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Improvers Bridge

Improvers Bridge. Lesson 8 Review of Blackwood. Blackwood. There are 2 versions: Standard Blackwood Roman Key Card Blackwood (RKCB) Make sure you know which version your partnership is using!!!. Blackwood Convention. When partner bids 4NT Although a Conventional Bid do NOT alert

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Improvers Bridge

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  1. Improvers Bridge Lesson 8 Review of Blackwood

  2. Blackwood • There are 2 versions: • Standard Blackwood • Roman Key Card Blackwood (RKCB) • Make sure you know which version your partnership is using!!!

  3. Blackwood Convention • When partner bids 4NT • Although a Conventional Bid do NOT alert • No alerts above 3NT (except first round artificial bid) • The 4NT bid says: • How many top cards have you?

  4. Standard Blackwood • Top cards are the 4 Aces • With 0 or 4 Aces bid 5 • With 1 Ace bid 5 • With 2 Aces bid 5 • With 3 Aces bid 5 • These bids say nothing about the suit bid • They reply to partner’s request

  5. Standard Blackwood • Partner knows how many Aces you hold • And whether to bid a slam (12 tricks) • Or look for a Grand Slam (13 tricks) • Partner can bid 5NT to ask for Kings • If a Grand Slam is likely • But only do this with all Aces present • You are committed to at least a small slam • 5NT promises that all suits are safe

  6. Standard Blackwood • Partner asks for Kings by bidding 5NT • Responses are: • With 0 Kings bid 6 • With 1 King bid 6 • With 2 Kings bid 6 • With 3 Kings bid 6 • With 4 Kings bid 6NT

  7. Roman Key Card Blackwood • King of trumps is counted as a top card • So 5 Key Cards • 4NT asks how many of these do you have • Partner then responds: • With 3 or 0 Key Cards bid 5 • With 4 or 1 Key Cards bid 5 • With 5 or 2 Key Cards, no Q trumps bid 5 • With 5 or 2 Key Cards, + Q trumps bid 5 • Remember the sequence 30, 41, 52

  8. RKCB • Partner asks for Kings by bidding 5NT • But not including the trump King • Responses are: • With 0 Kings bid 6 • With 1 King bid 6 • With 2 Kings bid 6 • With 3 Kings bid 6

  9. Blackwood – Example 1 Partner opens 1 Your bid? 2 Partner bids 4NT What is your response Ordinary Blackwood? With 1 Ace 5 RKCB? With 1 Key Card 5  A  5  4  5  4  9  8  T  7  4  Q  4  5

  10. Blackwood – Example 2 Partner opens 1 Your bid? 2 Partner bids 4NT What is your response Ordinary Blackwood? With 1 Ace 5 RKCB? With 2 Key Cards and not Q trumps 5  A  5  4  5  4  K  8  T  7  4  J  4  5

  11. Blackwood – Example 3 Partner opens 2 Your bid? 2 positive 8+ HCP Partner bids 4NT Agreeing your suit Ordinary Blackwood? With 1 Ace 5 RKCB? With 2 Key Cards plus Q trumps 5  A  5  4  8  5  K  Q  T  7  4  3  4  5

  12. Blackwood – Example 3(cont)  A  5  4 Now partner bids 5NT Asking about Kings Ordinary Blackwood? With 1 King 6 RKCB? With No Kings to count 6  8  5  K  Q  T  7  4  3  4  5

  13. Blackwood – Example 4 The Bidding Goes Partner opens 2 2 4NT Ordinary Blackwood? With no Aces 5 RKCB? With 1 Key Card 5  5  4 2 3 ?  Q  5  4  K  8  T  7  4  J  4  5

  14. Blackwood – Example 5 The Bidding Goes Partner opens 1 3 4NT Ordinary Blackwood? With no Aces 5 RKCB? With no Key Cards 5  Q  5  4 1NT 4 ?  Q  5  4  8  Q  7  4  Q  4  5

  15. Blackwood – Example 6 The Bidding Goes Partner opens 2 4NT Ordinary Blackwood? With 2 Aces 5 RKCB? With 2 Key Cards plus Q trumps 5  A  5  4 3 ?  Q  5  4  8  A  7  4  4  3  5

  16. Blackwood – Example 7 The Bidding Goes Partner opens 2 5 What can you respond? Bid Blackwood You know NT is the place No suit has been agreed Partner must show aces If partner has all 4 Aces Ask for Kings with 5NT  Q  9  8 4NT 5NT  K  5  J  K  J  9  4  Q  3  K

  17. When do You Bid the Slam? • If you have all Aces or all Key cards present bid the slam • And think about asking for Kings • Missing 1 Ace or 1 Key card • Bid it with good suit(s) to run • Using RKCB bid it if you hold the trump Q • Missing 2 Aces or Key cards • Stop at the 5 level

  18. Stopping at the right level • You think a slam is on • But not in partner’s suit • So you bid 4NT • Expecting to get to 6NT • But you are missing 2 aces • How do you stop in 5NT? • When 5NT asks for Kings!

  19. Stopping in 5NT  K  8 Partner opens 1 We have 20HCP! Bid 2 Partner bids 2 Shows minimum opener Bid 4NT Partner bids5 RKCB Missing 2 aces Must stop at the 5 level Bid next suit up Partner bids 5NT  K  Q  A  K  T  5  4  3  Q  3  K

  20. Stopping in 5NT  K  8 Partner opens 1 We have 20HCP! Bid 2 Partner bids 2 (min opener) We bid 4NT Partner bids 5 RKCB Missing 2 aces Must stop at the 5 level Bid suit above partners (5) Partner bids 5NT  K  Q  A  K  T  5  4  3  Q  3  K

  21. Stopping at the 5 level • If partner initiates Blackwood • You respond • Then partner bids a different unexpected suit • You MUST bale out in 5NT • Partner’s suit bid is not a natural bid • So do NOT leave it in!!!

  22. Blackwood or RKCB • Blackwood is slightly easier • Blackwood is universal • RKCB gives you more information • Making judgement on bidding the slam more accurate • If you play RKCB all the time it becomes the norm • RKCB can give you an edge

  23. Summary • You MUST use one or other version • I strongly advise RKCB • Don’t panic when partner bids 4NT • All you have to do is make the correct response • Partner has the difficult job to decide where to stop • Bidding and making slams gives tremendous satisfaction!!!

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