Click here to view Part\u00a01 of the video commentary<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nBridgeHands<\/em> members – after logging in, please scroll down to view text and video…<\/strong><\/p>\n1430 Roman Keycard Blackwood Slam Bidding – Duplicate Bridge<\/strong>The 1430 Roman Keycard Blackwood convention is designed to improve the accuracy of slam bidding.\u00a0 Like regular Blackwood, the roots of the convention was based on the 4 Notrump Blackwood.\u00a0 Yet with all its improvements, some Duplicate Bridge players have adopted the convention to “Minorwood” and other areas of slam bidding. <\/strong><\/p>\nBefore we begin, we should caution everyone that the 1430 RKC convention is not for everyone.\u00a0\u00a0 With a wide range of bids, responses, and rebids in addition to the subtleties of knowing when to use a given query, this lesson is primarily targeted for advanced Bridge players and partners yearning for more gadgets in their tool chest – you know who you are!\u00a0\u00a0 And if you and your partner\u00a0are comfortable with your existing Blackwood methods, fine – you may wish to glance over this lesson, perhaps revisiting the advanced convention sometime in the future or at least have an inkling of what’s going on with opponents who play this convention.<\/strong><\/p>\nLet\u2019s begin with a review of when not to bid any form of Blackwood:<\/strong><\/p>\nGenerally the player initiating the 4 Notrump ask should have a control in each suit.\u00a0 Otherwise the opponents might quickly win a side-suit Ace and King to set the contract.\u00a0 Controls include Aces, voids, King-Queen suit combinations, singletons, and King+ suit extras.<\/strong><\/p>\nAvoid initiating the 4 Notrump Blackwood bid when you have a void.\u00a0 The responder\u2019s Aces (or keycards in 1430 RKC) will leave ambiguity as to which Ace\/keycard is shown.\u00a0 The control might be in a useful side suit (good) but could be an Ace in a suit where the initiator has a void (bad).\u00a0\u00a0 This could lead to a double counting disaster. <\/strong><\/p>\nSo holding either a void or a side suit without a control, we prefer to bid controls \u201cup the line\u201d (by suit rank) to show partner our controls.\u00a0 Provided we are careful not to bid a control which cannot be interpreted as a signoff bid, cuebidding controls allow our partner the opportunity to initiate the 4 Notrump Ace\/keycard asking sequence.<\/strong><\/p>\nOccasional Shortcomings of Standard Blackwood:<\/strong><\/p>\nTrump King \u2013 Status unknown at the 5 level<\/strong><\/p>\nTrump Queen – Status always a mystery at any level<\/strong><\/p>\nDouble Count Quandary \u2013 Possible double counting on side suit, where it\u2019s preferable to hold the trump King-Queen<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nReview of Blackwood Basics:<\/strong><\/p>\nNo worthless doubleton or void<\/strong><\/p>\nSuit agreement \u2013 not a Notrump contract<\/strong><\/p>\nSuit dominance \u2013 one player with a self-sustaining suit (jump, etc.)<\/strong><\/p>\nSmall slam \u2013 12 tricks (3-4 Aces \/ controls), 33+ distribution points<\/strong><\/p>\nGrandslam \u2013 13 tricks ( Aces \/ controls), 3-4 Kings, 37+ distribution points<\/strong><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/strong>
\n1430 Roman Keycard Blackwood \u2013 Introduction:<\/strong><\/p>\nRevised Technique: 4 Notrump asks for 5 keycards (controls)<\/strong><\/p>\n4 Noturmp response shows Aces plus Trump King<\/strong><\/p>\nAces = 1 control each (keycard)<\/strong>Trump King = 1 control (keycard)<\/strong><\/p>\nStatus of Trump Queen also determined at the 5 level<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nImportant Guidelines:
\n<\/strong><\/div>\nDo not bid 6 Hearts\/Spades when off 2 keycards<\/strong><\/strong> <\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nDo not bid 6 Hearts\/Spades when off 1 keycards and the Trump Queen<\/strong><\/p>\nDo not explore grandslam when off 1 keycard<\/strong><\/p>\nTwo Possible Methods to Play: 14-30 or 30-14 (RKC) Style of Initial Response:<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nPartnership\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 14 – 30 Style\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 30 – 14 Style (RKC)
\nAgreement
\n5 Clubs\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1 or 4 keycards\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 3 or 0 keycards
\n5 Diamonds\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 3 or 0 keycards\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1 or 4 keycards
\n5 Hearts\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a02 w\/o Queen\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2 w\/o Queen
\n5 Spades\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a02 with Queen\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2 with Queen<\/strong><\/p>\nNOTE: IN OUR TRAINING SESSION WE WILL USE THE POPULAR 14-30 STYLE OF RESPONSES.<\/strong><\/p>\nThe 4 Notrump initiator should always be aware of the correct number of keycards giving by the responder based on prior bidding.\u00a0 Since the responses are separated by 3 steps, the variance in keycard response is 11-12 points (2-3 Aces\/King). <\/strong><\/p>\nIncidentally, when responding to keycards with a void, we use a similar approach to traditional Blackwood:<\/strong><\/p>\nWith 2 or 4 keycards and a useful void (suit not bid by partner), we bid 5 Notrump.\u00a0 Memory aid \u2013 with an even number of keys, bid evenly (5 Notrump).\u00a0\u00a0 With 1 or 3 keycards and a useful void beneath the rank of our trump suit, bid the void suit at the 6 level.\u00a0 Memory aid \u2013 with an odd number of keys, bid oddly (6C, 6D, 6H if trump is Spades).<\/strong><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/strong>
\n1430 Blackwood \u2013 Examples After 4 Notrump Response:<\/strong><\/p>\n1S \u2013 4N; 5D \u2013 5S;\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Signoff bid<\/strong><\/p>\n1H \u2013 4N; 5C \u2013 5D\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a01st<\/sup> step after response asks, \u201cDo you have the Trump Queen?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/strong>Rebid responses:\u00a0\u00a0 5 Hearts = No (1st<\/sup> step), 5 Spades = Yes (2nd<\/sup> step)<\/strong><\/p>\n1S \u2013 4N; 5S \u2013 5N;\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Promises all 5 keycards possessed by partnership, now bid Kings \u201cup the line\u201d to explore grandslam<\/strong><\/p>\n1S = 4N; 5S -5N; 6C \/ 6D \u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n1S \u2013 4N; 5S \u2013 5N; 6S small slam signoff, denying Kings (4N was questionable \u2013 why ask missing 2 keycards + 4 Kings?)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n1430 RKC Blackwood Bidding Tips:
\n<\/strong><\/div>\nRelax, take a breath, enjoy the moment
\n<\/strong><\/strong><\/div>\nevaluate, Evaluate, EVALUATE !!!<\/strong><\/strong><\/div>\n\u201cThe one who knows, goes !\u201d (Blackwood, slam, Queen ask, grandslam ask)<\/strong><\/strong><\/div>\nDon\u2019t ask unless you want\/need to know!<\/strong><\/strong><\/div>\nWith 4 keycards and the Trump Queen, bid a small slam<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nWith 5 keycards, the Trump Queen and Kings\/length, bid grandslam
\n<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nFree, Premium and ULTRA members – please login to view video of additional hand\/s <\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nPlease login or register to view this content.<\/h3>\nPlease login or register to view this content.\nHappy Bridge Trails and Tales,<\/strong><\/p>\nBridgeHands<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"1430 Roman Keycard Blackwood Slam Bidding – Duplicate Bridge JavaScript needs to be enabled for polling to work. Online Surveys by Constant Contact.BridgeHands members – after logging in, please scroll down to view text and video… Click here to view Part\u00a01 of the video commentary BridgeHands members – after logging in, please scroll down to […]<\/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\/2041"}],"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=2041"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2041\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2043,"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2041\/revisions\/2043"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2041"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2041"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2041"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}