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Bridge Basics 1U17 by Richard Pavlicek
A slam* is a bid of six in any suit or notrump, which requires that you win 12 tricks. If your side can win 12 tricks, it is not sufficient to bid only game; you must bid six to receive the slam bonus.
A grand slam is a bid of seven in any suit or notrump, which requires that you win all 13 tricks. Bidding and making a grand slam earns an even greater bonus than for bidding six.
*The traditional term is small slam but this usage is obsolete just say slam or you will be tagged as a novice. The word slam is also used to refer to either a six-bid or a seven-bid, as in the title of this lesson or the next heading.
Contract | Points Required |
---|---|
Any 6 bid | 33 or more |
Any 7 bid | 37 or more |
Notice that there is no difference between major suits and minor suits as to the number of tricks needed for slam. Either requires 12 tricks (or 13 for a grand slam) so the point-count requirements are the same.
If partners last bid is 1, 2 or 3 NT, a bid of 4 NT asks partner to bid 6 NT with a maximum or to pass with a minimum. |
If a trump suit is agreed, a bid four or five in an unbid suit is a slam try and forcing. |
This is called a control-bid because the standard practice is to bid a suit in which you hold the ace a controlling card.
After the control-bid, partner must decide whether his hand is minimum or maximum for his previous bidding. Generally he should follow this strategy:
If minimum, return to the trump suit at the cheapest level. If maximum, bid any other suit, which is also a control-bid. |
If partners last bid is a suit, a bid of 4 NT asks for aces. |
This is the Blackwood convention. Partner must show the number of aces he has according to the steps listed below:
Number of Aces | Blackwood Reply |
---|---|
0 or 4* | 5 ![]() |
1 | 5 ![]() |
2 | 5 ![]() |
3 | 5 ![]() |
After the Blackwood reply, the four-notrump bidder must place the final contract. Alternatively, if all four aces are held and a grand slam is possible, he may bid five notrump. This asks for kings and the replies are similar but one level higher.
If partners last bid is 1 NT or 2 NT, a jump to 4 ![]() |
Number of Aces | Gerber Reply |
---|---|
0 or 4* | 4 ![]() |
1 | 4 ![]() |
2 | 4 ![]() |
3 | 4 NT |
*Making the same bid with 0 or 4 aces may seem unusual, but partner will always know which it is based on his own hand and the previous bidding.
1.
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West _____ _____ | East 4 NT |
2.
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West _____ _____ | East 3 ![]() |
3.
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() |
West _____ _____ | East 4 NT |
4.
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() |
West _____ _____ | East 3 ![]() |
5.
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() |
West _____ _____ | East 4 NT |
6.
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West _____ _____ | East 4 ![]() |
Top Main
Now assume your partner opens the bidding and makes the rebid shown. Fill in the response and the rebid you would make.
7.
![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
West 1 ![]() 2 NT | East _____ _____ |
8.
![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
West 1 ![]() 5 ![]() | East _____ _____ |
9.
![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
West 1 ![]() 4 NT | East _____ _____ |
10.
![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
West 1 ![]() 4 ![]() | East _____ _____ |
11.
![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
West 2 ![]() 3 NT | East _____ _____ |
12.
![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
West 1 ![]() 3 ![]() | East _____ _____ |
1. | 1 NT |
Pass |
2. | 1 ![]() |
4 NT |
3. | 1 ![]() |
5 ![]() |
4. | 1 ![]() |
4 ![]() |
5. | 2 NT |
6 NT |
6. | 1 NT |
4 NT |
7. | 1 ![]() |
6 NT |
8. | 4 NT |
5 ![]() |
9. | 2 NT |
Pass |
10. | 3 ![]() |
4 ![]() |
11. | 2 NT |
6 NT |
12. | 1 ![]() |
4 ![]() |
© 2013 Richard Pavlicek