Blackwood and Blackwood Variations

The concept of Mr. Easley Blackwood to ask for certain cards in an attempt to reach a small or even a grand slam has intrigued the bridge community since its conception. Many forms and variations of the original concept have captured the imagination of the bridge player, who has continued to employ it, modifiy it, alter it, and change it.

The attempt has been made to list these variations, these modfications in alphabetical order so that the bridge student may have the possibility of perusing them, to study them, to experiment with them, and to select the most comfortable for the partnership.

This concept, which was originally rejected by the bridge authorities, but which captured the imagination of the bridge community, is perhaps one of the few foundation stones universal to all partnership understandings between two bridge players.

If any bridge player would like to make a contribution to this list, this contribution would greatly be appreciated. The contribution should be original and not a copy of any variations. If any bridge player would like to see any conventional method listed, which is not presented here, then we would greatly appreciate hearing from you.

*Baby Blackwood

Following an immediate limit and game-forcing raise of the suit of partner, the partnership initiates a slam bidding auction, which is one level lower than with the generally employed Blackwood convention.

*Extended Baby Blackwood

If the responder holds additional values above a normal limit and game-forcing raise, then the responder can initiate a slam bidding auction on the two level with an immediate response of 2 No Trump.

Blackwood After Interference

If the opponents dare to interfere with the bidding after you initiate the Blackwood convention, you have several choices to show your number of Aces. There are several devised conventions to show your strength, such as: DEPO, ROPI, PODI, DOPI, DOPE, RIPO.

*Blue Team Responses

The main concept of the Blue Team Club Responses or Blue Team Roman Responses is the same as with the Roman Blackwood conventional method, but the first two responses have been reversed. The Blue Team is the designation for a successful bridge team in Italy.

Byzantine Blackwood

Devised by Mr. John C. H. Marx, (aka Jack), of London, England, and who was one of the bridge pioneers developing the Acol Bidding System in the United Kingdom.

Cheap Blackwood

A variation of the Blackwood convention to allow more bidding space for the exchange of descriptive information.

Culwood Blackwood

This conventional method was developed by Mr. Thomas Bigelow after Mr. Easley Blackwood developed and popularized the original Blackwood convention. The designation derives from the combination of the two words Culbertson and Blackwood, thus Culwood. This method is a variation based on a combination of the Culbertson Four-Five No Trump conventional method and the original Blackwood convention, which is an artificial bid asking for Aces.

Exclusion Keycard Blackwood

A form of Roman Key Card Blackwood in which partner is asked to show Aces and/or Key Cards except in a particular suit, which has been determined to be a void. This convention is also known as Voidwood.

Key Card Blackwood

A variation of the Blackwood convention, which shows the four Aces and the King of trump. Also known as Five-Ace Convention.

Kickback

A method of asking for Keycards when seeking slam. The origin of this concept is by Mr. Jeff Rubens of Scarsdale, New York. The concept is also a result of an application called U.S.P., or Useful Space Principle, also conceived by Mr. Jeff Rubens, which is defined as when allocating bidding space under partnership agreements and understandings, then assign the bidding space where most useful without reference to natural or traditional bridge meanings of calls.

Redwood

A version of the Kickback conventional method employed only when the agreed trump suit is a Minor suit. This concept is also based on the application called U.S.P., or Useful Space Principle conceived by Mr. Jeff Rubens.

King Relay Blackwood

The origin of this variation is unknown. This variation of the original concept of Blackwood pertains only to the method for asking for Kings once the trump suit has been either established or definitely implied. This is accomplished via a Relay Bid. The relay bid is the next higher-ranking suit unless it is the trump suit, and the responses to the King-ask relay bid is given in steps.

Minorwood Convention

The origin of this variation of the Blackwood conventional method is unknown. As the designation signifies, this variation is only employed when the established or inferred trump suit is a Minor suit.

Progressive Key Card Blackwood

This conventional method was developed by Mr. Jean Marc Roudinesco of Paris, France, (1932 – 2001), author, bridge theorist. Via step responses the partnership can show the number of Key Cards, followed by King-asking bids, followed by Queen-asking bids.

Rolling or Sliding Blackwood

Rolling Blackwood, or Sliding Blackwood, is a variation of the Blackwood convention. It takes into account that two partners could reach an unsafe contract in the Minors using the normal Blackwood convention.

*Roman Blackwood

This conventional method, devised by expert bridge players from Italy, is a variation on the conventional method of Mr. Easley Blackwood and shows either matching and non-matching Aces, and later Kings, of the color and/or rank.

*Blue Team Club Responses – Blue Team Roman Responses

The Roman Blackwood conventional method, itself a variation of the original Blackwood Convention, has a variation. This variation was devised by the Blue Team Club of Italy and was applied with some success. Blue Team was the popular name given to the Italian International Bridge Team, which had a series of huge successes starting in 1956 and ending in 1969. The main concept of the Blue Team Club Responses or Blue Team Roman Responses is the same as with the Roman Blackwood conventional method, but the first two responses have been reversed.

*British Style Roman Blackwood

The Roman Blackwood conventional method, as devised by the successful Blue Team Club of Italy, proved to have a flaw in the responses in so far that the response of 5 Hearts was ambiguous. Bridge players in the United Kingdom devised a variation to overcome this flaw.

Roman Key Card Blackwood

This variation of the Blackwood convention includes the King of Trump as a fifth Ace, and the responder shows Key Cards.

6-Ace Roman Key Card Blackwood – Kantar Six Ace Roman Keycard Blackwood

This conventional method, otherwise known by its abbreviated designation 6A-RKCB, is considered to be a natural extension of the concept known as Roman Key Card Blackwood, whereby the Key Card Bidder asks for five known Key Cards. However, the 6A-RKCB conventional method asks for eight known Key Cards, the four Aces, the two Kings, and the two Queens. The one difference is that the Roman Key Card Blackwood conventional method applies to only one known suit fit, whereas the 6A-RKCB conventional method applies to two known suit fits.

RKCB Void Showing Variation

This variation of the original conventional method was developed by Mr. Chip Martel and Mr. Lew Stansby to show a void in addition to the number of held Keycards. This variation employs different responses if the void has been established in advance during the auction.

Roman Key Card Blackwood 1430 Convention

A variation of Roman Key Card Blackwood which reverses the meaning of two responses.

Voidwood Blackwood

A form of Roman Key Card Blackwood in which partner is asked to show Aces and/or Key Cards except in a particular suit, which has been determined to be a void. This convention is also known as Exclusion Keycard Blackwood.

Inverted Psycho Suction Convention

The Inverted Psycho Suction conventional defense method was devised and developed by Mr. Thomas Andrews. Inverted Psycho Suction