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BBO News - Jdonn on Slam Bidding Part II - Lecture notes

JDonn on Slam Bidding Part II

Lecture notes
On Sunday, July 12, we held a free teaching session on BBO, hosted by star player JDonn (Josh Donn).
This was the second lecture in a series on Slam Bidding, and was followed by a Q&A session, where
kibitzers were welcome to ask Josh questions. Below is a transcript of the lecture.
Notes from Josh's previous lecture can be found here: Jdonn on Slam Bidding Part I.
Hi everyone and welcome.
Last time, I spoke about quantitative bidding after a 1NT opening bid. As a reminder, quantitative bidding means bidding to a
contract based on your general values rather than which specific tricks you will take, such as 1NT 4NT inviting slam based
on opener's general values. I am going to continue the topic of quantitative 4NT bids, but discuss a wider variety of auctions.
Often, 4NT is a quantitative bid rather than Blackwood, even directly over a suit bid. How can you tell when this is the case?
With few exceptions, there is a very simple rule that should be followed:
4NT over a suit bid is not keycard Blackwood if there was another way to raise the suit below 4NT that would have
been forcing.
I intentionally said "not keycard Blackwood" rather than "quantitative" for this rule because of a few special exceptions where
4NT has neither of those meanings. They are those exceptions:
4NT directly over partner's 1 level opening bid is REGULAR Blackwood. If you want to bid keycard blackwood for partner's
suit, start with a forcing raise such as 1H - 2NT, and then bid keycard blackwood on your next turn.
4NT directly over partner's natural 4 level bid in an un-agreed upon suit is REGRESSIVE, saying you don't fit his bids. For
example, 2NT 3H (transfer), 3S 4D, 4NT says you don't fit spades or diamonds.
4NT in many competitive auctions is used as a TAKEOUT bid. There are a lot of examples, one of which is a 4NT overcall of
a 4S opening bid. B ut generally speaking, 4NT is a takeout bid when used in competition if our side hasn't agreed a suit yet.
So other than those exceptions, the rule I mentioned applies to quantitative 4NT bids. If partner bids a suit, and there is some
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other way to raise the suit and have it be forcing, then 4NT by you is quantitative, not keycard Blackwood. Let's look at some
examples.
D

N North

A9
QJ3
KQJ1087
A10

1
W West

N
1
P 3
P 6NT
P

E
S
P 1
P 4NT
P
P

E East

1075
9874
A2
5432

8632
105
9643
K87
S South

KQJ4
AK62
5
QJ96
Rewind

Previous

Next

Options

GIB

6NT S

NS: 0 EW: 0

Play

You hold KQJ4 AK62 5 QJ96. Partner opens 1, you respond 1, and partner rebids 3.
What do you do?
Well, you could certainly have slam if partner is maximum, like A9 QJ3 KQJT87 AT, which makes 6NT
completely cold.

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N North

A9
J
AQJ9872
K104

1
W West

W
P
P

N
1
3
P

E
S
P 1
P 4NT
P

E East

10832
1087
103
A732

765
Q9543
K64
85
S South

KQJ4
AK62
5
QJ96
Rewind

Previous

Next

Options

GIB

4NT S

NS: 0 EW: 0

Play

But what if partner is lighter, such as A9 J AQJ9872 KT4? Then slam is not a good bet. The answer is that
you need a way to invite partner to slam, and 4NT serves that purpose.
But isn't 4NT keycard Blackwood for diamonds? A lot of people would think so, but it shouldn't be! If you want to bid keycard
Blackwood for diamonds, start with 4. This raise of partner is forcing. A good partner will then make a control bid in a major
suit, leaving you room to bid 4NT Blackwood on your next turn. Or partner might even beat you to it and bid Blackwood
themselves, which is just fine. However, sometimes you hold a hand like this example that simply wants to invite slam and can
t make a natural raise, and then 4NT quantitative is just what the doctor ordered.

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N North

AQ1095
KQ863
A2
10

1
W West

632
J1072
1083
Q63

N
1
P 2
P 3
P 6NT
P
E East

E S
P 2
P 2NT
P 4NT
P P

K84
95
J764
8754
S South

J7
A4
KQ95
AKJ92
Rewind

Previous

Next

Options

GIB

6NT S

NS: 0 EW: 0

Play

Here is another example auction that demonstrates the guideline about when 4NT is quantitative over a suit bid.
You hold J7 A4 KQ95 AKJ92. Partner opens 1 , and you bid 2 game forcing. Partner rebids 2,
and you bid 2NT so he can describe his shape further. Partner then bids 3, showing at least 5-5 in the majors.
What do you do?
Well, you don't have a fit at this point. You might have a slam simply based on values, but if partner is minimum then game is
enough (he might open with as few as 10 high card points holding 5-5 shape). 4NT quantitative is the perfect bid. If partner holds
AQT95 KQ863 2 T, a nice 15 point hand, he will bid 6NT.

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N North

Q10954
KQ863
A2
10

1
W West

W
P
P
P

N
1
2
3
P

E
S
P 2
P 2NT
P 4NT
P

E East

A32
J2
J1086
7643

K86
10975
743
Q85
S South

J7
A4
KQ95
AKJ92
Rewind

Previous

Next

Options

GIB

4NT S

NS: 0 EW: 0

Play

If instead he holds the same hand without the ace of spades, QT954 KQ863 A2 T, he will pass and you have
stopped in a comfortable contract.
But again, isn't 4NT keycard Blackwood for hearts on that auction? It should not be.
If you have a hand that wants to strongly agree hearts, you can make a control bid in one of the minors over partner's 3 bid,
by bidding 4 or 4 . These don't make sense as natural bids since you already rebid 2NT, denying extreme shape in the
minors, and partner has shown more and more length in the majors. They are controls bids for hearts, the last bid suit. After
making one of those bids, 4NT on your next turn is keycard Blackwood for hearts.
Sometimes you have to go through an extra step to bid keycard for partner's suit, but that is necessary in order for a direct 4NT
to be quantitative, which is exactly the bid you need on lots of hands.

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N North

AQ10873
5
762
AJ4

W West

W
3
P

N
3
P

E
S
P 4NT
P

E East

94
KJ98762
J105
6

KJ62
3
984
Q10732
S South

5
AQ104
AKQ3
K985
Rewind

Previous

Next

Options

GIB

4NT S

NS: 0 EW: 0

Play

Let's do one more example.

You hold 5 AQT4 AKQ3 K985. LHO opens 3, partner overcalls 3 , and RHO passes. What is your
bid?
Well it's tempting to bid 6NT right now, but you really don't have enough. Partner was under pressure and may have had to
stretch to get into the auction holding the spade suit. If partner holds AQT873 5 762 AJ4 then slam is not a
good bet.

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N North

AQJ1087
5
J76
AQ4

W West

W N
E
S
3 3 P 4NT
P 6NT P
P
P
E East

93
KJ98762
8
J107

K642
3
109542
632
S South

5
AQ104
AKQ3
K985
Rewind

Previous

Next

Options

GIB

6NT S

NS: 0 EW: 0

Play

But partner might have more, like AQJT87 5 J76 AQ4. How can you tell the difference? Bid 4NT quantitative!
Partner will pass with our first example, and bid slam with our second.
But why isn't 4NT keycard Blackwood for spades? Many would think it is, but if you want to bid keycard Blackwood for spades
instead, there is a simple solution. Cuebid 4, the opponents' suit. That shows a strong spade raise. Often it's a hand that
plans on passing if all partner can do is bid 4 , but it can also be a necessary step before bidding keycard.
In closing, I have a final word of warning about the auctions I have been talking about today. I have stated what these auctions
"should" mean.
My purpose is not for you to sit down with partner tomorrow, watch him or her bid 1 - 1 - 3 - 4NT, have you pass
because Josh said that is quantitative, and see that partner meant it as Blackwood after all. My purpose is for you to discuss
these auctions with your partner, and reach a common agreement about them. It would be stubborn of you to not answer what
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you know is partner's Blackwood bid just because I said that's not what it should mean. I have tried to explain what are the
standard agreements on an advanced level. You still have to take into account what partner knows and be practical in deciding
what partner's bids mean.
Questions & Answers:
Q1:In the last hand, can 4 be played as RKC for ?
A: That would not be a good idea, because you might have a hand with a spade fit that only wants to invite slam, not bid
keycard. 4 is needed for that purpose as well.
It might be inviting slam, and that is what partner assumes in choosing his next call, but it might also be planning on bidding
keycard next round.
Q2: On a previous hand the auction was (just our side bidding) 1 1, 3 4. Why this 4 bid is forcing, rather
than invitational?
A: It's a standard bid. Partner's 3 is already invitational. You don't re-invite after already inviting, in general.
You need 4 as a forcing bid, because what else do you do with a slam invitation and a diamond fit? It's like the question
about (3) 3 (P) 4. You need a bid available to invite slam.
If you have a hand that you think is borderline to bid game or pass, just bid game and dare them to beat you!
Q3: On the first hand, we noticed that it was played from the wrong side
A: That is a great point, and I have to admit it's not a 100% perfect example.
Opener could bid 6 if they thought it might be a better contract than 6NT.
But... Responder's king might be in clubs instead of hearts, KQJx Axxx x KQJx, and then responder has to
declare to rightside, opposite of this example!
I made the point last time that quantitative bidding is not an exact science. It's just your best estimate of what you can make
based on the values of your hands.
Here I would definitely rather be in 6NT than game, even wrongsided, because
1) they have to lead a club to have a shot to beat me, and
2) then I'll still make if the king is onside
But all that being said, I credit those who noticed the contract was wrongsided. Bonus points for you.
Q4: There are quite a few questions about kickback, minorwood, which is better, and are those expert agreements
A: Kickback and minorwood are conventions that are other versions of roman keycard blackwood.
One problem with keycard blackwood is, suppose your suit is clubs, and partner bids 4NT. All the responses but one take you
beyond 5, and that might be beyond your safety level. Kickback and minorwood aim to solve that and similar problems.
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Kickback means the suit above your trump suit is the keycard ask. 4 for clubs, 4 for diamonds, 4 for hearts, 4NT for
spades.
Minorwood means 4 of a minor is a keycard ask for that minor. 4 for clubs, 4 for diamonds.
Let me mention minorwood first. I don't really like it. Bidding 4 of a minor as a natural forcing bid is very valuable. Like the
auction that is currently showing of 1 1, 3 4, I can't imagine giving up a natural 4 bid. Like I said, it's needed
to invite slam.
Kickback is much better, because the bid above your trump suit is not needed as a natural bid.
But it's very very very accident prone, so it takes a lot of discussion in a true partnership to avoid misunderstandings.
Like here, if responder bid 4 over 3, is it kickback, or is it natural since he is rebidding his suit?
I'm not saying that this question and others like it can't be answered, just that it's important to cover them ahead of time so there
is not a costly slam misunderstanding.
But overall I think, with proper discussion, kickback is a useful convention to save room when asking for keycards. It let's you
stop at the 5 level opposite any response if you didn't find enough keycards for slam. I play it in several partnerships myself.
Q5: On the 2 actions: 1-1-3-4nt versus 1- 1-3 -3 -3nt-4nt, is there any difference between the two
?
A: Well on the actual hand I wouldn't bid 3 because we can't have a fit in either major and I don't need stoppers either.
But if you bid 3 , say because you lack a club stopper, and partner bids 3NT, then 4NT is quantitative. 4NT is pretty much
always quantitative when it's a direct raise of a 3NT bid.
If you want to bid keycard for diamonds there, then you need to take an extra step just as I talked about, and bid 4 over 3NT.
Presumably partner will cuebid a major for you, and then you bid 4NT keycard for diamonds
Q6: What are other auctions after pre-empts on the 3-level of the type like (3) - 3 - (p) - ... where 4NT isn't RKCB but
quantitative? Only cases where you have two routes (direct 4NT and cue-4NT) or other cases as well?
A: No, it's exactly those cases that are covered by that rule. If you have a different strong raise below 4NT, then 4NT is
quantitative, but if you don't then it's probably keycard.
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So (4) - 4 - (P) - 4NT is keycard blackwood for spades, because there is no way to raise spades below 4NT.
It's a very important distinction that is worth understanding.
Q7: On that board where opps opened 3 (5th board), shouldn't North pass?
A: Well it's not really what I was talking about today, but I wouldn't pass over 3 with that hand in a million years. Bidding
definitely might get you too high, there is no doubt about it, but you might also belong in spades, and how will you ever get there
if you don't s tretch and overcall with this?
Kit Woolsey, who is a great player and theorist, likes to say (I'm paraphrasing) that even if bidding is risky, passing is often
riskier.
The fact that bidding might work badly just goes to show how effective preempting can be, nothing more than that.
Q8: Why use regular blackwood? You said at the beginning that "4NT directly over partner's 1 level opening bid is
REGULAR blackwood. If you want to bid keycard blackwood for partners suit, start with a forcing raise such as 1H
2NT, and then bid keycard"
A: Good question, admittedly it's not a bid you would use that often. But what I stated is the standard meaning.
When you bid keycard blackwood for partner's suit, partner will tell you about the K and Q of that suit as well as aces. But you
might only care about aces.
Suppose partner opens 1 and you hold Kx x AKQJxxxx KQ, or something.
You don't want to bid keycard blackwood for hearts, because you don't care about the K and Q of hearts. You only want to know
how many aces partner has.
You could start with a diamond bid, but if an opponent preempts, or if partner jumps to 4, you may never get to bid regular
blackwood. So on that hand I would respond 4NT to 1 and just find out about aces.
Q9: Also in board 5. Would 4 by South on this hand again be a cuebid in clubs encouraging spades? Especially since
3 by partner is not forcing?
A: 4 here would show clubs. You might just have your own club suit to bid. You don't want to have to jump to 5 to show
clubs. It's takes away a hugely important level of bidding.
Roughly speaking, then the opponents have shown one suit, that is the suit you worry about having controlled. It's too hard to also
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worry about club and diamond controls here, you just figure you have them if you have slam values.
Thanks everyone for coming. And thanks to all kibs, great questions. Hope you enjoyed.
------See you soon, keep an eye on BBO News to find out when next lecture is scheduled.
Click here for notes from our previous lectures.
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(July 13, 2015) Lovera said:
If can help to remember : N bids slam with 20 points and pass when has minus of this pointing in its hand (counting
MW+Goren+longness)

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