Cue Bids For Slam

(Based on Ron Klinger’s Book: “Cue-Bidding To Slams”)

Rev: 06-30-99  

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When the trump suit has been agreed upon, the partnership may cue-bid for controls to investigate slam possibilities. Major-suit control cue-bidding is easier than minor-suit cue-bidding. Minor-suit cue-bidding rules are slightly different due to the fact that there is less bidding room. The following treatment assumes that the partnership uses "splinter" bids.

1. Preliminaries

1.1 Blackwood  or Cue Bid?

1.2 What a Control Cue Bid Shows

Note: Controls in the trump suit are never cue-bid.

1.3 Trump Asking Bids

Since trump controls are never cue-bid, there are three common ways to check on the top trumps after the cue-bidding has ended. (Note that these "Trump Ask" bids can also be used in the absence of cue-bidding.)

2. Cue Bidding with a Mjor Suit Agreed as Trumps

Cue-bidding principles vary slightly depending on whether trumps are a major or minor suit. The following treatments will pertain to major suits; minor suit differences will be pointed out later. In order to start a cue-bidding sequence a major suit must first be established either directly or by inference.

2.1 Determining the Trump Suit

A trump suit must be determined first before initiating cue-bidding. There are two ways to establish a trump suit: Direct supporting auctions and inferential auctions.

2.1.1 Direct Supporting Auctions That Establish A Trump Suit

Normally any subsequent bid at the four level will be a primary cue-bid after direct support is shown. The one exception is if hearts are trump and spades haven’t been bid, a 3S bid is a primary cue-bid.

2.1.2 Inferential Auctions That Establish A Trump Suit

2.2 Basic Principles Of Cue-Bidding

Cue-bidding almost always starts at the four-level. The exception is after hearts have been bid and raised when 3S is available as the first cue-bid. The first cue-bid says, “I am interested in slam and have first-round control in this suit.” Controls are always bid ‘up the line’.

2.3 The Extent of Cue-Bidding

Once cue-bidding has commenced, it continues until one partner or the other has sufficient knowledge to be able to place the contract. Usually one partner knows the cards required for the small slam or grand slam and when they are located or their absence determined, that player signs off by reverting to the trump suit at the appropriate level.

2.3.1 When Not To Stop Cue-Bidding

2.4 Signing Off In The Agreed Trump Suit

A bid of the agreed trump suit in a cue-bidding auction is a denial bid. It denies the ability or the willingness to cue-bid anything more. The most common reason to return to the trump suit is that you have no further controls to show. However, there are a number of specific understandings, depending on the situation involved and the number of suits that have been cue-bid so far.

2.4.1 Only One Cue-Bid Has Been Made

If you make the first cue-bid and partner immediately bids the agreed trump suit, partner’s message is: “I have no first round controls outside of trumps.”

2.4.2 Two Cue-Bids Have Been Made

While the return to the agreed trump suit is normally a denial of control(s), it can nevertheless encourage partner to continue if partner has something extra. Here are two such situations.

Return to the Trump at the Four Level - The first cue-bidder is indicating concern whether the values are adequate for a slam. For example, partner makes the first cue-bid, you reply with a cue-bid and partner now bids four of the agreed major. Partner’s message is: “I am interested in slam but my hand is not strong enough to insist on slam. Please bid on if you have extra values. Otherwise, let’s just play in game.”

Return to the Trump at the Five Level - The message is: “I do not have first or second round control in the unbid suit. Please pass if you also lack control, but bid on if you have first or second round control in the missing suit.”

2.4.3 Three or More Cue-Bids Have Been Made

Control in Each Outside Suit Has Been Shown - The message is: “I am interested in slam but my hand is not strong enough to insist on slam. Please bid the slam if you have extra values. Otherwise, let’s just play in game.”

One Outside Suit is Still Unbid -The message is: “I do not have first or second round control in the unbid suit. Please pass if you also lack control, but bid on if you have first or second round control in the missing suit.”

2.4.4 Jump or Raise to Five of the Agreed Major Suit

Jumping to the five level or raising from four to five is a trump ask bid, not a sign-off.

2.4.5 Signing Off in Six of the Agreed Trump Suit

A bid ox six in the agreed major suit is intended to end the bidding. Only in the rarest circumstances would partner bid on. The message is: “We have sufficient values for a small slam and the bidding has told me that a grand slam would be a poor risk.”

2.5 Cue-Bidding Beyond Five Of The Agreed Trump Suit

A cue-bid at the five level higher than the agreed trump suit, or any cue-bid at the six-level is looking for a grand slam. Consequently such a cue bid guarantees that there are no 1st round controls missing.

3. Using Blackwood After Cue-Bidding

3.1 Standard or Roman Keycard Blackwood

After cue-bidding has commenced, a bid of 4NT can still be used as the Blackwood convention (standard or Roman Key Card). The normal response is made even though one or more aces may have already been shown via a cue-bid.

The common reason for using Blackwood after a cue-bidding auction has started is to locate the ace of trumps or to check whether a cue-bid showed a void or the ace. In addition there are some hands where the problem is to determine precisely which aces partner holds and if you have a void, the best approach is to start by cue-bidding. If the situation has not been clarified by partner’s next bid, 4NT can be used to determine the ace position.

3.2 Voidwood

“Voidwood”, or “Avoidance Blackwood”, was introduced by Bobby Goldman. Voidwood is used to show a void and simultaneously ask for key cards outside the void suit.

[ 1C: 1H ] ;  [ 3H: 5D…….The 5D bid makes no sense as a cue-bid (4D would be a cue-bid) or natural bid, hence it is “Voidwood” and says: “I am void in diamonds. Give me your key card answers but ignore the ace of diamonds in your reply”. Similarly, [ 1C: 1H ] ; [ 3H: 4S or 5C ] would be “voidwood” since 3S or 4C would be a cue-bid.

4. Trump Asking Bids

4.1 Jumps Or Raises To Five Of The Agreed Major (For Small Slam Try)

Note: This approach can’t be used if a minor suit is trump since 5C or 5D is a sign-off.

This is most commonly used when you have discovered a 1st round control is missing. The jump to five of the agreed major or raising the agreed major suit from four to five says: “The controls in the outside suit are all right but I am concerned about the trump suit. Please bid six if you hold two of the top three trump honors, otherwise pass.”

4.2 The 5NT Trump Ask (For Grand Slam Try)

Used when 4NT has not been bid and indicates that there are no losers outside of the trump suit. The 5NT bid inquires about the ace, king and queen of the trump suit. This is a grand slam try. Use the jump or raise to five of the major suit for a small slam try. The simplest scheme is:

5. Cue-Bidding With A Minor suit As Trumps

Almost all the principles that applies for major suit cue-bidding apply also to minor suit bidding but there are some important differences:

5.1 Stopper Bids At The Three Level

Where a minor suit has been agreed at the three-level and a stopper has been shown, angling for 3NT, definite principles apply to subsequent bidding which affect decisions on slam bidding. These principles apply for minor suit fits.

The goal of the partnership is to explore for a 3NT contract rather than playing at five of a minor. If slam possibilities are evident early-on, the partnership may bypass using stopper bids and commence with cue-bidding and/or ace asking bids. However using stopper bids at the three level while probing for 3NT may result in revealing features and values that encourage the partnership to explore slam using cue-bidding and/or 4NT Blackwood.

5.1.1 Making A Stopper-Showing Bid

[ 1H: 2C ] ; [ 3C: 3S ]…….With the club fit, 3S is a bid showing a stopper in the spade suit. The critical suit is diamonds. (If responder had both spades and diamonds stopped he would not make a stopper bid but rather bid 3NT)

5.1.2 Bidding Principles After A Stopper-Showing Bid

Example:

[ 1H: 2C ] ; [ 3C: 3S]  ; [??……Clubs is the agreed minor suit, 3S is a “stopper bid” (spades are stopped) and diamonds is then identified as the “critical suit”. Opener’s possible rebids have the following meanings: