Gerber - BridgeWizdom

JavaScript isn't enabled in your browser, so this file can't be opened. Enable and reload.

The Gerber 4C Convention is used to ask for aces if partner opened 1NT or 2NT or if NT was bid last. A bid of 4C asks for aces. Gerber's advantage over Blackwood is that it keeps the bidding lower yet provides the same information.

Do you have enough overall strength for slam?

When we are looking for slam, we have to first determine whether we have the strength for slam and then determine whether we are off two ticks (because we cannot win 12 tricks if we lose 2). If we determine that we have 32+ points , we use Gerber. If, after using Gerber, we find that we are off two tricks, we bid 4NT to play. If we determine that we have 32+, we use Gerber, and find that we are off only one trick or no tricks, then we bid slam expecting not to lose two tricks.

• To make a small slam (bid of 6) -- you need 33 pts.
• To make a grand slam (bid of 7) -- you need 37 pts.

1 of 14. Partner sitting North open's 1NT should I be looking for a slam or not? *

1 point

Yes

Other:

2 of 14. Partner sitting North open's 1NT should I be looking for a slam or not? *

1 point

Yes

Other:

3 of 14. Partner sitting North open's 2NT should I be looking for a slam or not? *

1 point

Yes

Other:

When you can determine that the partnership holds 33 or more points, you know the partnership should be bidding a slam if you are not off two aces. On most hands, however, combined strength isn’t the only ingredient you need.

You may make a slam with fewer points if your hands have other features to make up for what you lack in high-card strength. These include:

• Extra trumps -- you need at least an 8-card fit to bid a suit slam, but stronger fits produce more tricks. You may score an extra trick for each trump you have over 8.
• Long, strong side suits -- if you can set up and run a long side suit, the small cards can be as valuable as honors.
• Short suits -- once you know you have a trump fit, add in your distribution points to determine your hand's full value. Voids, singletons and doubletons can provide extra tricks by allowing you to score trumps separately.

A bid of 4♣ initiates Gerber over NT and is asking partner for Aces.

• 4D = None or all four aces
• 4H = One ace
• 4S = Two aces
• 4NT = Three aces

Asking for Kings

If your side holds all four aces and you want to investigate a grand slam, a bid of 5C guarantees you have all four aces and asks for kings. Partner will respond at the 5-level (using the same steps as asking for aces) to show the number of kings he holds.

• 5D = None or all four kings
• 5H = One king
• 5S = Two kings
• 5NT = Three kings

Example #1

Example #2

So what is 1NT - 4NT?

Over a 1NT or 2NT opening or if the last bid was NT, a bid of 4NT does not ask for aces. This bid should be used as a quantitative bid asking opener to go to 6NT with a maximum and pass with a minimum.

Example #3