World Champion & Master Teacher Donna Compton

A Great Use of Gerber

You hold:

S. K Q J 10 9 5 4 3 2  

H. K 4

D. 9

C. 7

Partner opens 1NT.  Once you check the back of your cards to make sure you and your partner have the same colored cards, you ask how high and where.  Well, the where looks like spades but could be notrump.  The how high depends on how many aces partner holds.  At first glance, it looks like you want to transfer to spades using Texas Transfers (if your partner plays that convention) or Jacoby transfers.  Once partner completes the transfer, you bid 4NT as Blackwood asking for aces.   

If partner shows you four aces, then you bid 7NT!  If partner shows you three aces, then bid six spades.  If partner shows you two aces or one aces, then sign off in five spades.   

Some of you might have noticed that if partner has only one ace, then that means the opponents have three aces and you are down one at five spades.  A very sad ending with such a beautiful suit.  The Gerber Convention comes to the rescue!

Over partner's 1NT, you jump to 4C (Gerber) asking for aces.  Since the bidding is a level lower, you can sign off in 4S if partner shows one or two aces and bid the small or grand slam if partner shows three or four aces, respectively.