1. Lesson 13 Bidding to Slams
Bridge for Beginners
Lesson 13
Bidding to Slams

2. Homework – Question 1 What is your opening bid?  AKQ9  KJ7  AQ2
 AKQT72
 652
 AK
 AK
 KQ7
 AK53
 KT4
 AJ3
 QT8
 AK
 KQ753
 AJ3 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. When partner has opened 2 2 2 2 2NT 2 2NT
Homework Question 2a
What is your response
When partner has opened 2 2 2 2
2NT 2
2NT
PASS  6  5  3  2  9  6  4  3  T  5  2  J  7

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

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

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

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

8. When partner has opened 2 2 2 2 2NT 2 2NT
Homework Question 2f
What is your response
When partner has opened 2 2 2 2
2NT 2
2NT 3  K  Q  8  7  3  Q  T  3  6  5  4  3  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  9  8  5  4  Q  T  7  4  5  4

19. With 2 Key Cards and not Q trumps 5
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  K  8  5  4  J  T  7  4  5  4

20. With 2 Key Cards plus Q trumps 5 Now partner bids 5NT
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  K  Q  8  5
Now partner bids 5NT
Asking about Kings
Ordinary Blackwood?
With 1 King 6
RKCB?
With No Kings to count 6  T  7  4  3  5  4

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

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

23. With 2 Key Cards plus Q trumps 5 3 ?
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  8  5  4  A  7  4  5  4  3

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!!!