Control Bids by David Bird

In this quiz, we will take a look at 'control bids'. Once a suit has been agreed, the bid of a new suit (usually at the four-level or higher) does not show length in that suit. There would be little point in that, because you have already agreed a trump suit.

A control bid shows that you hold the ace or king of the suit you bid, which may prevent the opponents from cashing two tricks in that suit, should you bid a small slam.

Several years ago, many players made control bids only when they held the ace of the suit. The 'ace or king' method that we will see in this quiz has been widely adopted by duplicate players, particularly top-rank players.

The notion of control bids (sometimes still called cue-bids) may seem more advanced than those covered in previous quizzes. However, it is not possible to bid slam hands accurately without them. Take a look at the quiz, even if you are nervous of playing such a method at present. Good luck!

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ A K 10 9 7 2
♥ A 8
♦ A Q 7
♣ Q 2

Q: 1 - Your partner shows around 10-11 points and four-card spade support. What will you bid next?

South	West	North	East
1♠	Pass	3♠	Pass
?

A: 4♦. There is a good chance that you can make a slam on your strong hand facing a game-invite from partner. Bidding Blackwood is not much use because you have two top losers in clubs. You may be able to make a slam even if partner does not hold the ♣A, if he has all three kings in the side-suits.

You bid 4♦, a control bid. This passes an enormous amount of information. (a) It tells partner that you are interested in a spade slam. (b) It tells partner that you have a control (ace or king) in diamonds. (c) It also tells partner that you do NOT hold the ace or king of clubs, since you would otherwise have bid 4♣ instead.

4♦ is a GREAT bid!

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ Q 10 8 3
♥ K Q J 9
♦ K 7
♣ 10 7 6

Q: 2 - You show around 10-11 points and four-card spade support. What will you bid next, over partner's control bid of 4♦?

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

A: 4♠. You have a fairly good hand for your double raise. Remember, though, one of the messages that your partner's 4♦ control bid passed. He does NOT hold a club control. You therefore know that the opponents can cash two quick club tricks against a small slam in spades. You must sign off in 4♠.

You can see now why so many good players like to use control bids to show either an ace or a king. It means that when your partner does not show a control in a suit, he has two top losers there.

Suppose, on some different hand, that you did make a 4♥ control bid after partner's 4♦. This would show a heart control, yes, but it would also show a club control. That's because you would not even be contemplating a slam if you knew that the defenders could cash two club tricks.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ A Q 7
♥ 6 3
♦ K J 8 7
♣ J 9 7 2

Q: 3 - You show around 10-11 points and a good diamond fit. Partner continues with 3♥. What does this mean? What will you bid next?

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

A: 3NT. Control bids are nearly always made at the four-level or higher. When you have found a minor-suit fit and a new suit is bid at the three-level, this will show a stopper for no-trumps.

Once you know that partner has a heart stopper, you are happy to bid 3NT. Partner's 3♥ does not in any way suggest that a diamond slam may be possible.

The only time you can make a control bid at the three-level is when you have a found a heart fit (perhaps via 1♥ - 3♥) and you then bid 3♠. This is a control bid. There would not be much point in it showing a stopper for no-trumps, because you are going to play in hearts.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Your Hand
♠ J 7
♥ A Q 8 7 2
♦ 10 9
♣ A K 7 6

Q: 4 - Now you are the responder. Partner raises your 1♥ response to 3♥. What will you bid next?

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

A: 4♣. There is clearly a chance of a slam after partner's double raise. Because you are using control bids (hurray), you can suggest a slam below the game level. You bid 4♣. What three messages does this bid give to your partner?

It suggests a slam. It shows the ace or king of clubs. It denies the ace or king of spades. (Remember that 3♠ when hearts are agreed is the one time that you can make a control bid at the three-level.)

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ A Q J 8 6
♥ 8
♦ Q 6
♣ A K Q J 3

Q: 5 - Spades are agreed as trumps and two control bids follow. What will you bid next?

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

A: 4NT. Partner has shown a diamond control. That's good. But if he has only the ♦K, you may be missing two key cards (The ♦A and the ♥A, or the ♦A and the ♠K). So, you should follow the cue-bids with a Roman Keycard Blackwood 4NT.

If partner shows only one keycard, you will sign off in 5♠. If he shows two, you will bid 6♠. If you are very lucky and he shows three, you will make it 7♠!

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 6

Your Hand
♠ A 8 6
♥ K J 8 5
♦ K 2
♣ Q 10 7 4

Q: 6 - What will you bid in this situation?

South	West	North	East
-	3♠	4♥	Pass
?

A: 4♠. You should make a control-bid in spades. This will tell partner that you are interested in a slam and you hold a spade control. Perhaps he will then be able to bid Roman Keycard Blackwood.

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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What next? You may enjoy playing our prepared hands series.
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