Handbook - International Bridge Press Association

Opener Responder
♠ A K ♠ x
K J x x A Q x x x x
A Q x x x
♣ x x x ♣ A K x x x
Opener Responder
1NT 2 (a)
3 (b) 4NT (c)
5♣ (d) 6♣ (e)
6 (f) 6 (g)
Pass (h)
(a) Transfer
(b) Maximum for hearts with four trumps
(c) RKC
(d) 0 or 3
(e) What exactly do you have in clubs?
(f) (f) Zilch
(g) We have a club loser.
(h) Whatever you say.
Notice that if responder wishes to ask about the queen
of hearts, he bids five diamonds. His actual bid of six
clubs is called a Direct Ask, because it bypasses the
queen-ask.
Direct asks are grand-slam tries, promising the
joint possession of the five key cards as well as solid
trumps. The asker is concerned totally with what his
partner has in the asked suit.
Six clubs above is a direct ask with room. "Room"
simply means that there is at least one step (six diamonds)
between the ask suit (clubs) and the agreed
suit (hearts).
When there is room, these are the responses:
First step: No second- or third-round control. (x-x-x,xx-x-x)
Second step: Third-round control. (x-x or Q)
Higher: Second-round control. (K-x, K-x-x, K-x-x-x,x,
K-Q)
Second-round control is supposed to be enough to
insure seven, so you can just bid seven if you have it;
but that is too easy. If you do it the following way, you
can get to seven notrump some of the time, and also
stay out of bad sevens with K-x-x facing A-x-x-x,
playing six notrump instead.
With second-round control in the ask suit, bid:
(a) Six notrump with K-x-x, K-x-x-x, or K-x-x-x-x.
(b) Seven of the agreed suit with K-x or x.
(c) Raise ask suit with K-Q.
Opener Responder
♠ x x x x ♠ A K Q x x x
A J K x
K x x A Q x x
♣ A J x x ♣ x
Opener Responder
1♣ 1♠
2♠ 4NT (a)
5 (b) 6 (c)
6NT (d) 7♠ (e)
Pass (f)
(a) RKC
(b) 2 without the queen
(c) A direct ask in diamonds
(d) K-x-x or perhaps K-x-x-x
(e) Safer than seven notrump (Fourth diamond might
be ruffed in dummy.)
(f) Sure, partner, sure
By using a direct ask you have uncovered a specific
king, something regular Blackwood can't do. (Commercial
#3) You have to resort to cue-bidding if playing
regular Blackwood.
DELAYED ASKS
A delayed ask comes after a queen ask. Like a direct
ask, it promises the five key cards and trump solidity; it
is concerned only with what responder has I in the ask
suit. (These direct and delayed asks assume that
there is a firmly agreed suit. If there is not, and the ask
suit has been bid previously, these are natural bids.)
Once again the concept of room enters into the
picture. If there is room (at least one step between the
ask suit and the agreed suit), the responses to delayed
asks are identical to those of direct asks.
Opener Responder
♠ K Q J x ♠ A x x x x
A J x x
A Q x x K x
♣ x x ♣ A K x x
Opener Responder
1NT 2 (a)
3♠ (b) 4NT (c)
5♣( d) 5 (e)
5♠ (f) 6♣ (g)
6 (h) 7♠ (i)
Pass (j)
IBPA Handbook 2010 127