IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

 

Roman Keycard Blackwood is a powerful convention.  It treats the king of the agreed suit and the four aces as equals.  In addition, the convention give you is the ability to ask your partner if he holds the queen of the soon to be trump suit.  Here is a hand where that was an important question.

Scoring: Matchpoints (Pairs Game)

#11-04

Dlr

W

Vul

E/W

S

AK109

H

AKJ10874

D

A

C

K

S

7

H

32

D

QJ1063

C

Q8542

  pad  

S

Q54

H

Q95

D

974

C

J963

 

S

J8632

H

6

D

K852

C

A107

   

  

West

North

East

South

   Pass

   2C

   Pass

   2D

   Pass

   2H

   Pass

   2S

    Pass     3S         Pass      4C

    Pass     4NT       Pass      5D*

    Pass     5H        Pass       5S **

    Pass     6S        Pass      Pass

    Pass

 

    *one keycard

   **sorry, no spade queen                  

 

 

 

 

BIDDING:  South’s 2D response showed values but denied a strong suit.  After North showed his heart suit, South then bid his poor quality spade suit.  North raised spades to set the trump suit and South cue the ace of clubs.  North became excited and launched Roman Keycard.  South showed one keycard and next North asked about the queen of spades.  South denied holding her majesty so North gave up on the grand slam.

 

PLAY:  West led the queen of diamonds and declarer quickly wrapped up the slam.  He played the two top trumps followed by three rounds of hearts ruffing in his hand.  At those tables where standard Blackwood was used, the North players discovered South held an ace and a king and bid 7S.  They were soon disappointed.  The Queen Ask is a very important feature. 

 

 

Copyright ©2011 Larry Matheny