EXTRAS

For a grand slam in trumps you need:

• 9 card fit
• 1st round controls in all suits
• 1st, 2nd and 3rd round control in the trump suit

OR

• 10 card fit
• 1st and 2nd round controls in all suits

CHECK:

1. Does the partnership have sufficient strength for slam?
2. Do we know if the slam is in NT or in TRUMPS? (often a slam hand can make slam in multiple suits and No Trumps.)
3. Do we have controls in the side suit - if it is a suit contract?
4. Only use Exclusion Blackwood with a void BUT do not use it if you cannot tell what to do after partner answers - use control (cue) bidding to show this first

It is best to have the stronger hand (not necessary the opening bidder) bid 4NT as this hand can use the information better

SMALL SLAM requires 33-36 points

GRAND SLAM requires 37+ points or 13 tricks

TO MAKE A QUANTITATIVE BID (4NT) AFTER PARTNER HAS OPENED 1NT or 2NT.

If the sum of the maximum of the openers range 1NT or 2NT and the responders point count equals 33 HCPs then make a QUANTITATIVE bid (4NT) to invite 6NT.

If the sum is minimum of the openers range and the responders range equals 35 HCPs then bid 5NT (6NT - discuss with partner) asking partner to bid 6NT (or pass) with a minimum or 7NT with a maximum

If the sum of the minimum of the openers range and the responders points equals 37 bid 7NT.

A quantitative bid could also done after opener shows 18/19 HCPs with a jump bid of 2NT or a rebid of 2NT after a 2C opening (23+ HCPs)

IN TRUMPS

If partner has opened, responder should have 17+ HCP and all side suits with first or second round control to ask for aces

• To make a Small Slam you should have first round control of three of the suits and second round control of the fourth suit
• To Make a Grand Slam you must have first round control of every suit

BIDDING SLAMS WITH SHAPE AND TEXTURE

Slams can be bid with less points in trump suits depending on shape, partnership fit and texture

 If the previous bid was in a suit - 4NT asks ‘How many Aces do you have”:

• 5C shows 0 Aces (or 4)
• 5D shows 1 Ace
• 5H shows 2 Aces
• 5S shows 3 Aces

After 4 NT - if all 4 Aces are held can check for Kings with 5NT:

• 6C shows 0 Kings
• 6D shows 1 King
• 6H shows 2 Kings
• 6S shows 3 Kings

Never use Blackwood after partner has called no trumps for first or second bid. 4NT after a 1NT/2NT bid/opening is a quantitive raise unless you have subsequently settled on a suit. 

Use Gerber to ask for aces after 1NT or 2NT opening.

Also never use Blackwood if you have a suit with a void (partner may have wasted strength in your void). Also with 1 or 2 low cards only in a suit be careful asking for aces, you should control cue bid first.

Be careful Blackwood could make your bid too high 

• biding in clubs -> 4NT -> 5D/5H/5S will force you to 6C anyway 
• discuss with partner an escape for these situations eg  bidding an unbid suit that makes no sense in the bidding sequence asks partner to bid 5NT. 

If you have all the outside suits covered but are not sure about the quality of the trump suit - use GRAND SLAM FORCE (see below)

  Using a bid of 4C to ask how many Aces are held by partner. To answer:

• 4D shows 0 Aces (or 4)
• 4H shows 1 Ace
• 4S shows 2 Aces
• 4N shows 3 Aces

5C (or higher) can then be used to ask ‘How many Kings’

NOTE: Gerber can be confused with a splinter bid, so do not use it if you play splinter bids over that suit. Use Gerber over artificial club bids but if a natural club bid has been used do not use Gerber

 Bid 4NT - asks how many key cards do you have - 4 aces and King of trumps:

• 5C shows 1 or 4 key cards
• 5D shows 3 or 0 key cards
• 5H shows 2 (or rarely 5) without Queen of trumps
• 5S shows 2 (or rarely 5) with Queen of trumps

QUEEN OF TRUMPS?

If the answer is 5H or 5S, you know if partner has the Q of trumps. But, what if the answer is 5C or 5D? 

The 4NT bidder can still ask about the  queen of trump by bidding the next higher suit available that is not the trump suit. That is, if responder answered 5C, the asker can now bid 5D to ask about the queen of trumps. Responses:

• Has the queen, partner bids the cheapest K. 
• Has the queen, but has no kings, partner bids 5NT. 
• No queen, partner bids 5 of the trump suit.

OTHER KINGS?

Bid 5NT - asks for kings (only do this if you have 4 aces and K & Q of trumps) the response excludes King of trumps

• 6C shows 0 Kings
• 6D shows 1 King
• 6H shows 2 Kings
• 6S shows 3 Kings

NOTE: RKCB is used after you know you have enough points for slam, to check to make sure that you are not missing 2 keycards. Do not use it unless you know that you have enough points

• 4NT asks for Aces when there is a suit in discussion
• 4C asks for Aces when NT has been bid and 4C is a jump bid
• Do not use 4C to ask for aces if has been a natural club bid (or the bid could be mixed up with a splinter or cue bid)
• 4NT is quantitative when NT is the denomination and one hand has been limited
• 4NT asks for keycards when trumps have been set and both players know it 

LAST BID SUIT applies:

• when 2 suits have been bid and raised
• when there is no room to set trumps and ask for keycards

BUT if there is room to set trumps and trumps are not set then 4NT may be straight Aces (by partnership agreement)

 NOTE - by partnership agreement 

1. 4NT over a single suit bid can be RKCB by inference. 
2. Also 4C can be an Ace ask after suit agreement except when clubs have been agreed as trumps

• If the partnership is missing 2 (or more) keycards, slam should be avoided
• If the partnership is missing one keycard and the trump Q, then slam is a judgement call:

                     - Holding 8 trumps - sign off below slam

                     - Holding 9 trumps - close call (do I have the J?)

                     - Holding 10 trumps bid the slam

SIGNING OFF:

When your partner responds 5C or 5D, showing 1/4 or 0/3 keycards:

• if you do not hold the key cards presume that partner has 0 or 1 and sign off at the 5 level (unless a previous control bid sequence has told you otherwise)
• Once you sign off, if your partner has 3 or 4 keycards, then she should continue by responding as though you had asked for the trump Q (partnership agreement) or bids the slam

Partner asks for aces (4NT)

• 5NT - An even number of key cards and a USEFUL VOID (ie not in partners first bid suit)
• 6C - An odd number of keycards and a void in clubs (unless clubs are trumps in which case it is in another suit)
• 6D - An odd number of keycards and a diamond void or a void in hearts or spades if diamonds are trumps
• 6H - An odd number of keycards and a heart void if spades are trumps or a spade void if hearts are trumps

Bidding 5NT without bidding 4NT (Blackwood) first

Asks partner to bid grand slam (7) with 2 of top 3 trump honours or to bid a small slam

If you have used Blackwood (4NT) you can bid 6 of a new suit as grand Slam Force (also called Josephine)

Josephine - 5 of a major

Bidding 5 of a major when a major as been agreed as trumps or supporting partners major at the 5 level

RESPONSES:

Pass: when have 0/1 top honor in trumps

6 of the major: 2 top honors

7 of the major: 3 top honors

Josephine - 5NT

A jump to 5NT after a trump agreement asks about the high honor cards in the trump suit

RESPONSES:

Bid 6 of the trump suit denies 2 of the top 3

Bid 7 of the trump suit shows 2 of the top 3

A jump in a new suit after the trumps have been agreed on show a void in that suit and asks partner to show keycards excluding this suit.

RESPONSE

1. First step - no keycards
2. Second step - 1 keycard, no trump queen
3. Third step - 1 keycard plus the trump queen
4. Fourth step - 2 keycards, no trump queen
5. Fifth step - 2 keycards plus the trump queen

Losers are defined as the AKQ missing in the suits in your hand. Counting all the missing honours in each suit up to the number of cards in that suit gives your total losers. A suit of three or more with no A, K or Q counts as three losers. A suit of two with no A, K or Q counts as two losers.

Add openers' losers + responders' losers then subtract from 18. This equals the maximum level of a contract in an agreed suit. 

NOTE: You can also use 24 and subtract the openers' losers and responders' losers. This is the number of tricks.

The calculation assumes in the first instance that an Opener has 7 losers and the Responder has 9 losers.

i.e. 18-(7+9)=2. The maximum level is 2.

However if the Responder has 8 losers, the 3 level can be bid in the agreed suit.

i.e. 18-(7+8) = 3. The maximum level is 3.

If Responder has 7 losers then the 4 level can be bid in the agreed suit.

i.e. 18 - (7+7) = 4. The maximum level is 4.

After the response, the Opener knows the number of losers in partners hand and can add her own losers. If the total of losers is 14 or less then game in a major suit must be bid.

i.e. 18-(6+8)=4 Or 18-(9+5) = 4

If the total losers are 12 or less then ask for aces to evaluate a slam.

If there is a fit in a minor suit, counting losers is less valuable because making game requires 11 tricks. If responder has a fit with opener's minor suit it is often better to explore No Trumps.

NB. COUNTING LOSERS ONLY APPLIES WHEN THERE IS A FIT IN AN AGREED SUIT AND WORKS BEST WITH DISTRIBUTIONAL HANDS. If you are responding and you have a balanced hand do not use it. Value your hand using HIGH CARD POINTS (HCP) instead.

• Opening hand - 7 losers

IF FIT

• Responder raises major at the 2 level - 8/9 losers (6-10 TPs)
• Responder raises major at the 3 level - 8 losers (10-12 TPs 4+ trumps)
• Responder raises major at the 4 level - 7 losers (irrespective of points)
• If too strong a hand (13+, 6 losers) to jump to 4H/S change suit (delayed response), splinter, or use jacoby 2NT

OPENERS STRATEGY - after a 2 level response:

• with 7 losers - PASS
• with 6 losers - INVITE TO GAME (or use trial suit bidding to check if strong enough)
• with 5 losers - GAME

IF NO FIT

1. Responder bids a new suit (1C/D/H -> 1H/S) at the 1 level - could be 9/10 losers or better 

Raising Responders 1 level major response (after a minor opening)

• Opener bids at 2 level - 7 losers
• Opener bids at 3 level - 6 losers (16-18 TPs)
• Opener bids at 4 level - 5 losers (19+ TPs)

With a 4 loser hand opener should jump shift first and support responders major on the next round

NT RESPONSES:

• 1NT - 9/10 losers
• 2NT - 8 losers

2. Responder bids at the 2 level - 8 losers or better (10+ HCPs)

Raising responders 2 level minor response (after major opening)

• Opener bids at 3 level - 6/7 losers (15+ HCPs)
• Opener bids at 4 level - 5 losers or better, forcing to game and suggesting slam possibilities

Raising responders 2H after 1S opening

• Opener bids 3H - 7 loser hand (not forcing)
• Opener bids 4H - 6 loser hand

SHOWING A STRONG HAND

1. Reverse - 5 losers (16+ HCPs or even 12/13 HCPs with a 6/5 hand): forcing

2. Opener's jump rebid in the suit opened - 5/6 losers: not forcing

3. Opener's jump shift - 4 loser hand: forcing to game

PRE-EMPTIVE OPENINGS

• Weak 2 - 7/8 losers
• Weak 3, not vulnerable - 7 losers, 6 playing tricks
• Weak 3, vulnerable - 6 losers, 7 playing tricks
• Weak 4, not vulnerable - 6 losers, 7 playing tricks
• Weak 4, vulnerable - 5 losers, 8 playing tricks
• 5 Minor, not vulnerable - 5 losers, 8 playing tricks
• 5 Minor, vulnerable - 4 losers, 9 playing tricks

NO TRUMP OPENINGS

• 12-14 HCPs - 7/8 losers (balancing)
• 15-17 HCPs - 6/7 losers
• 16-18 HCPs - 6 losers
• 19-20-21 HCPs: 5 losers
• 22-23-24 HCPs: 4 losers

OVERCALLS

• 1 level - 8 or less losers
• 2 level - 7 or less losers
• weak jump overcall - 7/8 losers

TAKEOUT DOUBLES

• unpassed hand - 7 losers or better
• bids again after a weak response by partner - 5 losers
• double, then jump rebid after a weak response - 4 losers

RESPONSE TO A TAKEOUT DOUBLE

• bid of a suit at cheapest level or 1NTs - 9 losers
• jump in a suit or jump to 2NT - 8 losers 1(0-12 points)
• bid game in your suit or cue bid to ask partner to bid game - 7 losers 

• you have a large (but <22 HCP) unbalanced hand and are thinking 2C
• you have a void and 7+ suit hand and thinking how high to pre-empt
• you are borderline and trying to decide which level to bid at
• opposition is pushing you do go higher - should you?

• Unbalanced hands with a long suit
• Balanced distribution of strength - high cards are in long suits and cover losers
• At least an 8 card fit
• No wasted values in short suits opposite partners shortage
• Fitting honors with partner - honors are working

• Flat hands (4333 or 4432)
• Misfitting hands - if partners values do not fit your losses
• Honors stranded in short suits (Qxx and Kx)
• Overly optimistic about queens/jacks
• Hands without a solid trump suit

• Subtract a loser if the hand has extra shape or strong trump quality
• Add a loser if honors are badly placed

HCP high card points 4321 (AKQJ). 

Discount:

• K
• Qx
• Jxx
• 4333 hands

• Void - 5 points
• Singleton - 3 points
• Doubleton - 1 point

NOTE: it is best not to count shortage points in a 4:4 fit. Also do not count the shortage if there is an honour.

• Void - 3 points
• Singleton - 2 points
• Doubleton - 1 point

1. Use when responding to partner with a change of suit - for any suit more than 5 cards you can add a point for each extra card
2. Use when overcalling - for any suit more than 5 cards (need 5 cards to overcall) you can add a point for each extra card

NOTE: Do not add long suit points and shortage points to HCPs. Use one of the other

More than just point count the shape and texture of the hand are important

• Aces are good cards, the more the better
• Points should be mostly in the long suits
• 10's and 9's matter, the more the better
• if short suits have points ideally it should be an A or Kx
• A sequence in honors is good

• Points in partners suit/s are good - UPGRADE the hand
• If your partner has a shortage eg singleton it is better for you not to have points in this suit - DOWNGRADE the hand
• If interference - points in the opposition suit are good for defence but are wasted for declarer

• A 6 card suit is good because it provides a big source of tricks  and a reliable trump source to control a hand so bid higher with KQJT42
• Downgrade a 8 card suit fit with Q532, or A874 or K542

AK = 2 quick tricks

AQ - 1.5 quick tricks

A = 1 quick trick

KQ = 1 quick trick

Kx = 0.5 quick tricks

AKQ = 2 unless it is trumps OR playing in NTs

KJ = 1 quick trick

Best not to open if you do not have 2 quick tricks

WHEN OPENING:

• Best not to open with 11/12 HCPs if you do not have 2 (some use 2.5) quick tricks UNLESS you have a 6+ suit or a 2 suited hand so you have a rebid
• Standard 2C opener should contain 4 QTs

WHEN BALANCING

• You need QTs to do a balancing double, or else you run the risk that they get pushed up and can make game
• If your HCPs are softer and the hand is more distributional then overcall

DEFENCE:

• QTs are good in defence

FORCING ON OPENER:

• Any new suit by an unpassed responder at the cheapest level is forcing, unless it is at the game level 
• Playing Jacoby 2NT or NT raises - 1NT/2NT is always forcing
• If responder rebids a suit after opener has jumped with a repeat bid, this is forcing i.e. (1C->1S->3C->3S)
• Any bid by responder after opener has jumped is FORCING TO GAME- the only bid that responder can make that is not forcing is PASS
• If the opener jumps in NTs then a new suit by the responder is forcing
• After a weak 2 opening, 2NT by responder is forcing (2S->2NT), often asking for a Ace or King in an outside suit

FORCING ON RESPONDER:

• 2C by opener 
• A new suit at the 3 level (unless responder has previously limited their hand eg. bidding 1NT)
• A reverse is a one-round forcing bid
• If responder has bid at the 2 level, a change of suit by opener without a jump can be forcing but this is by partnership agreement. 
• If playing new minor forcing, a new minor by responder after 1NT by opener is forcing (1C->1S->1NT->2D) This is probably signalling 5 spades
• Never pass an Unusual 2NT bid

FOCING ON BOTH PARTNERS:

• Watch out for 4th suit forcing - partner wants to play in game, and may be asking for help in that suit
• Never pass a CUE bid or one that you do not understand especially if you have agreed on a suit
• Splinter and control bids are forcing
• All non-natural bids eg Keycard or ace bidding after 4NT or Gerber are forcing unless you have landed the agreed suit

NOT FORCING

• Any openers new suit may be passed if you are absolute minimum except for 2C
• A repeated suit is not forcing
• A NT bid is not forcing
• A change of suit by opener under 2NTs is normally asking partner to choose out of openers suits and unless responser is very weak in the first suit it is best to take partner back to that suit but it is not forcing

• 1S -X-2C is not forcing as the responder should XX if they have more than 10 HCPs (discuss with partner)

• Knowing when to bid game or slam is important
• If you opened - let partner decide whether to ask for Aces
• Notice where values are eg shortage opposite partners second suit
• Add extra points for extra length
• Having honor cards in your long suits is a plus
• Bid more with a fit and less without a fit
• Exclude shortage points for non working honors
• After an opening in a minor - all other bids show 4 card suits
• If you open in a major and if partner changes suit to a minor do not rebid the other major unless you have 5 cards
• Bid four card suits up the line, five card suits down the line and if different lengths bid the longest first (except if 6 in a minor and 5 in a major)
• Partners bids 1S then 2H after your 1C/1NT - partner has 5 spades and 4+ hearts (and less than 16 HCP)
• Partners bids 1H then 2S after your 1C/1NT - partner has 5 hearts and 5 spades and 16 HCP (reverse)
• A 5 card suits and a lower raking 4 card suit - open 5 card suit then bid the 4 card suit ie 1S -> 2D
• A 5 card suit and a higher ranking 4 card suit - open the 5 card minor and show the 4 card major if possible ie 1D -> 1S (2S if interference)
• 4-4-4-1 pattern: Open 1C if your singleton is a diamond. Open 1D if your singleton is a club, heart or spade
• If you are 6/5 (or 6/4) bid the 6 are suit first, then the 5 card suit followed by the 6 card suit. If your points are too low and you are going to reverse bid the 6 card suit twice

• Don't bid thin slams
• 4333 shapes
• Aceless hands
• Too many Q's and J's
• Honors in short suits
• If partner bids but was a passed hand assess why partner has bid
• Don't re-bid if you have done a pre-empt
• Aces and spaces in NT
• Not enough 10's and 9's

• Especially if not vulnerable
• If they definitely will win
• If you have a good chance of winning and not vulnerable - BID  
• If their win is worth more points than your losing 

• Alert all non natural bids except Stayman or Michael's Cue bid
• Give number of clubs for 1C
• Give point count for 1NT and 2NT bid  
• Alert any pre-alerts before the round starts eg 2 over 1

• extra tricks do matter - it is no good if you make game but everyone else gets an extra trick you will still get a bottom score
• compete agressively and try not to let opponents play below the 3 level
• bid games that have more than 60% chance of making it and think about 3NT instead of 4H/S as it makes extra points with the same number of tricks
• Distributional hands are worth an extra push
• If you think oppoents will lose DOUBLE
• Bid one extra to force them too high. Often better to sacrifice then let them get their game

• Bid game wherever reasonable, especially if vulnerable
• Concentrate on making your contract, overtricks matter less
• Don't worry about the 10 extra points for being in NTs rather than trumps (play 4H/S as safer)
• Bid 5 of the minor rather than 3NTs if there is a better chance of making the minor suit game
• compete but be a little conservative when bidding - be wary of big sacrifices,
• Choose a small slam rather than the grand slam

• push more in your bidding especially if game/slam is on*
• extra tricks do not matter but making your contract does so if the contract could be in doubt do not play for extra tricks
• be careful of doubling a lower contract as it will push opponents into game points
• Avoid double game swings (both pairs can make game eg N/S can make 4H and E/W can make 4S, so bid to 4S as if you let your opponents make 4H and at the other table the opposing team make 4S, this is a double game swing)

* You should push for game with only a 40% probability if vulnerable