ACBLO8 – Bidding: Gerber and Blackwood Ward Trumbull
Ace/King Asking Conventions Nov 13, 2008
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Only Six Words
To remember the response to Blackwood and/or Gerber you only have to remember six words.
Zero or 4, 1, 2, 3
1 2 3 4 5 6
The rule of thumb for bidding slams is:
Small Slam (6 level) - 33 HCP for notrump or 33 HCP/distribution pts for suits
Grand Slam (7 level) - 37 HCP for notrump (i.e., you’ve got all four aces)
- for suits you usually need voids with 2-suited hands
There are several factors that are important, if you’re considering a possible slam.
Distribution - Singletons and voids for suit contracts
Suit Strength - Suits headed by A K Q or better still A K Q J
Suit Length - Seven card suits or longer
Some other observations are:
1. You don’t necessarily have to have all four aces for a small slam.
2. Never bid a suit slam in a seven card trump suit (between the two hands).
3. Avoid small slams that depend on a finesse for the 12th trick, 50% chance.
However, two finesses for the 12th trick gives you better odds, 75% chance.
4. When you bid a grand slam, be able to count 13 tricks without any finesses
and beware of competitive bidding that suggests a bad trump split.
Basic Response Rules
The response to a Gerber (4 clubs) or Blackwood (4 notrump) ace-asking bid have the same meaning, except the response bids are in different suits. They are:
Gerber/Blackwood Response - 1st suit is 0 or 4 aces (next higher suit)
2nd suit is 1 ace
3rd suit is 2 aces
4th suit is 3 aces
ACBL08 – Bidding: Gerber and Blackwood Nov 13, 2008
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Basic Response Rules (continued)
The actual bids are:
Gerber Blackwood
4 clubs 4 notrump No. of Aces
-------------- -------------- ----------------
1st bid suit (next) 4 diamonds 5 clubs 0 or 4
2nd bid suit 4 hearts 5 diamonds 1
3rd bid suit 4 spades 5 hearts 2
4th bid suit 4 notrump 5 spades 3
Gerber
All 4 club bids should not be taken as Gerber. There are some rules for and against 4 club (Gerber) bids.
YES............. 1. Both partners have bid the soon-to-be trump suit.
Example: 1 spade, 3 spades then 4 clubs
2. When the partnership bidding begins with a notrump bid.
Examples: 1 notrump then 4 clubs
1 notrump, 2 clubs (Stayman), 2 spades then 4
clubs
3. A double jump to 4 clubs when neither partner has
mentioned clubs yet.
Examples: 1 spade then 4 clubs
1 diamond, 1 heart then 4 clubs
1 heart, 1 spade then 4 clubs
NOTE: The last bid suit before the 4 club bid is assumed to
be the trump suit.
4. Even if you (the asker) have all four aces.
ACBL08 – Bidding: Gerber and Blackwood Nov 13, 2008
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Gerber (continued)
NO............. 1. If either partner has already bid clubs (non-conventional,
i.e., not Stayman, not cue bid, nor strong 2 clubs).
Examples: 1 club, 2 hearts (jump shift) then 4 clubs
1 heart, 2 clubs then 4 clubs
1 heart, 1 spade, 2 clubs then 4 clubs
NOTE: These 4 club hands are examples of a long suit (1st)
or 2-suited hands (2nd/3rd).
2. If the 4 club bid is a non-jump bid or a single jump bid.
Example: 1 spade, 2 hearts the 4 clubs.
The spade/club hand is indicating 19+ HCP.
If in doubt, use Blackwood.
Blackwood
Most 4 notrump bids are Blackwood ace-asking bids, but there are exceptions.
YES............ 1. When both partners have bid the soon-to-be trump suit.
Example: 1 spade, 3 spades then 4 notrump
Note this is similar to the first Gerber example.
Therefore, learn to use Gerber instead.
2. Both partners have bid all four suits.
Example: 1 heart, 1 spade, 3 diamonds (jump shift), 4 clubs
then 4 notrump.
3. After a Texas Transfer.
Example: 1 notrump, 4 hearts (transfer bid), 4 spades then
4 notrump
4. Even if you (the asker) have all four aces.
ACBL08 – Bidding: Gerber and Blackwood Nov 13, 2008
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Blackwood (continued)
NO..............1. Whenever Gerber can be safely used with no chance of
confusion.
2. When one partner pulls the other partners 3 notrump bid
by bidding at the 4 level.
Example: 1 heart, 2 diamonds, 3 notrump, 4 diamonds then
4 notrump
Note that there was no bid indicating excessive
points.
Asking for Kings
Note: You do not ask for kings unless you have all four aces between the two
hands.
With Gerber you ask for kings by bidding 5 clubs, and the responses have the same meaning as with aces except they are at the five level. If you don’t want to ask for kings, then don’t bid 5 clubs.
With Blackwood you ask for kings by bidding 5 notrump, and again the responses
have the same meaning as with aces except they are at the six level.
How to Close Out Blackwood Bidding at 5 Notrump
If partner’s Blackwood response indicates you can’t bid slam, you ask partner to
close out at 5 notrump by you bidding a NEW suit after his/her Blackwood response.
Example: 1 heart, 3 clubs (jump shift), 4 notrump, 5 diams (team is missing 2 aces),
5 spades then 5 notrump.
Roman Key Card Gerber and Blackwood
Once you have mastered standard Gerber and Blackwood, you should learn to use
the Roman Key Card versions of these conventions. Briefly, with Roman Key Card when you ask for aces the response includes the king of the implied trump suit. These five cards (4 aces and the trump king) are referred to as CONTROLS.