don’t know if he has the queen. Ask partner if he has • Ask for Key cards the queen by bidding the cheapest bid (not trump) over partner’s response to your 4NT bid. If partner bids cheapest bid, he denies the queen and second cheapest shows queen.

You Partner

1 3 4NT 5 5 5 denies the queen; 5NT shows queen

Splinter Bids (alertable)

A is a double jump in a new suit that makes no sense as a natural bid. Responder’s double jump is artificial and shows: • Singleton or void in bid suit (not ace or king) • Promises 13 – 16 points with distribution • Shows 4 or more trumps • Is forcing to game and suggests slam possibility