Books

   

The Understanding 1430 Slam Bidding Curriculum

by Mike Diesel

$27.95 CDN each

The most important characteristic of a Bridge Convention is memorability; the way to achieve memorability is consistency. â€‘ Larry Mori, Bridge Grand Life Master.

Our curriculum consists of six Levels, based on 1430 Roman Keycard Blackwood (RKB). Where there is a choice between some theoretical best possible result, and a slightly inferior, but consistent method, we consciously choose the more consistent, and therefore memorable, method.

Here’s what distinguishes our RKB books from all other RKB books:

  • Our bidding system is completely specified in a series of numbered rules, a copy of which each Partner takes with them. Once the Partnership understands the book’s rules, the rest of book (which just explains these rules and gives example auctions) is no longer needed by the Partnership; all details and exceptions are in the rules!
  • Rather than introducing new rules for more difficult bidding scenarios, each level builds on the rules from the previous level, presenting advanced rules that are supersets of the basic rules. The Partnership never un-learns anything, or must remember conflicting rules!
  • Our minor-suit RKB system, Otherwood™, has been played successfully by both novice and intermediate players.
  • During a minor-suit slam exploration, when we find that 2 keycards (or 1 keycard and the trump queen) are in the hands of the opponents, our Otherwood rules let us play, if we wish, in 4NT (or at worse, 5NT) avoiding a matchpoint mishap.
  • For consistency, and therefore memorability, we use the exact same Otherwood rules for major-suit slam exploration!

Level I: The Basics (Major Suits)

Introduces 10 rules:

Rule 1    1430 RKB Ask

Rule 2    1430 Replies to RKB Ask

Rule 3    Asker Signs Off

Rule 4    Trump Queen Rolling Ask

Rule 5    Trump‑Queen-Showing Replies

Rule 6    Specific King Ask

Rule 7    Basic Specific‑King‑Showing Replies

Rule 8    Basic Side Suit Control Asks

Rule 9    Basic Side Suit Control Replies

Rule 10  Jumping to Five of the Agreed Major

 

Level II: Gerber & Quantitative Asks

Uses Rule 1, 2, 8 and 9
Extends Rules 3 - 7
Introduces 4 new Rules:

Rule 11  Notrump Asks

Rule 12  1430 Gerber Replies

Rule 13  1430 Rolling Gerber Kings Ask

Rule 14    Replies to a Slam Invitation

 

Level III: Advanced Major Auctions

Extends the first 10 Rules for

Our weak-2 and pre‑emptive openings
Exclusion Keycard Blackwood
Expert Specific King-showing Replies

Extends Rules 8 and 9

Rule 8    Expert Side Suit Control Asks

Rule 9    Expert Side Suit Control Replies

Introduces 8 new Rules:

Rule 15  Replies after Interference

Rule 16  EKB Ask

Rule 17  Void-Showing Replies

Rule 18  Queen Ask after a Void is shown

Rule 19  Void Ask

Rule 20  Void Reply

Rule 21  Namyats 2-Loser-Suit Ask

Rule 22    Namyats Opener’s Reply

 

Level IV: For All Suits

Extends Rule 1 for the minors

Rule 1    1430 RKB Ask

Uses Rules 2 through 9

Rule 2    1430 Replies to RKB Ask

Rule 3    Asker Signs Off

Rule 4    Trump Queen Rolling Ask

Rule 5    Trump‑Queen-Showing Replies

Rule 6    Specific King Ask

Rule 7    Specific King Replies

Rule 8    Basic Side Suit Control Asks

Rule 9    Basic Side Suit Control Replies