| Board 22: Roman Key Card Blackwood = the key to a slam! |
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East-West can make 6♠ but without Roman Key Card Blackwood it is nearly impossible to bid. When East jumps to 3♠ West thinks Slam might be on if East's Spades are good enough.
4NT by West is Roman Key Card Blackwood. It asks "how many of the 5 Key Cards have you partner? (the 5 Key Cards are the four Aces and the Trump King)
5♠ by East says "I have two Key Cards and the Trump Queen Partner". (5♣ = 0 or 3; 5♦ = 1 or 4; 5♥ =2 without the Trump Queen; 5♠ = 2 with the Trump Queen)
That answer, plus the knowledge that East must have some values somewhere to have rebid 3♠ rather than just 2♠ should be enough for West to bid 6♠
The Slam is certain if you choose the best line. Can you see what that is?
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| Show Answer |
If South leads a Club - don't take the finesse at trick one - South is unlikely to have led away from a King against a slam.
Win the ♣ A, draw Trumps, play the ♥ J and if South doesn't play the ♥ K then overtake with the ♥ Q.
When the finesse works play the ♥ A (or the ♥ Q if South played the ♥ K on the first round) and discard your Club loser
Now you just have to lose a Diamond and twelve tricks are yours. |
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| Board 9: From Rags To Riches |
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Just in case you were doubting whether Roman Key Card Blackwood comes up very often, here it is again just seven hands later.
East opens a weak 2♠. This shows 6-10 Points and a 6-card Spade suit with one of the top three honours (some play it as 5-9).
West can see Game is probable and Slam is possible so bids 2NT to find out more about East's hand. 2NT is an OGUST asking bid. 2♠ can be no stronger than 10 HCP so only bid an OGUST 2NT with 15 HCP or more.
East responds 2♦ telling partner I have two of top three honours and 6-8 points. (2♣ = 1 top honour & 6-8; 2♥ = 1 top honour and 9-10; 2♠ = 2 top honours and 9-10; 2NT = three top honours)
If those two top honours are the Ace and King of Spades then slam is on. West can then count 12 tricks if Spades break 2-1 ( 6 Spades, ♣ A K Q, ♦ A K, ♥ A) so West asks using Roman Key Card Blackwood.
This time the answer is 5♥ meaning two Key Cards without the Trump Queen. Since West has three Aces those two Key Cards must be the ♠ A K and West bids the slam.
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