THE GERBER CONVENTION The 4 No Trump response to a 1 No Trump opening invites the 1 No Trump opener to bid 6 No Trump, with a maximum (18 HCP or a good 17);  or pass with a minimum (16 HCP or a bad 17). But 4 No Trump is also a Blackwood bid asking for Aces. It cannot be both: either it is an invitation to a Slam or it is a Blackwood bid asking for Aces.  What to do? Along comes Mr. Gerber. His solution was to keep the 4 No Trump bid invitational, but use his convention, the Gerber Convention, over all No Trump openings. The Gerber Convention works similar to Blackwood,  except the bid of 4 Clubs (not 4 No Trump) asks for Aces. The responses are also stepped starting with 4 Diamonds. 5 Clubs (with Blackwood it is 5 No Trump) asks for Kings.

Responses to 4 Clubs:      0 ACES =  4       4 ACES =  4       1 ACE    =  4       2 ACES  = 4       3 ACES  = 4 NT

Responses to 5 Clubs       0  KINGS = 5        4  KINGS = 5        1 KING   =  5        2  KINGS = 5        3  KINGS = 5 NT

The Gerber Convention can be used immediately after a 1, 2, or 3 No Trump opening. By partnership agreement, it can even be used after Stayman or a Transfer bid. And there are a few Gerber fans who use this convention even with suit contracts. Partnership choice.

Bidding and making slams can often result in an enlarged head.

CUE BIDS Cue Bidding is another tool used for slam tries. But what is a Cue Bid? When  you and your partner have found a fit, that is you both agree on a suit, then any other suit that is bid is a Cue Bid. It shows an Ace or a void in the suit bid.           Let us say you open 1  and your partner says 3 .  Since the hand will be played in Spades, any other suit bid has to be a Cue Bid. Then if you bid 4  that is a Cue Bid.  This bid  shows the A  or a void in Diamonds. Your partner can continue Cue Bidding (say 4  showing the A  or a void in Hearts) or he might try to sign off by bidding 4 . (Maybe the A  but no other Aces or voids.)             Cue Bids are used when you want to know what Ace  your partner has, not how many.  Qualitative not quantitative. If you have more than one suit you would like to Cue Bid start from the lowest ranking suit and work up the bidding ladder. Partner does the same. Try to avoid using Blackwood or Gerber if you have a void. Cue Bid instead. Happy Slamming!

 

QUIZ 27

SLAMS

 

YOUR PARTNER  BIDS 1 NO TRUMP. WHAT DO YOU SAY?  PARTNER                         YOU       1 NT          ====>               ?

YOUR PARTNER BIDS 2 NO TRUMP WHAT DO YOU SAY? PARTNER                     YOU    2 NT            ====>         ?

	1.	K Q J   A Q 5   K J 7 5   K J 5	6.	K Q 4   A J 5   Q J 10 7   J 5 4
	2.	A 10 8   A J 5   10   A Q J 8 5 2	7.	J 10 8   A J 5 10   A Q J 8 5 2
	3.	Q J 6 3   K 10 8   K Q 7   A J 9	8.	K Q 9 6 4 3   7   K Q 7   A J 9
	4.	K J 10 8 7 3   Q 3   A Q 8   Q 5
	5.	A Q 8   K J 6   7 4   A Q J 7 2

 
 

YOU OPEN THE BIDDING 1 . YOUR PARTNER BIDS 3 .  WHAT DO YOU SAY?

YOUR PARTNER  OPENS THE    BIDDING 1 . YOU  BID 3 .    YOUR PARTNER BIDS 4 .    WHAT  DO YOU SAY?

	9.	A K 10 8 2   -------   A K 8 6    K 10 7 5	12.	6 2   K Q 7 4   A J 6   K 9 8 3
	10.	K Q J 8 6 3    A Q 10    5 2   A 10 7
	11.	A K J 8 5 2    10 9 3   A Q 7 3   -------