Bidding Guide 2Z47 Main

Slam Bidding

by Richard Pavlicek

How to proceed when considering a slam contract

Trying for a Suit Slam after a Raise

Partner
1

(opp)
Pass
Pass

You
1

(opp)
Pass

General procedure

Add Declarer Points (see Point Count) if applicable and determine the partnership point range. If the total is or might be 33+ points (or if you think you can win 12 tricks) bid an unbid suit or an enemy bid suit. This is a control-bid.

A control-bid shows

First-round control (ace or void) in the suit bid.

A second control-bid in the same suit shows

Second-round control (king or singleton).

If the raised suit is a minor this must be at the 4 level or higher; a bid below 3 NT shows a real suit or a stopper.

Bidding after a Control-Bid

Partner
1

(opp)
Pass
Pass

You
3

(opp)
Pass

Basic principle

Once a control-bid has been made, the bidding can end only in a raised suit (or rarely in 3 NT or 6 NT). Any other bid is forcing.

To discourage slam

Return to the raised suit at the lowest possible level (or in rare cases, 3 NT). This warns partner that your strength is minimum for your previous bid, or that you dislike your hand.

To encourage slam

Do anything else! You may make a control-bid of your own, bid 4 NT (Blackwood) to ask for aces if appropriate, or just bid the slam.

Bidding Guide 2Z47 Main Top Slam Bidding

Trying for a Suit Slam with No Raised Suit

Partner
1

(opp)
Pass
Pass

You
2

(opp)
Pass

General guidelines

You cannot make a control-bid because partner will not know which suit is to be trumps. One solution is to make a forcing bid (such as 3 in the example) and postpone the slam try until your next turn. If this is not feasible in the desired suit (such as hearts in the example) you may bid 5 in a major to invite slam; else you must make the slam decision yourself.

Trying for a Notrump Slam if Notrump Is Bid

Partner
1 NT
2

(opp)
Pass
Pass

You
2

(opp)
Pass

Determine the partnership point range

Add your points to the minimum and maximum shown by partner to reveal the partnership point range, then make a quantitative notrump bid:

If total might be

33+ points

bid 4 NT

If total is sure to be

33+ points	bid 5 NT	F
33-36 points	bid 6 NT	S
37+ points	bid 7 NT	S

Partner should pass with a minimum; else bid 6 NT (or a suit to suggest an alternate slam).

Allows partner to choose an alternate slam in six of a suit, but he cannot pass. If no natural suit has been bid, this also invites a grand slam.

Trying for a Notrump Slam if Notrump Is Not Bid

Partner
1

(opp)
Pass
Pass

You
1

(opp)
Pass

General guidelines

You cannot make a quantitative bid of 4 NT (it would be Blackwood). One solution is to manufacture a forcing bid (3 in the example) and postpone the slam try until next turn. If this is not feasible, you will have to make the slam decision yourself.

Bidding Guide 2Z47 Main Top Slam Bidding

When To Ask for Aces

Sometimes your slam decision will depend on the number of aces held by partner. This usually can be determined with Blackwood or Gerber, however, you should go through the following checklist before asking for aces:

All of the following should be true

You know which suit (if any) will be trumps

Your side has 33+ points or can win 12 tricks

You have control in the one unbid suit

You are prepared for any response

You have no void suit

Or the enemy suit if an opponent has bid. Note that if there are two or more unbid suits (with no enemy bid) this restriction does not apply. That is, you may ask for aces if the information about aces seems more useful than seeking specific controls.

When is Four Notrump Blackwood?

Partner
1

(opp)
Pass
Pass

You
2

(opp)
Pass

If your side has bid notrump

4 NT is Blackwood only if a suit has been raised

If your side has not bid notrump

4 NT is always Blackwood

Except as an overcall of an enemy bid of 4 or 4 (then 4 NT is takeout for the minors or unbid suits).

When is Four Clubs Gerber?

Partner
1 NT
2

(opp)
Pass
Pass

You
2

(opp)
Pass

Your side must have bid notrump, then

is Gerber only if a jump bid

Note that the conditions for Blackwood and Gerber do not allow ace-asking on all auctions, e.g., if no suit has been raised, there is no way to ask for aces over partner’s bid of 3 NT.

Bidding Guide 2Z47 Main Top Slam Bidding

Responses to Blackwood

Partner
1

4 NT

(opp)
Pass
Pass

You
3

(opp)
Pass

Show the number of aces held

0 or 4 aces	bid 5	N
1 ace	bid 5	N
2 aces	bid 5	N
3 aces	bid 5	F

With a useful void suit

1 ace	bid 6 of void suit	F
2 aces	bid 5 NT	F

Partner should always be able to tell whether 0 or 4, based on his own hand and your previous bidding.

Partner may pass only if this happens to be the trump suit.

Do not show a void if you have 0 or 3 aces.

Except if your void suit is higher ranking than the trump suit, then bid 6 of the trump suit.

Responses to Gerber

Partner
1

(opp)
Pass
Pass

You
2 NT
?

(opp)
Pass

Show the number of aces held

0 or 4 aces	bid 4	F
1 ace	bid 4	N
2 aces	bid 4	N
3 aces	bid 4 NT	F

Follow-ups after Blackwood or Gerber

Partner
1

(opp)
Pass
Pass

You
4 NT
?

(opp)
Pass

General guidelines

After asking for aces, it is asker’s responsibility to place the final contract. This usually means bidding the appropriate slam if at least three aces are held, or stopping short if two aces are missing.

If you determine that all four aces are held, and you have interest in a grand slam, you should ask for kings by bidding 5 NT after Blackwood, or 5 after Gerber. Kings are shown by the same steps as aces (0-4, 1, 2 or 3) except one level higher.

Bidding Guide 2Z47 Main Top Slam Bidding