ACBL17A – Bridge/English Addendum “A” Ward Trumbull
Feb 19, 2006
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Controls
When using the Gerber or Blackwood ace-asking convention in search of a slam contract the responder indicates the number of aces (zero to four) with his/her response. When you play Roman Key card with these conventions, the responses are the same when the goal is a notrump slam, i.e. number of aces from 0 to 4. However, if the goal is a slam in a suit that has either been agreed upon (both partners have bid the suit) or the last suit bid is the implied trump suit, the responses are different. In this case the responder indicates (with the response bid) the number of CONTROLS, which are defined as the four aces and the king of the agreed/implied suit.
The responses are:
Gerber Asking Bid Roman Key Card Gerber Responses
4 clubs 4 diamonds - 0 or 3 controls
4 hearts - 1 or 4 controls
4 spades - 2 controls without
the queen of trump
4 notrump - 2 controls with the
queen of trump
Blackwood Asking Bid Roman Key Card Blackwood Responses
4 notrump 5 clubs - 0 or 3 controls
5 diamonds - 1 or 4 controls
5 hearts - 2 controls without
the queen of trump
5 spades - 2 controls with the
queen of trump
The catch phrase to remember the responses is:
0 of 3, 1 or 4, 2 no, 2 yes