Bill’s Bridge Tip o’ the Day 1/19/2013 Slam Conventions: Gerber and Blackwood

Slam Conventions Small Slam: combined points Grand Slam: combined points Need “controls” to make slam a reality – Ace or void (if trump contract) 1 st round control – King or singleton (if trump contract) 2 nd round control Gerber and Blackwood ask for partner’s controls

Gerber Introduced 1938 by John Gerber Begins with a bid of 4 ♣. Asks for Aces. First cousins: Baby Gerber, Super Gerber Responses: – 4 ♦ : 0 or 4 Aces (you should be able to figure out which!) – 4 ♥ : 1 Ace – 4 ♠ : 2 Aces 4NT: 3 Aces Aces are NOT voids!!!

Asking for Kings The 4 ♣ bidder may place the contract, or ask for Kings by bidding 5 ♣. Responses: – 5 ♦ : 0 or 4 Kings – 5 ♥ : 1 King – 5 ♠ : 2 Kings – 5NT: 3 Kings Note: 5 ♣ tells partner the partnership possesses all 4 Aces, allowing partner to bid the grand.

Blackwood Invented Easley Blackwood, 1933 Begins with a bid of 4NT Asks for Aces. Responses: – 5 ♣ : 0 or 4 Aces – 5 ♦ : 1 Ace – 5 ♥ : 2 Aces – 5 ♠ : 3 Aces Aces are NOT Voids!

Asking for Kings The 4 NT bidder may place the contract, or ask for Kings by bidding 5NT. Responses: – 6 ♣ : 0 or 4 Kings – 6 ♦ : 1 King – 6 ♥ : 2 Kings – 6 ♠ : 3 Kings Note: 5NT tells partner the partnership possesses all 4 Aces, allowing partner to bid the grand.

Responder Has a Void With a Void, what does responder do? With a void of questionable value, ignore it (example, partner’s first bid suit). Otherwise: – With 0 or 3 Aces and a void, bid 5NT (if zero aces, partner must have shown a powerhouse) – With 2 aces and a void in a suit BELOW the agreed trump, bid 6 of the void suit – With 2 Aces and a void in a suit ABOVE the agreed trump suit, bid 6 of the agreed suit