IMPROVE YOUR PLAY #17 with Larry Matheny
Blackwood is one of the most popular and mis-used conventions.  It should be used when you KNOW you want to be in slam but want to make sure you are not missing two aces.  If the response to 4NT doesn't answer your question, then you probably should not have used it.  See how you would have done with this hand.


East-West vulnerable at IMPs.

Hand #17
Dlr   S
Vul E-W
S KJ54
H AJ5
D 1098
C K53
S 76
H 732
D AK74
C 10874
    
S 2
H 10986
D J652
C J962

S AQ10983
H KQ4
D Q3
C AQ
West North
 East
 South

  
1S
  Pass
    3S    Pass
    4NT
  Pass
    5D    Pass
     6S
All Pass









    1S
   Pass
     3S    Pass
     4C
 Pass 4H Pass
 5S
All Pass








BIDDING:  North's bid of 3S showed four card support and 10-12 high card points.  South held a monster hand and knew he was in slam range.  In the first auction South asked for aces and after discovering his partner had one, bid the slam.  In the second auction, South realized that he could lose two diamonds as well as a heart.  He cue bid 4C and after his partner cue bid the ace of hearts, South jumped to 5S.  This asked North for either first or second round control of diamonds, the unbid suit.  (On the previous round of bidding, North denied the diamond ace when he skipped over the suit to bid 4H, but he could hold the king or a singleton.)  North had an easy pass.

PLAY:   West quickly cashed the top two diamonds leaving the second South relieved and the first one with an irate partner.  Holding a small doubleton in an unbid suit is a danger sign, so remember, if the question is WHICH aces rather than HOW MANY aces, Blackwood may not help.

Copyright ©2007 Larry Matheny.