By Peter Rhead
Blackwood and Gerber
What should happen when, from the bidding, you realize that your partnership may have enough points to investigate the possibility of a slam? Thirty-three is the traditional partnership point-count number to look for when considering bidding a slam. This number of points has been chosen as the opponents could not have two Aces which might sink a slam. Often though, with distributional hands, a slam can be reached with fewer points.
Who takes command depends on which of the partners has limited their hand. Once one partner has limited their hand, the other partner knows the combined assets of the partnership and must take charge; he becomes the Captain.
An investigation of the number of Aces held by the partnership is sometimes the first step that the Captain must take. In a No-Trump contract, the method to ask for Aces by the Captain is to bid Four Clubs, the Gerber Convention. The response to this Four Club bid is Four Diamonds, Hearts, Spades or Four No-Trump showing respectively zero, one, two, or three Aces in their hand. If the Captain knows he has four Aces and wants to go for a grand slam, he can ask for Kings by bidding Five Clubs and the response sequence is the same.
In a Suit contract, the method to ask for Aces by the Captain is to bid Four No-Trump, the Blackwood Convention. The response to the Four No-Trump bid is Five Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, Spades or Five No-Trump showing respectively zero, one, two, three or Four Aces in their hand. Once the Captain knows he has four Aces, he can ask for Kings by bidding Five No-Trump and the response sequence is the same. Or the Captain might go right to slam.
For additional information, read Blackwood and Gerber in Barbara Seagram’s 25 Bridge Conventions You Should Know, page 55
Next Week: Roman Key-Card Blackwood
If you wish to promote an activity in your Bridge group or ask a Bridge question, send the information to vrhead23@gmail.com and I will try to include it in this column.
SOCIAL BRIDGE GAME IN HUNTSVILLE
AT THE SUMMIT CENTRE FOR ACTIVE LIVING, THURSDAYS 7PM
In the multi-purpose room 2nd floor (elevator) (back entrance of Summit Centre)
Just come – with or without a partner. Please arrive 10 minutes before game time. For information, contact Donna or Peter Tikuisis at 647 471 1774 or [email protected].
This game will be played following Chicago Rules (allowing both fast and slow games). You will keep your same partner for the entire evening. Cost is $1.50 per person. Parking is outside the North Entrance opposite Heritage Village Railway Station.
PORT CARLING SOCIAL BRIDGE CLUB
Games for the Port Carling Social Bridge Club for the Winter are Monday afternoon 1pm at the Port Carling Community Centre, 3 Bailey Street. Please arrive with your partner at least 10 minutes before game time.
For information, contact Andree or Scott 705-764-3827 [email protected]
Results for Monday, March 2, 2020 1. Scott Staples & Gary Irving 3950 points; 2. Ted & Susan Daglish 3500 points; 3. Joan & Len Frost 2780 points
HUNTSVILLE DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB
Games are Tuesday 1pm Trinity United Church 33 Main Street. Please arrive with your partner at least 10 minutes before game time. For partnerships and information call Jan Roberts 705 635-2522 or email [email protected]
The following winners are for Tuesday, Mar 3, 2020 with 6 pairs playing a Howell Movement. First of all, congratulations to Ron Groulx and Gerry VanLierop for a staggering score of 78% 1. Gerry VanLierop and Ron Groulx; 2. Vern Foell and Rod Dixon; 3. Liz Graham and Dorothy Russell; 4. Kelly Andresen and Kel Andresen
MUSKOKA DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB (Bracebridge)
Games for the Bracebridge Club are Mondays 7pm, Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Taylor Road. Please arrive with your partner 10 minutes before game time. For information contact Brian at 705-645-5340 [email protected]
The following winners are from Monday, Mar 2, 2020 with 7 pairs playing a Howell movement. 1. David Bryce and Gail Lederer; 2. Lynda Mochrie and Wayne Mochrie; 3. Kel Andresen and Vern Foell; 4. Lyn Walisser and Don Evans
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