How do you know if you should stop at part-score or game or proceed to slam? Usually, one of the partners will hold a stronger hand, and that is the hand which usually starts exploring slam. If neither hand is strong, both of you will usually be satisfied with “just” game or even part-score.
In previous articles, we talked about one of the most exciting auctions in bridge – bidding slam. We explored several conventions including Jump Raises, Jacoby 2NT, 2 Over 1, etc. This time we will discuss the Blackwood 4NT convention, asking for aces (and kings).
The main purpose of Blackwood is to quickly identify the total number of aces (and kings) held by both partners to determine if slam (requiring 33+ points) is a likely possibility. Normally, the partner holding the stronger hand will realize slam is possible, so he bids the unusual Blackwood 4NT. For example, let’s say that partner opens 1 Spade (13-21 points); Responder, holding 18+ points and 3+ spades knows that game is easy and slam is possible – thus, Responder could immediately bid 4NT invoking the Blackwood convention asking for aces. Opener answers with 5 Clubs (showing zero or 4 aces), 5 Diamonds (1 ace), 5 Hearts (2 aces), or 5 Spades (3 aces).
If Responder is certain of slam, then he would bid 6 Spades as a sign-off bid. On the other hand, if Responder believes slam is not possible, then he would sign off with a bid of 5 Spades. And, finally, if there is a possibility of bidding Grand Slam (7 Spades), then Responder could bid 5NT, asking for kings. in the king-asking sequence (similar to the ace-asking sequence) Opener would answer with 6 Clubs (showing zero or 4 kings), 6 Diamonds (1 king), 6 Hearts (2 kings), or 6 Spades (3 kings). This gives Responder the option of going all the way to Grand Slam, or stopping at 6 Spades if the cards are not there.
In review, Responder has several choices while exploring slam, i.e., he can stop short at a makeable 5 Spades, or bid small slam at 6 Spades, or go all the way to Grand Slam at 7 Spades – pretty neat stuff.
Finally, there are several variations on Blackwood, including Roman Key Card (RKC), 1430, and 1340, all commonly used variations. These variations offer additional benefits by communicating even more information, but they are also a bit more complicated to use in the response sequences. The beginning player will be better served by using the basic Blackwood convention described above, while the intermediate player could easily benefit from the additional information provided by the more complicated variations.
We will explore one additional slam-going convention, the Gerber 4 Club convention, next time.
Good luck and good bridge.
