Index
Gerber
1430 Roman Keycard Blackwood
Interference over Ace-asking Bids
Grand Slam Force
A 4C bid over a bid or bids showing the desire to play in notrump (usually Notrump has been the first or last bid) is Gerber. It asks Aces, with 4D showing 0 or 4, 4H showing 1, 4S showing 2, and 4NT showing 3. A follow-up bid of 5C similarly asks Kings. Gerber is also on over Stayman as follows:
1N-2C-2D-4C: Gerber. "We didn't have a major suit fit, but I'm still slam-hungry."
1N-2C-2M-4C: Roman Key Card Gerber for the bid major (whether or not responder wants to play there. 4D shows 0 or 3, 4H shows 1 or 4, 4S shows 2 without the Queen of the bid major, and 4N shows 2 with the Queen.
A 4NT bid when a suit has been agreed upon explicitly or implicitly
is Key Card-asking in that suit. A response of 5C promises either 1
or 4 key cards, 5D promises 0 or 3, 5H shows 2 without the Queen, and 5S
shows 2 with the Queen (or instead the knowledge that the fit is at least
10 cards long, so the Queen is not critical.) A follow-up bid of 5N
promises all the Key Cards and asks about side Kings. 6C shows 0, 6D shows
1, 6H shows 2, and 6S shows 3. We don't bid them up the line. Or just bid
7 if you know 13 tricks are there.
If 4NT is answered by 5 of a minor, a bid of 5 of the cheapest side suit
asks about the Queen of the key suit. A negative response is to rebid the
trump suit as cheaply as possible. With the Queen and no side Kings, bid 5NT.
With the Queen and one or more side Kings, bid the cheapest suit of those
Kings.
A higher side suit bid after the response to 4NT is looking for help beyond the
Ace in that suit (probably 3rd round control). Sign off without help, and make
a descriptive bid with help.
DOPI: If the opponents bid over your ace or key card-asking bid, a
double shows zero, and pass shows 1. The cheapest step shows the minimum
other response (2 in standard ace-asking auctions, 2 without the Queen
in key card auctions), and so forth.
ROPI: Similarly, if the opponents double, take the opportunity to redouble
to show zero, pass to show one, etc.
DEPO: If the opponents interfere with your ace-asking at the 6-level, it's
no time to be fancy. Just double with an even number of what was asked
about, pass with an odd number, and hope partner figures it out.
A blast to 5NT is looking solely for high honors in your suit. If you
have 2 of the top 3, bid 7C (and let partner place the contract). With none,
bid 6 of your suit. With 1, bid 6 of a lower suit if there's room. If your
suit is spades, bid 6H with the Queen, 6D with the King, and 6C with the Ace.
If it is hearts, bid 6D with the Queen and 6C with one of the others.
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