Slam-o-ramaEVALUATION, BIDDING AND DECLARER PLAY

What is….

53,644,737,765,488,792,839,237,440,000

Probability of 2 Hand HCP

26+ HCP 25% 1 in every 4 deals

33+ HCP 0.7% 1 in 143

37+ HCP 0.02% 1 in 5,848

Club and Tourney Stats

Part Score Hands 40%

Game Bonus 45%

Slams 15%

Slam Probability

30% 6 Suit Length

20% 5

4

10%

12 13 14 15 16 17 HCPs

HCP vs. SLAMS

Stats from 500 Hands (preliminary data)

Played by 20+ pairs in open gameComputer analysis of possible slamsCompared with actual results

Club and Tourney Stats

Part Score Hands 40%

Game Bonus 45%

Slams 15%

Examining Just Slam Hands

15 Slams in Every 100 Hands

Eliminate 1 single sidedRemove 4 either never bid or rarelyFocus on 10 remaining slams

Characteristics of 10 Slam Hands

High Card PointsOnly 1 combined HCP 32+Range in other slam hands 26 to 31 (average=28)

OtherApproximately 40% feature a void Half have 6+ suit

Showing 6+ Card Suits

�Weak two bids�3 Level Preempt�Opening 4 Level Preempt�Texas Transfer over 1NT �Minor Suit Transfers over 1 NT�Rebid of an 1 level major suit by opener

What is a Void Worth ?

� Traditional valuation – extra five points

�Modern valuation - perhaps worth 7+ points when holding extra trump

Think of holding the A+K in the void suit!

Ways to Show a Void

� Rebid of splinter suit� RKC response of 5NT (two controls with useful void)� Showing first round control in a suit when partner has

the Ace� Splinter response to RKC (one control with a useful

void)

Splinter Response to 4NT RKC

When aiming towards a trump contractHolding 1 key card plus a void…..

Bid 6 level of void suit, if void is below trump suitBid 6 level of trump, if void is higher than trump suit

Let’s see some real hands!

Hand 1 Dealer N

----AKQxxxxxxKJxx

ATxxxxAQxAQJx

----xxJTxxxxxTxxx

KQJxx xxxxx----Kxx

Hand 1 Dealer N

ATxxxxAQxAQJx

KQJxx xxxxx----Kxx

Possible BiddingN E S W

-------------------------------------------------------------1H 1NT Hesitation 4HP 4S P 5HP 5C P 5DP 6S All Pass

Hand 1 Dealer N

ATxxxxAQxAQJx

KQJxx xxxxx----Kxx

26 HCP slamLosing trick count (responder=3)6+ card suitVoidCue bid to slam

Hand 2 Dealer W

T46T7532JT643

A96Q86AJ96AQ7

53K532K8K952

KQJ82AJT97Q48

Hand 2 Dealer WN Colo Unit Game

A96Q86AJ96AQ7

KQJ82AJT97Q48

Possible BiddingW N E S

----------------------------------------------------1S P 2D P 2H P 2S P3H P 3S P4S P 4NT P5S 2+Q P 6S

Hand 2 Dealer WN Colo Unit Game

A96Q86AJ96AQ7

KQJ82AJT97Q48

30 HCP slam (10 bid it)2 Over 1 – slow showsTwo Suit FitRKC – need to know about KQ

Hand 3 Dealer NDenver Regionnal

KQJ9xxxKQJxxx

AxxxAQxKQxxAx

xxxxxTxxTxxxx

xxKJxxxxAJxxx-- void --

Hand 3 Dealer N

AxxxAQxKQxxAx

xxKJxxxxAJxxx----

Possible BiddingN E S W

----------------------------------------------------1C X 3C! 4H P 4NT P 5NT (2+ void)P 6H All pass

Hand 3 Dealer N

AxxxAQxKQxxAx

xxKJxxxxAJxxx----

28 HCP slam6 card suitPower of a voidRKC to hear about K trump

Preliminary Conclusions

� Start thinking about slam potential for hands in the 27-31 HCP range

� Voids are often undervalued� 6 Card suit increases the potential for slams� Useful slam bidding tools include:

1. Any 6 card showing bids2. RKC3. Cue bidding agreements4. Void showing bids