By Val Rhead
ASKING FOR ACES
In past columns, we discussed how to find a possible slam. We then discussed the useful technique of bidding cue-bids for first-round controls to help ensure that a slam is doable.
After first-round controls, players often may still want to check for Aces before bidding the slam. There are two recommended methods to use—Four No Trump if you are bidding a suit contract, or Four Clubs if the opening bid was in No Trump and you have settled on No Trump.
Sometimes a player may want to ask for Aces if a suit slam might play also in a No Trump slam for a higher score. He wants to confirm whether the first-round controls are Aces or Voids. The bid of Four No Trump would be used to ask for Aces because a suit contract has been agreed upon. A reply of Five Clubs would indicate no Aces or four Aces, Five Diamonds would show one Ace, Five Hearts would show two Aces, and Five Spades would show three Aces. It is assumed that the player is astute enough to be able to distinguish between hands that contain no Aces or four Aces by analysing the earlier bidding.
If he discovered that some of the controls were voids, he would certainly realize that it would be better to play the slam in the agreed suit. The No Trump slam needs all suits stopped. Otherwise a disaster may unfold.
NOTE: A jump to Four No Trump immediately after a One or Two No Trump opening is not asking for Aces. It is quantitative. It is asking whether the No Trump bidder is high or low for his bid. If he has 17 points, he will bid slam. If his hand is worth 15 points, he will pass and the hand will be played in Four No Trump.
Finally, I know many players want to use Four Clubs to ask for Aces whatever the contract. They feel that this keeps the bidding lower, which is true. However, it can cause confusion if the Club suit has been mentioned in the bidding or if Clubs is the suit in which the player wants to bid the slam. The partner may become confused and not know whether the Captain is asking for Aces or bidding the Club suit. Whenever possible, you want to eliminate confusion from your bidding. I do not recommend the use of Four Clubs “asking” for all occasions.
An important point: Even if you’ve bid your slam perfectly, to be successful in making the slam, it is necessary to remember what contract you are in! I hate to admit it, but I recently played a small slam contract that was a laydown. Unfortunately, I was playing it in Six No Trump. I didn’t remember that the contract was for Six Clubs until I was ruffed half way through—down one. Maybe I should go back to playing “Old Maid.”
If you wish to promote an activity in your bridge group or ask a bridge question, send the information to [email protected] and I will try to include it in this column.
HUNTSVILLE DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB
Please NOTE new time 7pm: Games are now on EVENING PLAY for the Summer, Tuesday 7:00pm Trinity United Church 33 Main Street. Please arrive 15 minutes before game time. For partners and information call Liz Graham (705) 789-7187
The following winners are for Tuesday, Apr 24 with 12 pairs playing a Mitchelll movement. North-South 1. Liz Barnes and David Bryce; 2. Mary Simonett and Kel Andresen; 3. Joanne Garvey and Barb Green; East-West 1. Yvonne Cox and Helen Pearson; 2. Dorothy Russell and Susan Marshall; 3. Val Rhead and Gail Lederer
MUSKOKA DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB (Bracebridge)
Games for the Bracebridge Club are Mondays 7pm, Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Taylor Road. Please arrive 15 minutes before game time. For information or partnerships, call Brian at 705-645-5340 [email protected]
The following winners are from Monday, Apr 23 with 15 pairs playing a Howell movement. 1. Liz Barnes and David Bryce; 2. Mary Luke and Donna McIntosh; 3. Gail Lederer and Hazel Bowes; 4. Kel Andresen and Jim Smith; 5. Lynda Mochrie and Wayne Mochrie; 6/7. Art Insley and Don Evans; 6/7. Betty Fagin and Brian Brocklehurst; 8. Gerry Flaherty and Ralph Hair
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