How to go to slam..

How to go to a trump slam
A good chance to win a NT slam is to hold 33 points (HCP+L). For a grand slam, you need 37. When there is a trump and short suits, honors are worth more than in NT. The process to go to slam will be tougher and more precise.

First step : agree on a trump, use forcing bids
Second step : check all controls are there... In order not to fail right away !
Third and last step : Blackwood, to know about the pair Aces.

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Exercise 20265 Pi is the agreed trump; the pair is going to start the controls and figure if a slam is possible or not.

How to go to a trump slam : find a trump suit, using the forcing sequences
Main sequences showing slam ambitions :

The responder's jump raise (in the opening suit) after a 1/1 shift
The responder's raise (in the opening suit) after a 2/1 shift
The responder's raise in one of the suits named by the opener, after a 4th suit forcing bid
The opener's raise, at level 4, of the responder's minor suit
The responder's raise at level 4 of the opener's minor suit
The responder's raise after a reverse
Splinters (both opener's or responder's)
Direct jump to 4NT in response to a level 1 opening

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Exercise E20134 The responder has shifted (1/1), now he jumps in the opening suit. that's a support with slam ambitions. the pair is going to start checking the controls.

Controls

A suit is under control when there is only one loser on the lead.
Controls are always featured step by step skipping a suit means a control denial.
When a suit is not under control, the last player gets back to the trump suitC'est un arrêt.

Controls for a trump contract :

Ace or void (1st rank control : if the suit is led, you don't lose a trick)
K or singleton (2nd rank control : if the suit is led, you lose 1 trick and no more)

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Problem E6197 3♠ control initiation : ♠ is the 1st control
4 ♣ = ♣ control
North skips the ♥ suit, therefore, he doesn't control it. South doesn't control ♥ suit neither. They must stop at 4♥.

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Problem E9465 All controls are here. Time to check the Aces with a Blackwood.

RKC Blackwood (30-41)
RKC Blackwood is asking for the keys, not only the Aces. there are 5 keys : 4 Aces and K of trump. We recommend the 41-30 response (check guideline 64JD), instead of the 30-41, more common, which is :

5♣ : 3 or 0 key(s)
5♦ : 4 or 1 key(s)
5♥ : 2 keys
5♠ : 2 keys and Q of trump
5NT : 2 keys and a void
"6something" : 3 or 1 key(s) and a void in the named suit

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Problem E9465 5NT = 2 keys and a void. In this sequence, it's obvious : the void is ♦.

Main

Detail specifications 52CA - Level 1 ★

How to go to slam..

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