Evening star., 1948-05-20
|Goren on Bridqe
tThis is the third In > series Of sr.

(This 10 the third In series OF tf.
tcles on the Blackwood eonventionD
| II the Blackwood convention Is
to be employed with its greatest
| effectiveness, it seems to me there
are two basic questions which the
student must have clarified.
(a) When is four no trump bid
part of the Blackwood convention?
(b) When to employ Blackwood in
preference to direct methods of cue
bidding. (That is to say, retail ace
showing VS.. wholeSale)
Let us examine the first OF these:
In order the better to determine
whether a four no trump bid is
Blackwood, it may be advantageous
to learn when it is not. 1t Is never
Blackwood bid If your side ha"
not yet mentioned suit.
That takes care of that rarity, an
opening four no trump bid. Since
your side has not yet mentioned
suit, this cannot be conventional
bid. Such an outburst deSignates a
hand that is somewhat stronger
than an opening three no trump
bid, a hand on which you might
have opened with two demand
bid but chose to describe a 4-3-3-3
holding containing a 1928 or 80
points. 1t will be recalled that the
opening three no trump bid de-
scribes hands counting Is to 81.
| Here is hand on which an OPEN
| ing four no trump bid may be en-
ployed and is recommended as nice
work if you can get it:
AAKQ VAKx DAKx AK @ j 10
t29 points
If partner has two queens "a ne
can safely raise to five. If he has
an ace and queen (6) he can safely
bid six no trump.
It also takes care of the four no
trump overcall when an opponent
has rudely opened With four OF
suit. Your side has rot yet men
toned a suit. The -four no trump
bid in this situation is gigantic
takeout double and forces partner to
name his best suit.
You are vulnerable and nom
vulnerable opponent opens with four
spades-you hold:
Ak 0AKJx 0KQ10x "A @ Jx
While there is little doubt of your
ability to defeat the adverse con-
tract, there is a grave question as
to whether the penalty will be ade-
quate compensation for the pains
to which you went to pull out this
juicy plum. for one would rather
play for game in one of these suits.
How can do it? If I double 1t will
be construed as for penalties and
partner will almost surely pass. The
only way available to me of forcing
partner is by the conventional four
no trump overcall, which commands
partner to name his best suit.
1t also disposes of the raise OF
an opening. one, two or three no
trump bid to four no trump. Since
no suit has been mentioned, OBJ
viously the four no trump bid, in
this sequence, cannot be Blackwood.
1t is simply quantitative bid which
announces: Partner can tell from
my point count that If you have
maximum rather than minimum
we will together have the SO or "a
points necessary to produce slam"
lie. Partner opens with two no
trump. You have:
AAxx 2KXX 1QXx @Jxxx
You have 10 points. If partner has
minimum (22 points, there will
be no slam. If he has a maximum
(there surely will be for the part
nership will have "a points. 1t Is
your place to raise to four no trump.
stating, Partner, if you have a
minimum-pass and you'll be safe.
If you have more than %, go on.
am offering you a double raise
of your no trump bid. would have
given you a single raise with only
four points
| (Copyright, 1913, by Charles Fl. Goren.)