Improvers Bridge

Improvers BridgeImprovers Bridge

Lesson 9Lesson 9

Review of BlackwoodReview of Blackwood

BlackwoodBlackwood There are 2 versions:There are 2 versions:

Standard BlackwoodStandard Blackwood Roman Key Card Blackwood (RKCB)Roman Key Card Blackwood (RKCB)

Make sure you know which version your Make sure you know which version your partnership is using!!!partnership is using!!!

Blackwood ConventionBlackwood Convention

When partner bids 4NTWhen partner bids 4NT Although a Conventional Bid do NOT alertAlthough a Conventional Bid do NOT alert No alerts above 3NTNo alerts above 3NT

The 4NT bid says:The 4NT bid says: How many top cards have you?How many top cards have you?

Standard BlackwoodStandard Blackwood Top cards are the 4 AcesTop cards are the 4 Aces

With 0 or 4 Aces bid 5With 0 or 4 Aces bid 5 With 1 Ace bid 5With 1 Ace bid 5 With 2 Aces bid 5With 2 Aces bid 5 With 3 Aces bid 5With 3 Aces bid 5

These bids say nothing about the suit bidThese bids say nothing about the suit bid They reply to partner’s requestThey reply to partner’s request

Standard BlackwoodStandard Blackwood Partner knows how many Aces you holdPartner knows how many Aces you hold And whether to bid a slam (12 tricks)And whether to bid a slam (12 tricks) Or look for a Grand Slam (13 tricks)Or look for a Grand Slam (13 tricks)

Partner can bid 5NT to ask for KingsPartner can bid 5NT to ask for Kings If a Grand Slam is likelyIf a Grand Slam is likely But only do this with all Aces presentBut only do this with all Aces present You are committed to at least a small slamYou are committed to at least a small slam 5NT promises that all suits are safe5NT promises that all suits are safe

Standard BlackwoodStandard Blackwood Partner asks for Kings by bidding 5NTPartner asks for Kings by bidding 5NT Responses are:Responses are:

With 0 Kings bid 6With 0 Kings bid 6 With 1 King bid 6With 1 King bid 6 With 2 Kings bid 6With 2 Kings bid 6 With 3 Kings bid 6With 3 Kings bid 6 With 4 Kings bid 6NTWith 4 Kings bid 6NT

Roman Key Card BlackwoodRoman Key Card Blackwood King of trumps is counted as a top cardKing of trumps is counted as a top card So 5 Key CardsSo 5 Key Cards 4NT asks how many of these do you have4NT asks how many of these do you have Partner then responds:Partner then responds:

With 3 or 0 Key Cards bid 5With 3 or 0 Key Cards bid 5 With 4 or 1 Key Cards bid 5With 4 or 1 Key Cards bid 5 With 5 or 2 Key Cards, no Q trumps bid 5With 5 or 2 Key Cards, no Q trumps bid 5 With 5 or 2 Key Cards, + Q trumps bid 5With 5 or 2 Key Cards, + Q trumps bid 5 Remember the sequence 30, 41, 52Remember the sequence 30, 41, 52

RKCBRKCB Partner asks for Kings by bidding 5NTPartner asks for Kings by bidding 5NT But not including the trump KingBut not including the trump King Responses are:Responses are:

With 0 Kings bid 6With 0 Kings bid 6 With 1 King bid 6With 1 King bid 6 With 2 Kings bid 6With 2 Kings bid 6 With 3 Kings bid 6With 3 Kings bid 6

Blackwood – Example 1Blackwood – Example 1

Q

9

8

A

5

5

5

T

7

Partner opens 1Partner opens 1Your bid?Your bid?

22Partner bids 4NTPartner bids 4NT

What is your responseWhat is your response

Ordinary Blackwood?Ordinary Blackwood?

With 1 Ace 5With 1 Ace 5RKCB?RKCB?

With 1 Key Card 5With 1 Key Card 5

4

4

4

4


J

K

8

A

5

5

5

T

7


22Partner bids 4NTPartner bids 4NT

What is your responseWhat is your response



With 2 Key Cards and not With 2 Key Cards and not Q trumps 5Q trumps 5

4

4

4

4


3

K

Q

A

5

5

8

T

7


22 positive 8+ HCPpositive 8+ HCP

Partner bids 4NTPartner bids 4NT

Agreeing your suitAgreeing your suit



With 2 Key Cards plus Q With 2 Key Cards plus Q trumps 5trumps 5

4

4

5

4

Blackwood – Example 3Blackwood – Example 3(cont)

3

K

Q

A

5

5

8

T

7

4

4

5

4

Now partner bids 5NTNow partner bids 5NT

Asking about KingsAsking about Kings


With 1 King 6With 1 King 6RKCB?RKCB?

With No Kings to count With No Kings to count 66


K

8

5

5

5

T

7

The Bidding GoesThe Bidding Goes

Partner opens 2Partner opens 2 22 4NT4NT


With no Aces 5With no Aces 5RKCB?RKCB?

With 1 Key Card 5 With 1 Key Card 5 4

4

4

4

Q

J

22

33??


8

5

5

5

Q

7


Partner opens 1Partner opens 1 33 4NT4NT


With no Aces 5With no Aces 5RKCB?RKCB?

With no Key Cards 5With no Key Cards 54

4

4

4

Q

Q

1NT1NT

44??

Q


8

5

5

5

A

7


Partner opens 2Partner opens 2 4NT4NT


With 2 Aces 5 With 2 Aces 5 RKCB?RKCB?

With 2 Key Cards plus Q With 2 Key Cards plus Q trumps 5trumps 5

4

4

4

4

Q

3

33??

A


J

9

K

5

K

J


Partner opens 2Partner opens 2 55What can you respond?What can you respond?

Bid BlackwoodBid Blackwood

You know NT is the placeYou know NT is the place

No suit has been agreedNo suit has been agreed

Partner must show aces Partner must show aces

If partner has all 4 AcesIf partner has all 4 Aces

Ask for Kings with 5NTAsk for Kings with 5NT

Q

8

4

9

K

3

4NT4NT

5NT5NT

Q

When do You Bid the Slam? When do You Bid the Slam? If you have all Aces or all Key cards If you have all Aces or all Key cards

present bid the slampresent bid the slam And think about asking for KingsAnd think about asking for Kings Missing 1 Ace or 1 Key cardMissing 1 Ace or 1 Key card Bid it with good suit(s) to runBid it with good suit(s) to run Using RKCB bid it if you hold the trump QUsing RKCB bid it if you hold the trump Q Missing 2 Aces or Key cardsMissing 2 Aces or Key cards Stop at the 5 levelStop at the 5 level

Stopping at the right levelStopping at the right level

You think a slam is on You think a slam is on But not in partner’s suitBut not in partner’s suit So you bid 4NTSo you bid 4NT Expecting to get to 6NTExpecting to get to 6NT But you are missing 2 acesBut you are missing 2 aces How do you stop in 5NT?How do you stop in 5NT? When 5NT asks for Kings! When 5NT asks for Kings!

Stopping in 5NTStopping in 5NT

Q

8

K

5

A

K


11

2255

5NT5NT

Q

34

T

K

3

224NT4NT

55

KPartner opens Partner opens We have 20HCP!We have 20HCP!Bid 2Bid 2 to see what to see what happenshappensShows minimum openerShows minimum openerRKCBRKCBMissing 2 aces Missing 2 aces Must stop at the 5 levelMust stop at the 5 levelBid next suit upBid next suit upPartner bids 5NTPartner bids 5NT

Stopping in 5NTStopping in 5NT

Q

8

K

5

A

K


11

2255

5NT5NT

Q

34

T

K

3

224NT4NT

55

KPartner opens Partner opens We have 20HCP!We have 20HCP!Bid 2Bid 2 to see what to see what happenshappensShows minimum openerShows minimum openerRKCBRKCBMissing 2 aces Missing 2 aces Must stop at the 5 levelMust stop at the 5 levelBid suit above partnersBid suit above partnersPartner bids 5NTPartner bids 5NT

Stopping at the 5 levelStopping at the 5 level

If partner initiates BlackwoodIf partner initiates Blackwood You respondYou respond Then partner bids a different unexpected Then partner bids a different unexpected

suitsuit You MUST bale out in 5NTYou MUST bale out in 5NT Partner’s suit bid is not a natural bidPartner’s suit bid is not a natural bid So do NOT leave it in!!!So do NOT leave it in!!!

Blackwood or RKCBBlackwood or RKCB Blackwood is slightly easierBlackwood is slightly easier Blackwood is universalBlackwood is universal

RKCB gives you more informationRKCB gives you more information Making judgement on bidding the slam Making judgement on bidding the slam

more accuratemore accurate If you play RKCB all the time it becomes If you play RKCB all the time it becomes

the normthe norm RKCB can give you an edgeRKCB can give you an edge

SummarySummary You MUST use one or other versionYou MUST use one or other version I strongly advise RKCBI strongly advise RKCB Don’t panic when partner bids 4NTDon’t panic when partner bids 4NT All you have to do is make the correct All you have to do is make the correct

responseresponse Partner has the difficult job to decide Partner has the difficult job to decide

where to stopwhere to stop Bidding and making slams gives Bidding and making slams gives

tremendous satisfaction!!!tremendous satisfaction!!!

Documents

Improvers Bridge