Exclusion Blackwood by David

We have already looked at Roman Keycard Blackwood, the version of Blackwood that nearly all the world's tournament players use. This is not much use to you when you hold a void in your hand.

If partner's one ace, for example, lies opposite your void, it may be close to worthless. If instead it is opposite your K Q x, it may give you an easy slam.

We will now look at Exclusion Blackwood, a version of RKCB that allows you to solve this predicament.

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ K Q 10 7
♥ Q J 8 2
♦ A K Q 10 3
♣

Q: 1 - Your partner opens 1♥. How will you bid this fine responding hand?

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♥	Pass
?

A: 5♣. You are missing three keycards: the ♠A and the ♥A K. You want to discover how many of these your partner holds. You do not care much what he has in clubs. The ♣A will be close to valueless.

The answer is to jump to the five-level in your void suit, 5♣ here. Partner will then tell you how many keycards he holds OUTSIDE the club suit. The same steps are used as over 4NT RKCB:

5♦ 1 or 4 keycards
5♥ 0 or 3
5♠ 2 without the trump queen
5NT 2 with the trump queen

On this hand, you will bid 7♥ if partner tells you of three keycards. You will bid 6♥ if he shows two keycards. With only one keycard opposite, you will stop in 5♥.

Note that 4♣ would be a splinter bid, so you have to bid one level higher than that for it to be Exclusion Blackwood.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ Q 10 3
♥ K Q J 7 6
♦
♣ A K 7 6 2

Q: 2 - What will you respond when partner opens a weak 2♠?

South	West	North	East
-	-	3♠	Pass
?

A: 5♦. You're missing three keycards outside diamonds, so you employ Exclusion Blackwood. According to the response you get, you will decide how high to play.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ Q 10 3
♥ K Q J 7 6
♦
♣ A K 7 6 2

Q: 3 - What will you bid next?

South	West	North	East
-	-	3♠	Pass
5♦	Pass	5♥	Pass
?

A: 5♠. Partner has shown only one of the missing keycards outside diamonds. If this is the ♠K, the opponents will have two aces to cash. Even if it is the ♠A, your slam will be no better than a finesse.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Your Hand
♠ A K Q 7
♥ K Q J 9 6 5 2
♦
♣ 10 6

Q: 4 - Partner's 3♥ shows around 10-11 HCP. How will you continue?

South	West	North	East
1♥	Pass	3♥	Pass
?

A: 3♠. Your hand is not suitable for Exclusion Blackwood yet, because you do not know if partner controls the club suit.

You should continue with 3♠, a cue-bid (or control-bid) to show that have the ace or king of spades (or shortness). If partner then bids 4♣, admitting to a club control, you can jump to 5♦, Exclusion Blackwood.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ A Q 10 7 3
♥ K Q 9 7 5
♦ K Q 9
♣

Q: 5 - What will you bid next?

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♦	Pass
1♠	Pass	3♠	Pass
?

A: 5♣. You are missing three keycards outside clubs. Again, your hand is perfect for the Exclusion Blackwood bid of 5♣.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 6

Your Hand
♠ K J 10 3
♥ Q 7 4
♦ J 6
♣ A 10 9 2

Q: 6 - What will you bid next?

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♠	Pass
3♠	Pass	5♣	Pass
?

A: 5♦. You are being asked how many keycards you hold outside clubs. You have only one (the ♠K), so you respond 5♦.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Play this Hand

Now that you've bid five hands, let's see how your play goes.

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Overall Results

Your results: out of Average:

What next? You may enjoy playing our prepared hands series.
More informations on our website: www.VuBridge.com

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