The origin of this conventional method is unknown. Bridge players around the world have adopted the Gerber convention and included it in their partnership agreements. However, bridge players around the world have discovered certain presumed flaws in the Gerber convention, a feature inherent in all bridge conventions.

Principle of the Concept

This variation of the Gerber conventional response method allows the partnership to convey the information as to how many Aces are held and also the color of the Aces. This ability is considered to be an important feature for the No Trump bidder to assess and evaluate the holding better.

Once partner has opened the bidding with 1 No Trump, the responses by the opener to a 4 Clubs bid by his partner, who is asking for Aces are shown below.

4 :	Shows zero Aces.
4 :	Shows 1 red Ace.
4 :	Shows 1 black Ace.
4 NT:	Shows 1 red Ace and 1 black Ace.
5 :	Shows 2 black Aces.
5 :	Shows 2 red Aces.
5 :	Shows 2 red Aces and 1 black Ace.
5 :	Shows 2 black Aces and 1 red Ace.

Note: Any No Trump opening bid followed by a first response of 4 Clubs is an immediate slam try by the responder.

Note: Any No Trump opening bid followed immediately by a transfer bid to either Major suit followed by a rebid by the responder of 4 Clubs is a slam try in the suit, to which the responder has transferred. The responses by the No trump bidder are the same in both bidding sequences.

Continuations

Examples have been omitted since the response method is quite self-explanatory. Once the information regarding the number of held Aces and the colored Aces has been conveyed via the responses, then all continuations are a matter of partnership agreement. For example, the partnership may also wish to determine the location and/or number of held Kings. There are several methods open to the partnership to continue the bidding in order to establish this.

If you wish to include this feature, or any other feature, of the game of bridge in your partnership agreement, then please make certain that the concept is understood by both partners. Be aware whether or not the feature is alertable or not and whether an announcement should or must be made. Check with the governing body and/or the bridge district and/or the bridge unit prior to the game to establish the guidelines applied. Please include the particular feature on your convention card in order that your opponents are also aware of this feature during the bidding process, since this information must be made known to them according to the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. We do not always include the procedure regarding Alerts and/or Announcements, since these regulations are changed and revised during time by the governing body. It is our intention only to present the information as concisely and as accurately as possible.