Control Cue-Bids by Matthias Huberschwiller

After visiting our dear friend Blackwood in the last edition of Slams, we'll now have a look at control cue-bids.

It is really important to not be in a slam when the opponents can cash the Ace-King of a suit right away. That's the purpose of showing controls.

Having a control in a suit means the opening leader can't cash two quick tricks in the suit. Therefore there are 4 possible controls: an Ace, a King, a singleton or a void.

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ A K 9 8 7 2
♥ A K
♦ K
♣ Q J 9 8

Q: 1 - What do you bid as South?

South	West	North	East
1♠	Pass	3♠	Pass
?

A: 4♦ - Even though Clubs is your second suit, you must not show them. 4♣ would be a cue-bid showing a control in the suit, which you don't have.

You need to bid your first control: Diamonds.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ A 6 2
♥ K J 9 6 2
♦ K 6
♣ K 9 2

Q: 2 - What do you bid as South?

South	West	North	East
1♥	Pass	3♥	Pass
?

A: 4♥ - Yes you have controls in every suit, but look at your hand. You really think you're going to bid a slam with this?

No way. Accept the game invitation, but don't go past 4♥.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ Q J 9 8 7 5
♥ A K
♦ A Q 5 2
♣ K

Q: 3 - What do you bid as South?

South	West	North	East
1♠	Pass	3♠	Pass
?

A: 4 NT - You have all the controls, so you can bid Blackwood.

You might say "But... the Spades!" There is no such thing as the notion of a control in the trump suit. Our friend Blackwood will solve the problem of the Ace-King of Spades for us.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Your Hand
♠ A K Q 6
♥ A
♦ J 9 6 2
♣ A K 8 5

Q: 4 - What do you bid as South?

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♦	Pass
1♠	Pass	2♠	Pass
?

A: 4♣ - Even though partner opened 1♦, that doesn't mean he has to have a Diamond control. You need to show you Club control, and hope to hear about a Diamond control from partner.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ A K Q 6
♥ A
♦ J 9 6 2
♣ A K 8 5

Q: 5 - What do you bid as South?

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♦	Pass
1♠	Pass	2♠	Pass
4♣	Pass	4♥	Pass
?

A: 4♠ - No matter how many points you have, you must sign off in game. Your partner has told you he doesn't have a Diamond control. You don't either. Slam is out of the question, since they have the Ace-King of Diamonds.

Your result so far:

Open Question

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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