IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

 

 

The most common methods used to reach slams are Blackwood and cue bidding of controls.  The role of the Blackwood convention is to keep you out of slam when you are missing more than one ace.  Cue bidding is used to discover if you are missing a first or second round control in a suit.  The key is to know which approach to use.

 

 

Scoring: Matchpoints (Pairs)

#10-42

Dlr

W

Vul

E/W

S

KQ1072

H

KQ3

D

Q8

C

A82

S

965

H

64

D

AKJ10

C

J1043

  pad  

S

84

H

108

D

6532

C

Q9765

 

S

AJ3

H

AJ9752

D

974

C

K

West

North

East

South

  Pass

   1S

   Pass

   2H

  Pass

   3H

  Pass

   3S

   Pass       4C       Pass       4H

   Pass      Pass     Pass

 

 

BIDDING:  This N/S pair use the 2/1 bidding system so South’s 2H  bid was forcing to game.  North raised, South showed spade support, and they were on their way to slam.  This pair uses Italian style cue bidding where first round controls (ace or void) or second round controls (king or singleton) are shown.  When South skipped over diamonds, he denied a control so North brought the auction to a quick halt. 

 

PLAY:  West led the ace and king of diamonds and declarer soon claimed the rest.  There were several pairs who bid 4NT, found they were missing only one ace, and bid the slam.  Blackwood should not be used when you hold a small doubleton (or worse) in a suit. 

 

 

Copyright ©2010 Larry Matheny