Mandell Bids

Chapter 14

Slam Bidding

Card:

1430: 1430, 2 or 5 with/without
Voids: ~~With voids using 1430 at 6 level or 5NT with 2~~ Switched this to Radu’s method, 5NT is a void with 0 or 2, 6x is void in that suit with odd or 6 of agreed suit if that’s not available
Queen ask: show king or 5NT with no lower king, back to suit with none
5N King Count: Must have all KCs and Q. Count: 6C=0,6D=1, etc. With Radu, specific king with 1, with 2 bid the one you don’t have, with none back to trump. Also with Radu (now Dan) if Q is known 1st step is King ask, if Q not known 1st step is Q ask 2nd step is K ask. 2/20/26 With Radu after kings, bidding a suit asks for third round control in that suit.
Control bids: A K sing void, 4NT promises all controlled if can be shown

Redwood: 4m+1 (or 4m+2 if hearts ambiguous over diamonds), so 4D for clubs and 4H for diamonds, thus redwood.
4NT never keycard. Retreat back to NT if partner pulls 3NT looking for slam. 1S-2D-3C-4N (quant). 1H-2D-2N-3C-4N (quant). In a control bidding auction, control bid for Redwood suit (4M+1, or 4M+2 if needed). 1NT-2S-3C-3S (shortness)-4C (setting)-4H (control)-4N (D control).
Pulling 3NT: always slam interest. 1NT-2C-2S-3D-3NT-4C. NOT GERBER (1453. Slam interest).

2NT-3S-3NT-4om. Demands a response. 1st step is reject, then normal 1430. If 4om=4D, then also reject with 2 w/o Q because not enough room. After reject, 1 step is forced RKC so must respond to that.

If opponents X our 4NT, XX is 0 3 5, pass is 1 4, cheapest suit is 2 w/o Q, 2nd cheapest is 2 with
If opponents overcall our 4NT, X is 0 3 5, pass is 1 4, cheapest suit is 2 w/o Q, 2nd cheapest is 2 with

2DHS-4C: Responder can bid 4♣ with huge hand as slam interest, can also bid after asking first with 2NT
01122 Responses: 4♦=0, 4♥=1 w/o Q, 4♠=1 with Q, 5♣= 2 w/o Q, 5♦=2 with Q
Exception: 3C-4D b/c 3D is escape

Conditions: in GF auction, Major fit established, AND already at or above 3 of that Major
~~Must show controls:~~ ~~Forces partner to show control, better hand than skipping 3NT and showing control (non-serious control bid)~~
Non-serious cooperation: We changed 3NT to be non-serious, cooperating after non-serious 3NT bid, shows control and slam interest. If a Serious control is shown, bypassing 3NT then show yours if you can.
Bypassing 3S: 1♥-2♣-2♥-3♥-3NT, bypassing 3♠ is serious 3NT but denies ♠ controls, so 3♠ may or may not be serious
Key points: If partners makes a non-serious slam try don’t cooperate without a slam try, when partner makes serious bid always cooperate, when you make non-serious slam try and partner cooperates you must continue to control bid
This can be used over Jacoby 2NT and other GF auctions (2♣), but is always off in competition
This helps a lot especially when 16-17 opposite 16-17

Sometimes we need to invent a control bid when we have everything that partner denied but don’t have enough strength to go beyond the game level. Using last train gives partner a chance to vote on whether to go on or not.

When it applies:
Jumps above game level. If minor is agreed, then jump above 3NT. 1S-(2C)-4C-5D, 1H-3H-4S. With voids and support after 1M, good to Jacoby 2NT then jump to exclusion vs splinter.
One level above a splinter. 1C-2C-2H-4S, even in partner’s suit: 1D-1S-2S-5D
Unusual Jump above game. 1H-1S-2H-5C, (could have 2/1 with long clubs, or bid 3C), 1NT-2C-2S-4H (3H is rBaze with splinter, so 4H is a level above).
MUST BE A JUMP. Only Exception, TX then new suit. 1NT-4H-4S-5C
~~After Responses 0314:~~
~~1st step (not agreed suit) is queen ask, Show K (or A in void suit)~~
~~2nd step (not agreed suit) is king ask~~
Radu’s Responses using these:
01122, as in 2M-4C above. 1st step=0, 2nd step=1 w/o Q, 3rd step=1 with Q, 4th step= 2 w/o Q, 5th step=2 with Q
Pitfalls to avoid:
If we have keycards can we make slam
Response puts you above where you can be safely (usually just splinter instead)
Confusing partner, so instead of 1H-(1S)-5D, start with 2S