Modern Defensive Bidding by Walt Sturm

Gerber over all N.T. by Walt Sturm

One of the most common bidding misunderstandings occurs when one player calls 4NT after his side has mentioned NT earlier in the auction. Most of us have had the experience of sitting through the ensuing ``discussion`` in which the Blackwood bidder explains that he was asking for aces and his partner counters with the usual justification for interpreting 4NT as a simple quantitative raise. Players have been burned so often (and so painfully!) by this problem that they have become exceedingly sensitive to it. However, it sometimes seems that his very sensitiveness stands in the way of solving the dilemma, because people appear reluctant to try anything different.

Several months ago, Kelsey Petterson wrote an article suggesting the 4C be rigidly defined as Gerber, and using 4NT as Blackwood only in those rare cases when the auction had already gotten above 4C. In spite of the greater advantages of using Gerber, this scheme is too inflexible and has not caught on. On the other hand, the widespread use of Gerber only directly over opening NT`s is a pitiful waste of a powerful and useful convention. After all, how often does it come up? As Kaplan said, if you see it once in a year, you are playing too much.

Consider the following simple rule: 4C is taken as Gerber whenever NT has been mentioned naturally (i.e. not unusual NT) by EITHER partner ANYWHERE in the auction. Thus, when you hear partner bid 4C, you need only review the auction for any NT call by your side. It is as easy as that.

Blackwood is virtually useless to investigate a minor-suit slam because the auction usually gets too high.

Gerber, however, permits, the sign-off at game. When partner opens in a minor suit, and you have a good fit and sufficient strength, you merely improvise a forcing 2NT call. Whenever he rebids at the three level, 4C is now Gerber since (2) NT has been bid.

Here are a few Gerber auctions:

(a) 1NT 2C (Stayman)

2? 4C (Gerber)

(b) 2NT 3C (Stayman)

3? 4C (Gerber)

(d) 1C 1S

2NT 3H

3S 4C (Gerber)

Notice the flexibility of obtaining the Stayman response before using Gerber. Also, it is sometimes possible to check for aces and then stop at either a major-suit game or 4NT.

Blackwood is virtually useless to investigate a minor-suit slam because the auction usually gets too high.

Gerber, however, permits the sign-off at game. When partner opens in a minor suit, and you have a good fit and sufficient strength, you merely improvise a forcing 2NT call. Whenever he rebids at the tree level, 4C is now Gerber since (2)NT has been bid.

Here`s a typical example of ace-asking below game from Bridge Week.

The auction happens to be Schenken.

S: K x x x x

H: Q x

D: A x x x x

C: x

1C (17+) 1S (Game Force)

1NT (18-19) 2D

2S (pref.) 4C (Gerber)

4S (2A`s) ?

6S is aggressive but has a fair play. Most pairs made 5NT or 6S but few bid slam.

Here`s another problem, from the 1963 Summer Nationals, not vulnerable against vulnerable.

S: A J 10 x x

H: x

D: x

C: A Q 10 9 x x

Pass 1D 1H 2C

Pass 3C Pass 3S

Pass 3NT Pass 4C (Gerber)

Pass 4S (2) Pass 4NT (Kings?)

Pass 5D (1) Pass ?

6C is conservative and very safe, but 7C, 7S, and 7NT are ice-cold. A number of pairs failed to reach game, much less any slam. This convention is called simply ``Gerber after any NT``. Of course, it is not a new convention as much as it is a partnership understanding defining when 4C is Gerber. I have played this variation for over 10 years with many partners who have found it simple, direct, and useful. It occurs at least twice as often as Blackwood. Give it a try - you`ll like it.

Ed Note: reprinted from ``Bridge News``, December 1968 issue by permission of Walt Sturm.