slams again

SLAMS AGAIN

Why bother bidding Slams when you can stop at a safer, lower contract? Because they are some times there; and there is also a big bonus for a slam bid and made. Good bidding is bidding to the potential of the partnership. Do not chicken out. But being reckless should not replace cowardice. There are ways of arriving at good percentage slams. One way is to consider the Combined Points of the two hands.

Not bidding makeable slams can effect
one's appetite.

COMBINED PARTNERSHIP POINTS

0 to 25	26 to 32	33 to 37	37 to 40
Part Score or Defend	Game	Small Slam	Grand Slam

SLAM ZONE

If you are in or near the Slam Zone then you can bid the slam directly, invite your partner or investigate further. One of the investigative tools used in slam bidding is the , , ,

BLACKWOOD CONVENTION
Easley Blackwood, whose name this convention is named after, wanted to know if the opponents have two Aces. Slams can be bid missing one Ace, but not two. You can try asking the opponents how many Aces they have, but most likely they will not tell you. They might tell to go somewhere which is particularly known for its very extreme unpleasantness.
An other way to find out how many Aces the opponents have is to ask your partner to tell you how many Aces he has. If you know this then you know how many Aces the opponents have. How to do this? After you and your partner agree on a suit, bid 4 No Trump. This bid of 4 No Trump, says, Partner, how many Aces do you have? Answers below.

PARTNER'S RESPONSE TO 4 NT

PARTNER HAS:
0 OR 4 ACES
1 ACE
2 ACES

3 ACES

PARTNER BIDS:
5

PARTNER'S RESPONSE TO 5 NT

PARTNER HAS:
0 OR 4 KINGS
1 KING
2 KINGS

3 KINGS

PARTNER BIDS:
6

This is basically how the Blackwood Convention works. If there is no chance for a Slam bid the suit at the five level; or Pass if the Blackwood bid is the suit. If you want to play in No Trump then bid the unbid suit and Partner will correct to 5 No Trump. If you want to investigate further (asks for Kings) bid 5 No Trump over Partner’s Blackwood answer (response to 4 No Trump). The responses for Kings are similar to the responses for Aces except a level higher.

CAUTION: Avoid initiating Blackwood if you have a void. If your suit is Clubs or Diamonds then a response for Aces might bring you above your suit at the five level. In this case, try to avoid using Blackwood

QUIZ 25 SLAMS

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

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

2.

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

YOU OPEN THE BIDDING 1 .
YOUR PARTNER BIDS 2 NO
TRUMP. WHAT DO YOU SAY? YOU OPEN THE BIDDING 1 .
YOUR PARTNER BIDS 2 NO
TRUMP. WHAT DO YOU SAY?

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

ANSWERS to Quiz 25

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