Slam Cuebids - Answers

Exercise 1 – Cuebidding First-Round Controls

1) 4♣. Cuebid the ♣A. Do not use Blackwood with two low hearts.

2) 4♦. East has Cuebid the ♠A. Cooperate by showing the ♦A.

3) 4♣. Cuebid the ♣A. Do not use Blackwood with a void.

4) Pass. East doesn’t appear to have either the ♣A or the ♦A.

5) 4♠. West has more to show. East may hold two or three low spades and be afraid to move beyond the game level if the partnership doesn’t have a control in spades.

Exercise 2 – Cuebidding Second-Round Controls

1) 4♥. After East’s 3♥ Cuebid, West showed first-round control in spades. When East continues cuebidding, West can now show a second-round control in hearts – the king.

2) 5♦. West has already shown first-round control of diamonds and now has an opportunity to show second-round control as well.

3) 4♠. A singleton is second-round control. East has already shown first-round control of the suit; therefore, West can show second-round control.

4) 6♠. East doesn’t have first-round control of hearts since East did not Cuebid 4♥ over West’s 4♣. East is now showing second-round control of hearts.

5) 5♦. A void acts as both a first-round control and a second-round control of the suit. Having shown first-round control of diamonds, West now has an opportunity to show second-round control.

Exercise 3 – Trump Asking Bids

1) 5♠. The cuebidding sequence has revealed that East holds first-round control of diamonds. The only losers are likely to be in the spade suit. It is not necessary to show first-round control in hearts. 4♠ would be a sign-off, so jump to 5♠ to ask about trump quality.

2) Pass. East is asking about the quality of the trump support. Since West already promised four- card support with the limit raise, the holding could not be much weaker. West rejects the invitation by passing.

3) 6♠. East’s raise to the five-level asks about the quality of West’s trump support. With two of the top three honors, West accepts the invitation.

Exercise 4 – Grand Slam Force

1) 6♣. West has only one of the top three honors in clubs.

2) 7♠. West has two of the top three honors in the spade suit.

3) 5NT. West uses the Grand Slam Force to ask if East has both the ♦A and the ♦K.

4) 5NT. West uses the Grand Slam Force to ask if East has both the ♦A and the ♦K.

5) 6NT. East’s 5NT is forcing to 6NT and inviting 7NT. It isn’t the Grand Slam Force, although is has a similar effect. West has a minimum and signs off in a small slam.