More Non-Forcing, One Round Forcing or Game Forcing?

Let's play a game. The name of the game is "Non-Forcing, One Round Forcing or Game Forcing?"

We've played this before in this post:
Non-Forcing, One Round Forcing or Game Forcing?

I will give you a bid and you have to tell me whether or not it is a Non-Forcing bid (Partner is allowed to Pass the bid), a One Round Forcing bid (Partner must respond at least one more time) or a Game Forcing bid (neither Partner can Pass until a game is reached)

Bid 1

Opener	Responder
1♦	1♥
1♠

Is Opener’s bid of 1♠ a Non-Forcing bid, a One Round Forcing bid or a Game Forcing bid?



Bid 2

Opener	Responder
1♥	1♠
2♥

Is Opener’s bid of 2♥ a Non-Forcing bid, a One Round Forcing bid or a Game Forcing bid?



Bid 3

Opener	Responder
1♥	2♣
2♥

Is Opener’s bid of 2♥ a Non-Forcing bid, a One Round Forcing bid or a Game Forcing bid?



Bid 4

Opener	Responder
1♥	1♠
2♦

Is Opener’s bid of 2♦ a Non-Forcing bid, a One Round Forcing bid or a Game Forcing bid?



Bid 5

Opener	Responder
1♥	2♣
2♦

Is Opener’s bid of 2♦ a Non-Forcing bid, a One Round Forcing bid or a Game Forcing bid?



Bid 6

Opener	Responder
1♥	1♠
3♦

Is Opener’s bid of 3♦ a Non-Forcing bid, a One Round Forcing bid or a Game Forcing bid?



Bid 7

Opener	Responder
1♦	1♥
1NT	2♠

Is Responder’s bid of 2♠ a Non-Forcing bid, a One Round Forcing bid or a Game Forcing bid?



Bid 8

Opener	Responder
1♦	1♥
1NT	2♣

Is Responder’s bid of 2♣ a Non-Forcing bid, a One Round Forcing bid or a Game Forcing bid?



Bid 9

Opener	Responder
1♦	1♥
1NT	3♣

Is Responder’s bid of 3♣ a Non-Forcing bid, a One Round Forcing bid or a Game Forcing bid?



Bid 10

Opener	Responder
1♦	1♥
1NT	3♦

Is Responder’s bid of 3♦ a Non-Forcing bid, a One Round Forcing bid or a Game Forcing bid?

Pre-emptive Bidding -- Upping the Pre-empt

WARNING! The following post talks about Pre-emptive Bidding. Pre-empts are bids used by more experienced players. If you are a new player do NOT bother reading this post. When you have played a bit more and know a bit more you can learn how to use them. For now, do not bother.

Please read these posts first to learn a little bit about pre-emptive bidding:
Pre-emptive Bidding -- An Introduction
Responding to a Weak 2

When Partner pre-empts and you have good trump support but a weakish hand you should UP the PRE-EMPT. That means make it even MORE difficult for the Opponents to figure things out.

For instance Partner opens 2♠, RHO Passes (or Doubles or even Overcalls) and you hold:
♠K765
♥J4
♦2
♣QJT832

What do you bid?

Well if you said "Pass" because you are not going to make a game you are sort of right. You are probably NOT going to make a game. But guess who is?

That's right. Your Opponents. They've got to be making at least 4♥.

But they are not in the auction yet. Or if they are in the auction they don't really know what is going on. Want to make life VERY difficult for your LHO? Bid 4♠. Now they have a tough bid. Maybe you are bidding game because you will make it. They don't know. Maybe they will Pass and let you play in 4♠. Sure you will go down one or two but you probably won't be doubled. They might not even figure out they can make a game.

But if you Pass Partner's 2♠ bid it is easy for LHO to come in with either a Double or an Overcall. Now they will find their contract.

Once they know they have game, if you then bid 4♠ it is easy for them to know what to do. They will either Double you in your game or bid 5♥ and make that. It is easy once you give them room to explore.

So when Partner opens and you have a weakish hand, raise them to your LAW level. That means raise them to the same level of the number of trumps you hold between the two of you.

So if Partner opens a weak 2 they have six trump. If you have three trump raise them to the 3 level. If you have four trump raise them to the 4 level.

Let's practice. Partner opens the bidding 2♠. RHO Passes (or Doubles or even Overcalls). What is your bid?

Hand 1

♠K765
♥J4
♦2
♣QJT832



Hand 2

♠953
♥AJ
♦AT9654
♣83



Hand 3

♠QT74
♥AT32
♦7
♣A654



Hand 4

♠T83
♥87
♦8753
♣AKT5



Hand 5

♠A754
♥T76
♦86
♣Q853



Hand 6

♠K86
♥J853
♦43
♣KQJ9



Hand 7

♠A32
♥T9
♦K72
♣Q9765



Hand 8

♠JT9
♥AJ76
♦J872
♣42



Hand 9

♠KJ32
♥7
♦JT983
♣KT8



Hand 10

♠J432
♥6532
♦84
♣AJ8



Hand 11

♠742
♥KT98
♦98
♣K876



Hand 12

♠8543
♥T9
♦K82
♣KT64



Hand 13

♠AQ65
♥A732
♦T52
♣62



Hand 14

♠J73
♥83
♦54
♣KQ8652



Hand 15

♠KJ4
♥93
♦K652
♣KT42



Hand 16

♠KT83
♥82
♦95
♣JT974



Hand 17

♠Q73
♥JT94
♦32
♣AQ96



Hand 18

♠QJ93
♥97
♦AK873
♣T2



Hand 19

♠QT43
♥A6
♦3
♣KT8765



Hand 20

♠T43
♥KJ5
♦K87543
♣J



Hand 21

♠Q963
♥QT86
♦3
♣QT95



Hand 22

♠542
♥AT742
♦Q72
♣J7



Hand 23

♠KT72
♥A53
♦6
♣QJ852



Hand 24

♠J97
♥83
♦AJ93
♣KJ94



Hand 25

♠KJ86
♥T6
♦T52
♣A985



Hand 26

♠Q875
♥876
♦J9
♣JT76



Hand 27

♠Q94
♥95
♦KQT65
♣QJ7



Hand 28

♠8653
♥8
♦64
♣KQJ874



Hand 29

♠9432
♥AQT64
♦74
♣A4



Hand 30

♠AQ3
♥987532
♦97
♣94



Hand 31

♠AJ74
♥KJ43
♦
♣T9743



Hand 32

♠A942
♥93
♦A83
♣7532



Hand 33

♠KT7
♥JT542
♦843
♣KT



Hand 34

♠T94
♥KT7
♦T2
♣A9742



Hand 35

♠Q652
♥K843
♦KT943
♣



Hand 36

♠KT9
♥A7632
♦642
♣J7



Hand 37

♠J653
♥J875
♦
♣AK753



Hand 38

♠AQ4
♥T873
♦8652
♣J4



Hand 39

♠K743
♥82
♦A3
♣KT876

Pre-emptive Bidding -- Does Vulnerabilitity Matter?

WARNING! The following post talks about Pre-emptive Bidding. Pre-empts are bids used by more experienced players. If you are a new player do NOT bother reading this post. When you have played a bit more and know a bit more you can learn how to use them. For now, do not bother.

Please read these posts first to learn a little bit about pre-emptive bidding:
Pre-emptive Bidding -- An Introduction
Responding to a Weak 2

Question: Does vulnerability make a difference when making a pre-emptive bid? Why does that even matter?

Answer: Vulnerability is HUGE! The reason for that is the scoring. First check out my post on:
How to Score at Matchpoints

Now let's see what happens if you go down in your contract. This is the amount of points you give your Opponents if you go down in your contract.

# Tricks you went DOWN in your contract	Non-Vulnerable	Vulnerable
1	50	100
2	100	200
3	150	300

Now let's see what happens if you go down in your contract and the Opponents DOUBLE you.

# Tricks you went DOWN in your contract DOUBLED	Non-Vulnerable	Vulnerable
1	100	200
2	300	500
3	500	800

The BIG number on both these charts is the minus 200.

Minus 200 is a score you never want to get in matchpoints.

Why? Because if you give away 200 points to the Opponents that is a number they will never get for any part score they bid. Sometimes making a pre-emptive bid means you "steal" the contract from the Opponents. So they were going to bid on the contract but you stopped them because you bid too high, too fast for them. This generally means that you will not make your contract. After all, it should not have been yours. The Opponents have the majority of the points. You were just bidding because you had length in your suit. So now let's look at what would happen if you did NOT steal the contract from the Opponents. Rather you had let them bid instead. How many points would you have given away?

If you let them bid 2♠ and take 9 tricks they will get 140 points. Even if they bid 2♠ and take 10 tricks they will still get only 170 points. Neither of these scores beats giving them 200 points. If the Opponents could be in a minor suit (say 3♣) even if they take all 13 tricks they only score 190 points. You would rather give them 190 points versus 200 points.

That means that unless the rest of the Opponents can not only bid but also make a game if you give your Opponents 200 points you will get a bad score at matchpoints. You were better off NOT bidding and just letting them play in their part-score.

That also means that if you go down 2 in your vulnerable contract that is a bad result for you unless the other Opponents bid and make a game.

If the Opponents manage to double you in your vulnerable contract and you just go down 1 trick that is a bad result for you unless others bid and make a game.

What about if the Opponents can bid and make a game?

Well now you need to check out the Opponents vulnerability. If they Opponents are NOT vulnerable (but you are) then you are allowed to go down only one doubled. If the Opponents double you and you go down two tricks the Opponents score 500 points. If they can bid and make 3NT they would only score 400 points since they are not vulnerable. If they can bid 4♥ and take 11 tricks they only score 450 points since they are not vulnerable.

So here's a chart:

Opponents Vulnerability	You are Non-Vulnerable	You are Vulnerable	You are Non-Vulnerable but DOUBLED	You are Vulnerable and DOUBLED
Non-Vulnerable	You can go down one for sure -- that's only 50 points and that will beat any part-score. If you can go down two you'd better make sure the Opponents can take at least eight tricks in NT or a major or nine tricks in a minor	If you can go down one you'd better make sure the Opponents can take at least eight tricks in NT or a major or nine tricks in a minor. If you go down two the rest of the Opponents have to bid and make a game for this to be good for you.	If you can go down one you'd better make sure the Opponents can take at least eight tricks in NT or a major or nine tricks in a minor. If you go down two the rest of the Opponents have to bid and make a game for this to be good for you.	If you can go down one you'd better make sure the rest of the Opponents can bid and make a game. If you go down two the rest of the Opponents need to bid and make a slam for this to be good for you. Very unlikely.
Vulnerable	You can go down one for sure -- that's only 50 points and that will beat any part-score. If you can go down two you'd better make sure the Opponents can take at least eight tricks in NT or a major or nine tricks in a minor	If you can go down one you'd better make sure the Opponents can take at least eight tricks in NT or a major or nine tricks in a minor. If you go down two the rest of the Opponents have to bid and make a game for this to be good for you.	If you can go down one you'd better make sure the Opponents can take at least eight tricks in NT or a major or nine tricks in a minor. If you go down two or three the rest of the Opponents have to bid and make a game for this to be good for you. Going down four will be bad.	If you can go down one you'd better make sure the rest of the Opponents can bid and make a game. If you go down two the rest of the Opponents have to bid and make a game for this to be good for you. Going down three will be bad.

That's an INCREDIBLY difficult chart to memorize!

This is true. Don't bother. Here's an easier way to think of it:

Vulnerability	Meaning	Therefore
FAVOURABLE vulnerability	YOU are not vulnerable but the Opponents are vulnerable	You can go down THREE
EVEN vulnerability	You have the same vulnerability as the Opponents -- either both non-vulnerable or both vulnerable	You can go down TWO
UNFAVOURABLE vulnerability	YOU are vulnerable but the Opponents are not vulnerable	You can go down only ONE

In general just remember that if you are VULNERABLE make sure you have a GOOD suit and be a little more timid in the bidding. You shouldn't get into too much trouble that way.

Weak 2 Bids -- Responding to 2NT

WARNING! The following post talks about Pre-emptive Bidding. Pre-empts are bids used by more experienced players. If you are a new player do NOT bother reading this post. When you have played a bit more and know a bit more you can learn how to use them. For now, do not bother.

Please read these posts first to learn a little bit about pre-emptive bidding:
Pre-emptive Bidding -- An Introduction
Responding to a Weak 2

Last post talked a little bit about asking Partner for an outside feature. We talked about this hand:
♠95
♥AJ65
♦AJT
♣KQ73

and discussed some of the hands we wanted to be in 3NT in. Let's take a look at four hands Partner could have and see where we want to play.

Hand A	Hand B	Hand C	Hand D
♠KQJT76 ♥432 ♦84 ♣62	♠KQJT76 ♥K32 ♦84 ♣62	♠AKQT76 ♥432 ♦84 ♣62	♠KQJT76 ♥432 ♦K4 ♣62
♠95 ♥AJ65 ♦AJT ♣KQ73	♠95 ♥AJ65 ♦AJT ♣KQ73	♠95 ♥AJ65 ♦AJT ♣KQ73	♠95 ♥AJ65 ♦AJT ♣KQ73
With this hand we do NOT want to be in 3NT. The Opponents might not take their A♠ right away and then I have no way back to Dummy.	With this hand we DO want to be in 3NT. The Opponents might not take their A♠ right away but I can get back to Dummy with the K♥.	With this hand we DO want to be in 3NT. We can take six ♠ tricks if they split nicely and I should get three outside tricks.	With this hand we DO want to be in 3NT. The Opponents might not take their A♠ right away but I can get back to Dummy with the K♦.

So how do we figure that out?

We bid 2NT to ASK Partner if they have an outside feature to their hand. That means an Ace or King OUTSIDE the suit they pre-empted in. Partner can also tell us if we don't NEED an outside feature because their suit is SOOO good.

The responses are:
Partner rebids their suit if they do not have an Ace or King outside the suit and their suit is not headed by the AKQ.
If Partner has an outside Ace or King they bid 3 of the suit where they have the outside feature.
If Partner has a suit headed by the AKQ they bid 3NT.

So let's go back to those hands to see what Partner will bid over our 2NT response:

Hand A	Hand B	Hand C	Hand D
♠KQJT76 ♥432 ♦84 ♣62	♠KQJT76 ♥K32 ♦84 ♣62	♠AKQT76 ♥432 ♦84 ♣62	♠KQJT76 ♥432 ♦K4 ♣62
Partner rebids 3♠ to say they do not have an Ace or a King outside the ♠ suit. We will then PASS.	Partner rebids 3♥ to say they have the Ace♥ or the King♥. We will then bid 3NT.	Partner rebids 3NT to say they have a solid suit -- the ♠AKQxxx. We will PASS.	Partner rebids 3♦ to say they have the Ace♦ or the King♦. We will then bid 3NT.

Let's practice responding to our Partner's 2NT bid. On all the following hands you opened 2♠. Partner then bid 2NT. What is your bid?

You	Partner
2♠	2NT
???

Hand 1

♠AKT876
♥T4
♦863
♣75



Hand 2

♠KQT876
♥65
♦A84
♣85



Hand 3

♠AQJT87
♥T
♦J63
♣765



Hand 4

♠AKJ976
♥T83
♦53
♣96



Hand 5

♠AKQT86
♥97
♦9754
♣8



Hand 6

♠KQT876
♥65
♦K84
♣85



Hand 7

♠KQ8754
♥J6
♦9
♣KT95



Hand 8

♠KQT876
♥K84
♦65
♣85



Hand 9

♠AKQT86
♥423
♦754
♣8



Hand 10

♠AKJT85
♥962
♦2
♣Q64



Hand 11

♠KQT984
♥K6
♦9
♣9542



Hand 12

♠AKT987
♥74
♦T84
♣Q7



Hand 13

♠AQT975
♥65
♦K84
♣85



Hand 14

♠KQJT65
♥865
♦Q8
♣94



Hand 15

♠KQJT85
♥962
♦2
♣K64



Hand 16

♠AKQT86
♥4
♦9754
♣65



Hand 17

♠AKT974
♥87
♦97
♣J32



Hand 18

♠KQT986
♥96
♦92
♣A95



Hand 19

♠KQT985
♥A65
♦84
♣85

Responding to a Weak 2

WARNING! The following post talks about Pre-emptive Bidding. Pre-empts are bids used by more experienced players. If you are a new player do NOT bother reading this post. When you have played a bit more and know a bit more you can learn how to use them. For now, do not bother.

Please read this post first to learn a little bit about pre-emptive bidding:
Pre-emptive Bidding -- An Introduction

So Partner just opened the bidding with a weak 2. Now what? What are your responses?

You can just bid game. If Partner opened the bidding 2♠ and I hold this hand:
♠QJ65
♥82
♦AK93
♣AK3

I just bid 4♠ (game). I expect Partner can make this. They should lose a couple of ♥ tricks but that should be it.

I can Pass if I don't expect to make a game and have few trump. Like this hand when Partner opens 2♠:
♠Q5
♥Q82
♦KJ93
♣K873

I will just Pass.

I can bid game in NT with the right hand.
♠KQ5
♥A82
♦A93
♣A873

Here we DO have a ♠ fit but if I count tricks we might only have nine tricks. Six ♠ tricks and three Aces. Nine tricks is good for 3NT but bad for 4♠. So on this hand I will bid 3NT. Notice how I trust Partner has a good suit.

What if I am not sure where the best place to play is? Is there a way to ask Partner about their hand?

What if I hold this hand when Partner opens 2♠:
♠95
♥AJ65
♦AJT
♣KQ73

In NT we might be able to take five ♠ tricks and three outside tricks. But say Partner holds this hand:
♠KQJT76
♥432
♦84
♣62

We might lose a trick in every suit so we cannot play in 4♠. If I try 3NT we could make that if I can take five ♠ tricks. But what happens if the opponents DON'T take their A♠ right away. If they hold up on the A♠ then I have NO WAY back to the Dummy and I will only take one ♠ trick. That is not good.

But what if Partner has this hand:
♠KQJT76
♥K32
♦84
♣62

With this hand the opponents could hold up on the A♠ and I could still get back to Dummy with Partners K♥! In 4♠ I would still lose four tricks but I would be able to make 3NT.

Or what if Partner has this hand:
♠AKQT76
♥432
♦84
♣62

Since Partner's ♠ suit is so good I don't even NEED an entry back to them. I should take 9 tricks in 3NT. I do have eight right off the top and can easily set up a ninth. But 4♠ could still lose four tricks.

So HOW do I ASK Partner about these potential hands?

We can use 2NT as an ASKING bid. It ASKS Partner if they have an outside feature. That is an Ace OR a King outside the trump suit.

We will get into the responses next post. For now let's practice what you will bid if Partner opens the bidding 2♠. Partner is VULNERABLE so that means they have a GOOD SUIT. At least two of the top three honours (AKQ) and good spot cards. So it is your bid. What will you do? Pass? Bid 3NT? Bid 4♠? Ask Partner if they have an outside Ace or King with 2NT? You decide.

Hand 1

♠A97
♥42
♦AKT6
♣KQJ7



Hand 2

♠J6
♥AJT
♦AT96
♣KJ76



Hand 3

♠K543
♥AK7654
♦43
♣2



Hand 4

♠98
♥AQ4
♦AQ42
♣KT65



Hand 5

♠K87
♥A54
♦A54
♣A765



Hand 6

♠Q
♥AK43
♦A754
♣AK32



Hand 7

♠
♥KQ65
♦KQ765
♣KQ54



Hand 8

♠A976
♥A
♦
♣AQJT9765



Hand 9

♠K876
♥7
♦AK6
♣KJ765



Hand 10

♠QJ65
♥AQ4
♦AQ3
♣A87



Hand 11

♠Q4
♥KQ652
♦Q54
♣Q43



Hand 12

♠A976
♥A82
♦AQJT97
♣

Pre-emptive Bidding -- An Introduction

WARNING! The following post talks about Pre-emptive Bidding. Pre-empts are bids used by more experienced players. If you are a new player do NOT bother reading this post. When you have played a bit more and know a bit more you can learn how to use them. For now, do not bother.

A pre-emptive bid occurs when one player JUMPS in the bidding to bid a suit and their partner has not yet made a bid.

You can pre-empt when you open the bidding.

For example, opening the bidding with 3♠ is a pre-emptive bid. You have jumped in a suit.

Opening the bidding 1♠ is NOT a pre-empt. You did not jump.

You can make a pre-emptive overcall.

RHO	You!
1♣	2♦

2♦ is a pre-empt. The opponents opened the bidding and you jumped and bid a new suit.

RHO	You!
1♠	2♦

2♦ is a normal overcall. You did NOT jump in the bidding.

Partner	You!
1♦	2♠

Unless otherwise agreed upon, 2♠ is something called a JUMP SHIFT. Partner opened the bidding. You do not pre-empt your Partner.

The purpose of a pre-emptive bid is to disrupt the opponents bidding. It shows a weak hand with a good quality, long suit. To make a pre-emptive bid you should have the following:

• 5 to 10 HCP (or you can play 6 to 11 HCP or even 5 to 11)
• At least 3 of the top 5 honors (A, K, Q, J, T) – non-vulnerable
• At least 2 of the top 3 honors (A, K, Q) - vulnerable or non-vulnerable
• No tolerance for any outside major suit (4+ cards) – your hand is too good
• No outside 5 card minor – your hand is too good
• At most 1 trick outside the suit

Some players are not as disciplined when they make a pre-emptive bid. Their suit is not as good. I recommend being very disciplined when you first start playing pre-emptive bids. After you are more experienced playing pre-empts you can "relax" the rules a bit as you see fit.

The level you pre-empt at shows the LENGTH in your suit.

Pre-empting at the 2 level shows a 6 card suit
Pre-empting at the 3 level shows a 7 card suit
Pre-empting at the 4 level shows a 8 card suit
and so on...

So with this hand:
♠AQJT65
♥82
♦93
♣973

Open the bidding 2♠. This is a pre-empt.

If your RHO opens the bidding with 1♣ (or 1♦ or even 1♥), you can now bid 2♠ which would be a pre-empt.

With this hand:
♠KQJT652
♥8
♦93
♣973

Open the bidding 3♠.

If your RHO opens the bidding with 1♣ (or 1♦ or even 1♥), bid 3♠ which is a pre-empt.

With that in mind, what will you open the bidding?

Hand 1

♠AQJT654
♥Q
♦93
♣973



Hand 2

♠AKJT85
♥962
♦2
♣Q64



Hand 3

♠KQJ875
♥9
♦AK74
♣K3



Hand 4

♠J86532
♥T4
♦T5
♣AQT



Hand 5

♠AKJT532
♥4
♦KQ
♣T85



Hand 6

♠T87542
♥Q87
♦K
♣KQ2



Hand 7

♠KQT9765
♥9
♦63
♣Q73



Hand 8

♠AK9432
♥74
♦T84
♣Q7



Hand 9

♠AK9653
♥J643
♦
♣KQ2



Hand 10

♠T976432
♥KQ8
♦KQ
♣7



Hand 11

♠KQ8754
♥J6
♦9
♣KT95



Hand 12

♠KQ8764
♥83
♦A53
♣A4



Hand 13

♠AKQT86
♥97
♦9754
♣8



Hand 14

♠T98742
♥A
♦92
♣AQ94



Hand 15

♠AKT732
♥T4
♦863
♣75



Hand 16

♠KQT98653
♥T
♦85
♣K4



Hand 17

♠AKJ976
♥T83
♦53
♣96



Hand 18

♠AJT872
♥
♦A875
♣AK9



Hand 19

♠AKT974
♥87
♦97
♣J32



Hand 20

♠J875432
♥4
♦K93
♣K6



Hand 21

♠AQ98743
♥J93
♦Q5
♣A



Hand 22

♠AKQT986
♥4
♦986
♣32



Hand 23

♠986432
♥J532
♦A65
♣



Hand 24

♠KQT543
♥A65
♦84
♣85



Hand 25

♠KQT87652
♥95
♦7
♣T8



Hand 26

♠KQT9754
♥K5
♦97
♣76



Hand 27

♠AKT98732
♥J6
♦8
♣64



Hand 28

♠KQJT65
♥865
♦Q8
♣94



Hand 29

♠J986543
♥K4
♦Q8
♣A9



Hand 30

♠KJ8743
♥AQJ9
♦6
♣Q9



Hand 31

♠AKJT743
♥3
♦962
♣97



Hand 32

♠K98742
♥J
♦AT7432
♣



Hand 33

♠AKQJ9862
♥
♦93
♣A98



Hand 34

♠AQJ9742
♥853
♦3
♣63



Hand 35

♠KQJ98742
♥Q32
♦6
♣3



Hand 36

♠AKJT9743
♥3
♦52
♣32



Hand 37

♠AKJT5432
♥52
♦T3
♣5



Hand 38

♠AQ6432
♥T
♦J63
♣765



Hand 39

♠AJ9643
♥T3
♦QT
♣AKJ

WARNING! The following post talks about BLACKWOOD. Blackwood is a bid used by more experienced players. If you are a new player do NOT bother reading this post. When you have played a bit more and know a bit more you can learn Blackwood. For now, do not bother.

Blackwood -- A Summary

For an introduction on Blackwood please read the following posts first:
Blackwood -- An Introduction
Blackwood -- To Bid or Not to Bid
Blackwood or Quantitative?
Blackwood -- Asking for Kings

Blackwood is a convention bridge players use to ask their Partner how many Aces they hold after the partnership has agreed upon a suit or, if no suit has been agreed upon, the last bid was not any number of natural NTs. In these auctions, a bid of 4NT asks their Partner how many Aces they hold. Bridge players call this 4NT bid Blackwood.

• Blackwood can be bid after an opening bid of any suit
• Blackwood can be bid after Partner supports your Opening suit
• Blackwood can be bid after Partner opens and supports your suit
• Blackwood can be bid after Partner opens and rebids a suit
• Blackwood can be bid after Partner made an Overcall of a suit
• Blackwood can be bid after Partner supports your Overcall of a suit

The key here is a SUIT has been bid. Not NT.

What are the responses to Blackwood?

5♣	Partner I have either zero or all four Aces
5♦	Partner I have one Ace
5♥	Partner I have two Aces
5♠	Partner I have three Aces

Since you do not know which Aces Partner has you should NOT bid Blackwood if you have a void in a suit OR a useless doubleton.

Many players think you MUST ask for Aces in order to bid a slam. This is not true. You only ask for Aces if you need to know how many Aces Partner has in their hand. If you do NOT need to know that information then don't ask for it.

If you KNOW you want to be at the 6 level and not at the 7 level then do NOT ask for Aces. Just bid at the 6 level. Asking for Aces only assures the Partnership they are not off 2 Aces so can safely bid to the 6 level OR is looking for the 7 level if the Partnership holds all the right cards.

Once the Partnership has gone through Blackwood to ask their Partner for the number of Aces they hold, they can continue bidding Blackwood if they want to know the number of Kings. In order to do this the Partnership MUST hold ALL the Aces. You do not ask Partner for the number of Kings they hold if the partnership is missing an Ace. If you cannot bid a small slam after going through Blackwood and finding out the Partnership is off one Ace then you shouldn't have bid Blackwood in the first place.

In order to ask for Kings you need to go through asking for Aces first. A leap to 5NT without bidding 4NT first is NOT asking for Kings. So even if you hold all 4 Aces in your hand and want to go straight to asking Partner for the number of Kings they hold you cannot. You must go through 4NT Blackwood and ask for the number of Aces before you then ask for the number of Kings.

In order to ask for Kings you should be interested in a GRAND. Partner is allowed to ignore your question and leap to the 7 level if they have a hand that can take all the tricks knowing the partnership has all the Aces.

After getting a response from bidding 4NT, a bid of 5NT is now asking for the number of KINGS Partner holds. The responses are:

6♣	Partner I have zero Kings
6♦	Partner I have one King
6♥	Partner I have two Kings
6♠	Partner I have three Kings
6NT	Partner I have all four Kings

WARNING! The following post talks about BLACKWOOD. Blackwood is a bid used by more experienced players. If you are a new player do NOT bother reading this post. When you have played a bit more and know a bit more you can learn Blackwood. For now, do not bother.

Blackwood -- Asking for Kings

For an introduction on Blackwood please read the following posts first:
Blackwood -- An Introduction
Blackwood -- To Bid or Not to Bid

Once the Partnership has gone through Blackwood to ask their Partner for the number of Aces they hold, they can continue bidding Blackwood if they want to know the number of Kings. In order to do this the Partnership MUST hold ALL the Aces. You do not ask Partner for the number of Kings they hold if you are missing an Ace. If you cannot bid a small slam after going through Blackwood and finding out the Partnership is off one Ace then you shouldn't have bid Blackwood in the first place.

In order to ask for Kings you should be interested in a GRAND. Partner is allowed to ignore your question and leap to the 7 level if they have a hand that can take all the tricks knowing the partnership has all the Aces.

After getting a response from bidding 4NT, a bid of 5NT is now asking for the number of KINGS Partner holds. The responses are:

6♣	Partner I have zero Kings
6♦	Partner I have one King
6♥	Partner I have two Kings
6♠	Partner I have three Kings
6NT	Partner I have all four Kings

Note: Some people play 6♣ shows zero or four Kings. I think that is a way to keep these bids consistent and make life a little easier for some. Blackwood is not easy. I like the old school approach of bidding 6NT to show all four Kings because if the Partnership cannot play in 6NT or a grand knowing that I have all four Kings then Partner should not have asked for the number of Kings I have and there will be no mercy.

Let's practice your responses to Blackwood asking for Kings. On the following hands you opened the bidding 1♣. Partner responded 1♥. You responded with 4♥ showing about 20 points with four trump. Partner then bid 4NT asking for the number of Aces you have in your hand. You gave your answer and then Partner bids more Blackwood. They bid 5NT guaranteeing all the Aces and asking for the number of Kings you hold. What will you bid now and what are you telling Partner with your bid?

You	Partner
1♣	1♥
4♥	4NT
(Answer to number of Aces)	5NT
?

Hand 1

♠AJ4
♥AKQ9
♦8
♣K8752



Hand 2

♠QJ
♥AKQ2
♦K9
♣KQT42



Hand 3

♠AT9
♥AKQ6
♦63
♣AQT2



Hand 4

♠KT5
♥AKT4
♦A
♣AQ854



Hand 5

♠K85
♥KQ96
♦A
♣AQT85



Hand 6

♠AJT2
♥AQJT
♦8
♣AJT8



Hand 7

♠AK5
♥K875
♦5
♣AKQ85



Hand 8

♠AK
♥KQ87
♦5
♣AKQ85



Hand 9

♠76
♥AKJT
♦A52
♣AQJ8



Hand 10

♠AK
♥AT85
♦KQ
♣KJ863



Hand 11

♠AK7
♥AK64
♦63
♣KQ98



Hand 12

♠AK7
♥KQT8
♦A8
♣QJ98



Hand 13

♠AK7
♥KT94
♦A
♣KQ953



Hand 14

♠AK9
♥KQT8
♦96
♣AQJ3



Hand 15

♠Q52
♥AQJ9
♦A7
♣AQT5



Hand 16

♠AK
♥KQ93
♦76
♣AKT98



Hand 17

♠AKQ5
♥KQ92
♦6
♣AQT9



Hand 18

♠KT2
♥AKT7
♦A
♣A9764



Hand 19

♠8
♥AKJ4
♦KQJ
♣AJT52



Hand 20

♠KJ
♥QJ52
♦AQ7
♣AQ74



Hand 21

♠AQ
♥K754
♦AJ3
♣AJ95



Hand 22

♠K6
♥K942
♦K4
♣AKQT3



Hand 23

♠9
♥KQ54
♦9
♣AKQ9852



Hand 24

♠A5
♥AQ95
♦KJ
♣AJ983



Hand 25

♠3
♥AKJ2
♦KQ3
♣AJ762



Hand 26

♠KQ64
♥AKQ7
♦K
♣K732



Hand 27

♠A3
♥AJT5
♦2
♣AKQ972



Hand 28

♠K9
♥AK72
♦K8
♣AJ742



Hand 29

♠A
♥AK97
♦A83
♣KQ852



Hand 30

♠8
♥AT98
♦A
♣AQJ8754



Hand 31

♠AK
♥AKQ2
♦65
♣K9852