{"id":2021,"date":"2011-03-06T20:10:22","date_gmt":"2011-03-07T04:10:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/?p=2021"},"modified":"2013-02-15T21:57:28","modified_gmt":"2013-02-16T05:57:28","slug":"polling-you-49slam-bidding-%e2%80%93-minorwood-day-9-march-7-2011","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/?p=2021","title":{"rendered":"Polling You #49:Slam Bidding \u2013 Minorwood, Day 9, March 7, 2011"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Minorwood Slam Bidding &#8211; Duplicate and Contract Bridge<br \/>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"http:\/\/survey.constantcontact.com\/poll\/a07e3iho0h4gkywt106\/start.js?v=1&amp;w=300\"><\/script><\/h2>\n<p><strong>When it comes to bidding slams, there&#8217;s nothing quite like having the right tool for the right situation.\u00a0 The Blackwood convention can be great to find a major suit slam, Gerber is a cool Ace-asking tool when partner balanced the bidding in Notrump, and the Quantitative slam try helps when we just want to know partner&#8217;s range.<br \/>\n<\/strong><a class=\"twitter-share-button\" href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share\">Tweet<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/bridgehands-videos.s3.amazonaws.com\/Polling_You_49_Part_1\/Polling_You_49_Part_1.html\"><strong>Click here to view Part\u00a01 of the video commentary<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>BridgeHands<\/em> members &#8211; after logging in, please scroll down to view text and video&#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>So how you elegantly probe for a slam with partner in a minor suit?\u00a0 Could the Minorwood convention provide us relief from going overboard with the bidding?\u00a0 Read on!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Minor Suit Bidding Strategy:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>3 Notrump \u2013 Stoppers and less than 33 points<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>5 in Minor Suit \u2013 No stoppers and 29-32 points<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Explore Minor Suit Slam \u2013 33+ distributional points<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><br \/>\nWhy Yet Another Slam Convention Like Minorwood?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>3 Notrump contracts are easier to make than 5C or 5D<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>3 Notrump contracts are more profitable than 5C or 5D (40 + 30 + 30)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>The Blackwood 4 Notrump response paradox:\u00a0 1C \u2026 4N; \u2026 showing 1 Ace is 5 Diamonds, passing 5C<!--more--><br \/>\nMinorwood Bidding Prerequisites \u2013 When is it Minorwood?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1D \u2013 3D, Minor suit agreement<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1H \u2013 3D, Self-sustaining minor suit<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1S \u2013 2D; 3D \u2013 4C\/D, Bidding beyond 3 Notrump as a Minorwood Ace-asking conventional method<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>When is the bid NOT Minorwood?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1C \u2013 2D; 3C \u2013 3H; 3S \u2013 4C, lacking a stopper<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>3D \u2013 4D;\u00a0\u00a0 Raising partner\u2019s preempt<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1D \u2013 2C; 2S \u2013 3C, Misfits are not candidates for Minorwood<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1C \u2013 3C; 5C, Bypassing Minorwood altogether<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1D \u2013 3D; 3H \u2013 3S; 4D, the bidding seemed to be a failed 3 Notrump \u201cdance\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1D \u2013 (3C) \u2013 4D, with interference 4D seems to be \u201cto play\u201d (cuebidding 4C would be slam-going)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><br \/>\nControls \u2013 Avoid opponents from taking 2 quick tricks in a suit.<br \/>\nDo not bid Minorwood without a first or second round suit control.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Ace, Void, King-Queen, Singleton, King+<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>West Hand: <strong>Missing 1+ Round \u2013 No Minorwood, bid controls<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/strong><strong>4 3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 No controls<br \/>\nA Q 4 3 2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 First Round<br \/>\nA Q J 2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 First Round<br \/>\nQ 2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 No controls<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>East Hand: <strong>1+ each suit controls, player may bid Minorwood<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/strong><strong><strong>2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Second Round<br \/>\nK 5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Second Round<br \/>\nK T 9 8 7 6\u00a0\u00a0Second Round<br \/>\nA K 6 5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 First and Second<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><br \/>\n<strong>West Hand: <strong>1+ each suit controls, player may bid Minorwood<br \/>\n<strong>2\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Second Round<br \/>\nA Q 4 3 2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 First Round<br \/>\nA Q J 2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 First Round<br \/>\nK Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Second Round<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><strong>East Hand: <strong>Missing 1+ Round \u2013 No Minorwood, bid controls<br \/>\n<strong>5 4 3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0No controls<br \/>\nK 5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Second Round<br \/>\nK T 9 8 7 6\u00a0\u00a0Second Round<br \/>\nA J\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0First Round<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Two Options to Invoke Minorwood \u2013 Partnership Agreement Needed<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1. Bid 4 level in the other minor suit after a suit fit<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1D \u2013 3D; 4C\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 4C invokes Minorwood<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1D \u2013 4C;\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 4C invokes Minorwood<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><br \/>\n2. Bid 4 level in the agreed minor suit (may create ambiguity between Minorwood and signoff)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1D \u2013 3D; 4D\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 4D invokes Minorwood<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1D \u2013 4D;\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a04D invokes Minorwood<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Method 2 works best when playing the Inverted Minor convention to show a stronger hand<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1D \u2013 2D; 4D\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Since 2D shows 10+ points, here it\u2019s clear 4D is Minorwood and not a signoff<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>3. Partnership agreements, please!\u00a0 Especially when making a Grandslam try<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>After a Minorwood ask-response and going beyond 5 in minor, cuebid Kings \u201cup the line\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><br \/>\nSignoff Examples<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1D \u2013 3D; 3N<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1D \u2013 3D; 5D<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1D \u2013 3D; 3S \u2013 3N; 5D<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1D \u2013 3D; 3N \u2013 4C\/D; 4x \u2013 4N\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Failed Minorwood slam try (Ace ask-response revealed missing Aces)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1D \u2013 2D; 4C\/D \u2013 4x; 5y \u2013 5z; 6D\u00a0\u00a0 Cuebidding Kings up the line above 5 in minor suit (missing Kings)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><br \/>\nMinorwood Summary:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Bidding past desirable 3 Notrump generally shows interest in slam<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Using 4 Notrump Blackwood is too high to ask for Aces, response may be past 5C\/D signoff<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Minorwood is invoked by 4C\/4D using same\/opposite minor, depending on partnership agreements<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Minorwood grandslam ask is accomplished by bidding Kings \u201cup the line\u201d by suit rank<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><strong><strong>Free, Premium and ULTRA members &#8211; please login to view video of additional hand\/s <\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><strong><strong>Please login or register to view this content.<\/h3>\nPlease login or register to view this content.\n<p><strong>Happy Bridge Trails and Tales,<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>BridgeHands<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Minorwood Slam Bidding &#8211; Duplicate and Contract Bridge When it comes to bidding slams, there&#8217;s nothing quite like having the right tool for the right situation.\u00a0 The Blackwood convention can be great to find a major suit slam, Gerber is a cool Ace-asking tool when partner balanced the bidding in Notrump, and the Quantitative slam [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[39],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2021"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2021"}],"version-history":[{"count":31,"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2021\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2023,"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2021\/revisions\/2023"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2021"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2021"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2021"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}