Bridge Bidding and Carding Strategies by John Loney Best Slam Methods to Seek Controls The most efficient slam process uses “kickback,” which is the step above the 4-level of trump, to initiate Roman Keycard Blackwood. For the minor suits, kickback is commonly known as “redwood,” as the red suits are used: 4♦ for clubs and 4♥ for diamonds. There rarely is any confusion using redwood; but the “minorwood” convention, which uses 4 of the trump suit to seek controls, can often be confused with a 4-level invitation to game, particularly when it involves a competitive auction: (1♠)-2♣(3♠)-4♣ (?). Kickback uses 4♠ for hearts and 4NT for spades. Normally 1430 responses to a kickback initiation are used; steps are 1 or 4, 0 or 3, 2 key cards without the queen, and (using the 5-level of trump) 2 with the queen. After a 1stor 2nd-step response, the cheapest suit seeks the trump queen. When responder has the queen, he bids the most convenient side-suit king. Without the queen, he bids the lower of trump or NT; with the queen, but without any side kings, he bids the higher of trump or NT. Initiator’s bid a full level higher (5♦ after a 4♦ initiation for clubs) seeks the number of side-suit kings; responses, in steps, are zero, 1, 2, and 3. Any other suit bid seeks a specific king; a 1st-step response is “no” and a 2nd step is “yes.” After a 1♣-2♣ (strong raise), 4♦-5♣ sequence, 5♥ seeks the ♥K, and 5♠ would deny it. Clarifying some sequences. Responder uses 4♥ as redwood after auctions like 1♦-1♥, 2♦; 1♦-1♥; 2♣; and 1♦-1♥, 3♦ to pursue diamond slams. Were responder to have a long heart suit, with game-forcing values, he would rebid a second suit and then bid hearts again (3♥), as forcing: 1♦-1♥, 2♣-2♠, 2NT-3♥. After a game-forcing 1♦-2♣ sequence, if opener rebids 2♦, 2N, or 3♣, responder uses 4♣ as Gerber, with 4♦ and 4♥ used to initiate redwood, 4♦ for clubs or 4♥ for diamonds; 4♦ would not be invitational. Playing responder’s diamond rebid as game-forcing (1♦ and then 2♦), in a sequence like 1♣-1♦, 1♥-2♦, opener’s jump to 4♥ is redwood. Similarly, when responder shows an invitational diamond hand with a 6-card suit, in a 1♣-2♦ jump-response sequence, opener uses 4♥ as redwood. After a 1♥-2♦ sequence, opener’s jump to 4♥ shows solid hearts with minimum values. Opener uses 4♣ as Gerber after a 2N or 3N response to his minor-suit opening: 1♣-2N (13-15), 4♣ and 1♣-3N (16-17), 4♣ – or uses redwood to pursue a minor slam: 1♣-2N, 4♦ and 1♦-2N, 4♥. Responder initiates Gerber with a big, balanced hand: 1♣-4♣ and 1♦4♣. When partner overcalls, advancer can use kickback, in a sequence like (1♠)-2♦(2♠)-4♥ and (1♠)-2♦-(3♠)-4♥. In these auctions, advancer could never check for keycards using the minorwood convention.