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Quiz: Barrier-Reversing

Quiz: Deal # Thursday
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Basic
strategy
0000). How to use 0001). Bidding Objectives = "8 and 25" 0002). 28 for minor 0003). 33 for NT slam 0004). Suit slam 0005). Importance of length 0006). Convention card 0007). ACOL and American Standard, differences 0008). A-Z Glossary 0690). A-Z Glossary
Hand
evaluation
0010). Balanced-Unbalanced 0011). How strong is your hand, HCP 0012). Distribution points 0013). Losing trick count 0014). Barrier-Reversing 0015). Selection of opening suit 0016). Showing shape 0017). 4441 distribution 0018). The skip over principle 0019). Rule of 20 Opening 1 of a suit 0019a). Rule of 25 Opening 2 of a suit 0019b). Rule of 500 Max penalty risk on preempt if doubled 0019c). Law of total tricks 0019d). Rule of Protective bidding
Opening
bids
0020). Plan of attack 0021). Bal, 12 to 19 HCPs, weak NT 0022). Bal, 20+ points 0023). Bal, 15 to 17 HCPs, strong NT 0025). Unbal, 12 to 19 HCPs, 1 suit 0026). Unbal, Strong 2s 0027). Unbal, Pre-emptive 0028). Unbal, Gambling 3NT 0029). Benji Strong 2s
Responder
1st bids
0030). After 1NT, General principles 0031). After 1NT, Weak 0032). After 1NT, Getting out of trouble 0033). After 1NT, 11+ balanced 0034). After 1NT, 11+ 4-card major 0035). After 1NT, 11+ unbalanced 0036). After 1NT, 19+ 0037). After 2NT 0038). After 1NT, and Enemy has interfered 0039). 1 NT responses 0040). After 1 Suit, With fit 0041). After 1 Suit, No fit, but alternative suit 0042). After 1 Suit, No fit, no new suit, probably balanced 0043). After 1 Suit, 6 points, nothing to bid 0044). After 1 Suit, Very strong 0045). After 1 Suit, Weak freak 0047). After 2 Suit, Strong 2s 0048). After 2 Suit, Weak 2s 0049). After 3 Suit, Responding to preempt
Openers
rebid
0050). Unbalanced, The general idea 0051). Unbalanced, You are weak 0052). Unbalanced, You are strong 0053). Unbalanced, Partner replied with 1NT 0054). Unbalanced, Delayed support 0055). Balanced
Responder
rebids
0060). Responder rebids, The general idea 0061). Choice of two suits 0062). Responders reverse 0063). After 1NT rebid
Basic
Convention
0080). Stayman 0081). Transfer 0082). Transfer after 2NT 0161). Minor suit transfer
Slam
bidding
0090). Slam, Spotting the chance 0091). Blackwood 0092). No-trump slam 0093). Gerber 0094). Extra slam techniques
Interfering
bids
0100). Overcalls, the basic idea 0101). Overcalls, in a suit, over a suit 0102). Overcalls, in a suit, over 1NT 0103). Overcalls, in NT, over a suit 0104). Overcalls, Jump overcall 0105). Overcalls, Double then bid a suit 0106). Overcalls, Bidding opponents suit 0107). Overcalls, Balancing (protective) 0108). Overcalls, Overcall a preempt 0109). Overcalls, Preemptive double jump 0110). Overcalls, To overcall, or to double 0111). Overcalls, Response to 1NT after suit overcall (Lebensohl) 0115). Defence after 1NT 0116). Competitive bidding 0117). Be cautious sometimes 0118). Sacrificing Be bold when non-vulnerable 0119). Sacrificing 0120). Doubles, Double a 1NT 0121). Doubles, Double for takeout 0122). Doubles, Doubling after opponent overcall 0126). Doubles, Protective double
Doubles

0120). Doubles, Double a 1NT 0121). Doubles, Double for takeout 0122). Doubles, Doubling after opponent overcall 0123). Doubles, Negative double 0124). Doubles, Double a 1NT overcall 0125). Doubles, Double a suit over 1NT 0126). Doubles, Protective double 0127). Doubles, Responsive double 0128). Doubles, Double then bid a suit 0129). Doubles, Penalty 0130). Doubles, Support double 0131). Doubles, Lead directing double 0132). Doubles, Maximal double 0133). Doubles, Redoubling - coded meanings 0134). Doubles, Forcing Pass 0135). Doubles, Re-opening double 0139). Doubles, Index of doubles
Advanced
Convention
0150). Majors Jacoby 2NT 0151). Majors Splinters 0152). Majors Weak 2s 0153). Majors Weak 2 defence 0154). Trial bid 0160). NT and minors 4th suit forcing 0161). Minor suit transfer 0162). DONT Bidding When Opponents open 1NT 0163). Game tries 0166). Grand Slam Force 0167). Roman Keycard Blackwood 0168). Cue bidding for controls 0170). 2-suited Overcall Unusual 2NT 0171). 2-suited Overcall Michaels cue bid 0172). 2-suited Overcall Landy over 1NT 0173). Overcall Unassuming cue bid 0179). Very advanced

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Quiz How much do you know about this page? Quiz

Quick summary

Controls for slams are:

1st round = Ace / void
2nd round = King / singleton

Only show slam controls after suit agreement. How?

Bid lowest side suit you control (bidding higher than 3 of an agreed Major/3NT)
omitting a suit denies control of it
bid Trumps when you have no controls

Partner then does same

Use cue-bidding when you have

weak side suits, or
void suits, or
insufficient for a 4NT Blackwood enquiry
or if Blackwood won't work, eg. in

Can't use with NT contracts!

After cue bidding has started, all side suit bids are cue bids.

After 1st round controls have all had a chance to be shown, can repeat with 2nd round controls

Bidding Trumps means "enough".

Bidding NT means

either same as Blackwood, if 4 or 5NT
or rarely (& only if agreed)" control of Trumps"

More modern versions exist: on the first cue-bid below 4NT they show either 1st or 2nd round control, with equal probability.

Print cribsheet

Bridge Venue

+	West
	Q 10 6 2
	J 9
	Q 7 2
	10 4 3 2

	North
	3
	K 8 5 4
	A K J 10 9 6
	K 5

+	East
	K J 9 8 4
	Q 6
	5 4 3
	9 7 6

+	South
	A 7 5
	A 10 7 3 2
	8
	A Q J 8

Example Deal

You: North
Dealer: East
Vuln: all

# 126032

Sorry partner, we should have been in a Slam…
..
Go to quiz (& full page) of deal # 126032
***

Click the + buttons to peep

Click on "q1" below to see question 1, and on "A1" to see the answer.

Question 1

Your partner at South opens one Heart. What should you now bid in reply? (Just look at those wonderful diamonds !)

Question 1

Your partner at South opens one Heart. What should you now bid in reply? (Just look at those wonderful diamonds !)

Answer

After South opens 1H, North knows the partnership has a Major suit fit and sufficient points for game (26 are guaranteed). Sounds like 4 heart game bid, many might say.

But might it be enough for a Slam? Ideally a pair needs 30-31 points to be in the 'slam zone' and trigger investigating the possibility of bidding six of a suit.

North has 'only' 14 HCP points (so the partnership may have as few as 26 points), but his hand is much stronger than that - for two reasons.

(1): The singleton spade means declarer (will be South) may be able to any ruff any weak losing spades in dummy AND (2): the wonderful diamond side suit is another way South may be able to get rid of losers, as well as make some winners from the length.

So North could bid 4NT (Blackwood) over the 1H opening bid, asking partner how many aces he has. When South replies 5S, promising three aces, North can confidently bid 6H - since we've got all the Aces up our sleeve...

Question 2

How might more advanced players at North-South bid to reach 6H?

Question 2

How might more advanced players at North-South bid to reach 6H?

Answer

After South opens 1H, North should realise (with a trump fit and only five losing tricks) that a Slam is likely to be on.

Some players will bid 4NT, and if you play the Roman Key Card version of Blackwood (you should!) partner will respond 5C (promising zero or three of the FIVE key cards - four Aces and the King of trumps). North, having two of the keycards should smile at this point, knowing that not even one keycard is missing. (Surely it can't be 3 Aces missing, given the bidding!) He raises it to 6H.

If a partnership has Splinters (an invaluable Slam bidding tool) in their bidding armoury, the auction will be different. After the opening 1H, North has the ideal hand for a Splinter bid (promising 4+card support for Partner's Major suit, game values and a singleton or void in the Splinter suit), so bids 3S (the unnecessary jump in the suit signifies it's a Splinter bid). South has the perfect holding in spades to take advantage so bids 4NT to check for Aces / keycards. North responds 5H, promising two key cards but no Queen of Trumps. With all five key cards, South can happily bid 6H - and in fact should make all 13 tricks.

Question 3

For the North-South pair, are there any alternative ways of bidding to 6 Hearts?

Question 3

For the North-South pair, are there any alternative ways of bidding to 6 Hearts?

Answer

Yes. On hearing about the Spade Splinter from North (mentioned in question 2), South could cue bid 4 clubs to announce control of the club suit. North then cues 4 diamonds (having control of the diamond suit).

At this point South now knows that all 4 suits are controlled (i.e. no more than one loser per suit), and could then switch to Blackwood, 4NT, to check for first round controls with the 5 keycards, since a dangerous 2 keycards are missing from his hand. North, who uses RKCB (Roman KeyCard Blackwood), will reply that he has two keycards but lacks the Queen of trumps, by bidding 5 Hearts.

South will smile to himself; all is safe for a Small Slam bid of 6 Hearts.

Grand Slam? ...wonders South to himself. But with the Queen known to be among the enemy's 4 trumps, possibly along with the Jack too, he won't risk a Grand Slam since it would require the good fortune of the trumps splitting 2-2. (And that's quite apart from North having to have the King of diamonds, which he hasn't yet enquired about).

Question 4

After the cue bidding of question 3 gets to the RKCB response of 5 Hearts from North, how could South safely enquire about the missing red King, if South did want to pin his hopes on good fortune and risk a Grand Slam?

Question 4

After the cue bidding of question 3 gets to the RKCB response of 5 Hearts from North, how could South safely enquire about the missing red King, if South did want to pin his hopes on good fortune - and risk a Grand Slam?

Answer

Bidding 5NT to ask about Kings. And the answer that comes back is 5 diamonds.

Question 5

Does that 5 diamond bid from North mean either that he has exactly one King, or that he has the King of diamonds at the least?

Question 5

Does that 5 diamond bid from North mean either that he has exactly one King, or that he has the King of diamonds at the least?

Answer

It could be either! Either way, we don't care, because the only King we care about is the King of diamonds, since we've already worked out the position with the other suits.

(But don't forget to agree with your partner which system you are using when asking about Kings with a 5NT bid. We prefer the "which is your lowest ranking King" version, because we often need to be suit-specific at that stage of the bidding for a suit Slam).

...Now the only question for South, who can only be confident of a lowly total of 28 HCP (15 + 11), becomes whether to risk all those lovely bonus points from a successful vulnerable Small Slam (750 + 500 + 6x30 = 1430), in order to get the North-South hands on even more points, 750 more, for a vulnerable Grand Slam (1500 + 500 + 7x30 = 2210). And he's only sure of 26 HCP in total....

. . . .

Some subjects to follow up on
Majors Splinters
Roman Keycard Blackwood
Cue bidding for controls
Selection of opening suit
Extra slam techniques

#1	+	<-- click the + to show/hide one possible Bidding Sequence
West			North	East	South
-			-	p	1H
p			???
			3S	p	4NT
p			5H	p	6H
p			p	p
-			System: Acol (Benji)
suggest a different Bidding Sequence

bid	explained at....
#2	+	<-- click the + for explanation of relevant Bidding Techniques
1H	Unbal, 12 to 19 HCPs, 1 suit
3S	Majors Splinters
4NT	Slam, Spotting the chance
5H	Roman Keycard Blackwood


			Hand evaluation

#3	+	<-- click the + for ideas on the Opening Lead
Opening Lead: West , 2 Reasons, when playing in Either suit or NT contract: 1. unbid suit 2. 4th highest, so I've got 1 or 2 non-touching honours

« 0168 »

Slams: Cue-bidding for controls

"Partner, which Aces, Kings and voids do you have ?"

Cue bidding will reveal the exact location of "controls":

A first round control is an Ace or a void;
A second round control is a King or a singleton

When you're contemplating a Slam in a suit, it may not be enough to know that your partner has "one" Ace - you might need to know which one. In this case use Cue bidding. (Oh, and since we are talking only about suit slams, a void can control a suit just as well as an Ace).

Only do it if you have already explicitly agreed the trump suit.

A Cue bid is a dual purpose bid - it both shows a control and requests help in finding missing controls.

Example

Say for example you hold KQx in one suit and Qxxx in another suit, and a void in a third suit. None of these is the agreed trump suit. If partner holds the Ace in the first suit (where you have KQx), you could still be wide open to attack in the suit where you have Qxxx. So the contract could go down inside the first couple of tricks. However, if your partner holds the Ace or King (or a void or singleton) in the exact suit with Qxxx, then you still have a chance for a small slam. But an Ace in the suit where you have a void is no use.

In other words, don't use Blackwood, use Cue bidding, because you need to know which suit your partner may control.

When is Cue bidding useful?

When bidding for a suit slam, you often need to know in which suit a particular Ace or void lies. For example:

You have weak suits: Suits with 2 or more cards must have an Ace or King. Otherwise you might lose 2 tricks straight off. Use Cue bidding when you need to know whether your partner has control opposite any specific weak suit of yours.
You have void suits: Aces and voids are powerful. It's a waste though if they are directly opposite each other in the same suit.
You are a bit too weak for a 4NT Blackwood enquiry.
If the response might go too high for Blackwood: For instance, if are agreed as trumps, and you need 2 key cards from partner for slam, then a 5 Blackwood reply showing only 1 key card is a disaster. You are forced to bid 6. In other words, you need to hold more key cards yourself to use Blackwood if the agreed suit is . It can also be a problem if it's . Use Cue bidding and the Losing Trick Count.

When to avoid Cue bidding:

If responder has shown a minimal holding, then avoid Cue bidding if it would take the bidding beyond a game contract.
If a Slam is not possible.
When your partner doesn't understand it.
When you don't understand it.
When knowing specifically how many Aces / Keycards you have is sufficient - just use Blackwood /RKCB.
With No Trumps! That would be insane. The last thing you want in NT is a void.

Two types of Cue bidding

Our favourite type is the simpler version

This is the one that simply establishes whether all 4 suits have some degree of control, either first round or second round. If there's any suit that's uncontrolled - then you know that it's generally wise to reduce your ambitions to a game only bid. After all, your enemy can run off two immediate tricks in that suit, and there goes your Slam.

If you've got all 4 controlled to some level, that's step one. But if they are only 2nd round controls (King or singleton) - you could lose one trick in every suit, unless of course you can see 4 Aces or voids in your own hand. Step two is to switch to Blackwood, to ask your partner about the quantity Aces he has to make up for the quantity of Aces or voids that you can't see in your hand. If the answer comes back that your team's only missing one of the 5 keycards (the 4 Aces and the king of trumps), then you have all 4 suits under control, and no more than one trick winner missing. Slam on.

If the answer's that 2 are missing, then you can either back-off to game, or try to work out from the bidding if the missing one is opposite your shortage.

The more traditional and more complicated version starts by asking about first round controls. Then, as soon as any suit is either mentioned or passed over at the second opportunity, then possession of the "second round" control is established.

Making a Cue bid - traditional "first then second round" control

After trumps have been agreed, a bid of another suit below the 4NT level is a Cue bid, showing first round control in that suit (Ace or void) and suggests that you're interested in a slam. E.g. 1-3-4.

You should first bid the lowest suit in which you hold a first round control. Missing out a suit indicates that no first round control is held in that suit. Partner will then go up the suit ranks and show his or her lowest-ranked first round control.

After first round controls have been shown for all suits, if you wish, you may then use Cue bidding to establish second round controls, namely kings or singletons. If no more controls are held, or you wish to sign off ("let's stop here"), bid the agreed trump suit.

The process continues until one of the partners has sufficient information to make the contract decision.

The meaning of "No Trumps" in Cue bidding. After Cue bidding has started, the more common meaning of 4NT or 5NT is indeed for Blackwood, asking for Key cards.

It might be possible to deduce that you DO have the Ace and King of Trumps, but if not, and you need to find out then you can use Blackwood, provided the bidding hasn't gone beyond 4NT.

(Note that some cue-bidders use NT bids to describe their trump suit controls, but this should only be done if you and partner have agreed beforehand).

The meaning of "Trumps". Do not Cue-bid in trumps if trying to give information about controls in trumps, because trumps are used to sign off. Trumps means "Enough, from my point of view. Continue bidding only if you have a reason I don't know about".

The switch from first round to second round. If the bidding conversation about first round controls has not allowed the two of you to report the facts about a particular suit, then the first round continues until it has given you that opportunity. The very next Cue bid is a second round control.

Suit agreement

Suit agreement can be explicit, e.g.

1 -3-3 is a Cue bid asserting control in Diamonds.

Or it can be implicit, e.g.

1NT-3-4 is not suggesting diamonds as an alternative suit. It's announcing agreement to spades as trumps and asserting 1st round control in diamonds. If Opener had not liked the spades, he would have returned to NT.

(Beware above: when the trumps are a minor suit, some people insist that the first Cuebid is higher than 3NT).

Confusing with Trial bids ?

A bid of a new suit after minor trumps have been agreed is a Cue-bid. E.g. 1-3-3 is a Cue bid asserting control in Diamonds. Unless it's a Trial bid! (minor suit agreement, looking for support in an attempt to get to game in NT).

To avoid confusion, first assume you partner is aiming for 3NT. If he carries on after 3NT, then it must be a Cue-bid aiming for Slam in the established suit.
1-3-3-3NT-End. A successful minor trial bid, asserting stopper in diamonds, and asking partner to plug the other two.
1-3-3-3NT-4-4-6. You have controls in , partner has controls in . End up in Slam in Clubs

Confusing with Game try ?

A bid of a new suit after Major trumps have been agreed is a Cue-bid. E.g. 1-2-3 is a Cue bid asserting control in Diamonds. Unless it's a Game Try ! (Major suit agreement, looking for support in a second suit in an attempt to get to game in the Major).

To avoid confusion, first assume you partner is aiming for 3 or 4 in the Major with help in one suit. If he carries on after your reply, then it must be a Cue bid aiming for Slam in the established suit.
1-2-3-4-End. A successful Game try, asking for help in diamonds.
1-2-3-3-End. A failed Game try, asking for help in diamonds.
1-2-3-3-4-4-6. You have controls in, partner has controls in and second round in . End up in Slam in Hearts.
1-3-3- etc etc Must be a Cue bid, not a Game try, because the bidding cannot stop below game..

Confusing with Splinters ?

A double jump to a new suit after trumps have been agreed is a Splinter-bid, e.g. 1-3 is a Splinter showing a singleton or void in Spades. 1-2-4 is a Splinter showing a singleton or void in diamonds. Partner of the splinter bidder will then typically bid game or use Cue-bids to investigate a slam.

Confusing with 16HCP alternative long suit ?

1-2 is a single jump shift showing 16+ HCP and a long 6-card Spade suit.

Doubling

If a Cue bid is doubled, e.g. as a lead directing double by the enemy, then redouble shows second round control of that suit. To pass is neutral, conveying some interest.

Dangers of Cue bidding ?

It can tell the enemy where your weaknesses are, and also give them opportunities to make 'lead directing doubles'. Click the link for an excellent example of both lead direction and Cue bidding.

Some other guidelines and alternative Cue techniques

If responder has shown a minimal holding, then avoid Cue bidding if it takes the contract beyond game.
Below game, make a Cue Bid only if slam appears possible
To Cue above five of the trump suit is a try for a Grand Slam.

You should discuss and agree or disagree the following with partner first. If you haven't, don't use them:

On occasions, especially if you are known to be weak, it is necessary to Cue a second round control before a first round control in that suit has been shown or denied.
Cue bid unbid suits first (suits which so far remain unbid by you and your partner)
Plan your Cue bids. The cheapest Cue bid may not be the best bid, as it may cause your next Cue bid to be higher than if you reversed the order. i.e., 4-4x-4 rather than 3-4x-5.
Avoid Cue bidding singletons or voids in a suit bid naturally by your partner.

Example bidding

168. Cue bidding for controls
West		East
1	12-19 opening hand, 6 or 7 losers	2 NT	Jacoby 2NT: 7-loser 4-card Major support to game with Slam interest, no shortages
4	Strong (16-19, 6-losers), 4-card 2nd suit in (3 if 16-19 but no 2nd suit)	4	1st round control of
4	1st round control of	4NT	1st round control of trumps (). (Beware! This is unusual, and only be partner agreement. 4NT normally means "OK, Blackwood" - tell me how many Key cards you've got).
5	1st round control of	5	No 2nd round control of . Sign off in trumps (). Sign off unless you have something good - I'm worried about missing Ks in
6	No 2nd round control of 2nd round control of	6	Sign off in small Slam. We have a 50% chance. No point going any further with 2 Kings likely to be missing (we have 28-31 HCP)

Deal 49277
	A Q J	W E	6 4
	Q 10 8 4		A K J 9 7 5
	10 8		A J 5
	A K 10 8		J 9

The 5 bid from West in the example above shows a first round control in Clubs, not a second round control, because up to this point there has been no opportunity to show Club controls. The very next Cue bid from East will then be a second round control, because there has been a chance to show all the other suits. West's bid of 6 is then a second round control.

Deal 1

-	West
	J 4
	A K 10 8 7
	Q 5
	A K 7 2

+	North
	x x x
	x x
	A J x x x
	J x x

+	East
	A K Q 7 3
	Q J 9
	K 7 6
	Q 4

+	South
	x x x
	x x x x
	x x x
	x x x

	W	N	E	S
	1	Pass	2	Pass
	3		3
	?		?
	?		?
	?		?
	West opened 1 and East responded 2 (game force, good spades and 16+ points). West rebid 3 and East bid 3. A slam is very likely, but how should the bidding proceed?
+	<---- Click the "+" for the Answer
	West should bid 4. Since hearts are agreed, that must must be a cue bid. East then bids 4♠, showing ♠A. West’s worry is now that, as partner could not bid 4, therefore denying first round control in diamonds, there could be two diamonds losers, so West might sign off in 5. However, if West cue bids again with 5, showing second round control, East could now bid 5, showing a second round control in diamonds. 6 can be bid and made.

Deal 2

-	West
	A K Q 10 3

	K Q J 3 2
	A 4 2

+	North
	x
	x x x x x
	x x
	x x x x x

+	East
	J 9 6 4
	K 8 6 5 4
	A 9 7
	7

+	South
	x x x
	A Q J
	x x x
	K Q x x

	W	N	E	S
	2	Pass	3	Pass
	4		4
	4		?
	?		?
	?		?
	West opened 2. East raised to 3, showing at least three spades, with one or more aces and 8+HCP. 3 is forcing to game and stronger than bidding 4 directly. West Cue bid 4, East Cue bid 4, so West could cue bid 4 showing control of Hearts. How should the bidding carry on ?
+	<---- Click the "+" for the Answer
	East does not need to sign off (4), but can continue with 5, to show second round control. That could be a singleton, as here, or it could be the K. Either way it's good news.West can now bid 7.

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Quiz: Barrier-Reversing

Quiz: Deal # Thursday