The origin of this conventional method is unknown. There is also an extended version of Baby Blackwood and is used by some partnerships. If one partner has opened the bidding auction, and the responder bids 2 No Trump, then this is understood as meaning the initiation of Baby Blackwood on the two level.

The normal interpretation of the 2 No Trump response then loses its meaning. The responder, by immediately bidding 2 No Trump, shows values beyond a limit raise response. With only a limit, but game-forcing raise, then the responder would first employ the limit raise. This difference must be understood as being separate and distinct.

The responses are the same as with Baby Blackwood, but only one level lower. The auction below shows the Extended Baby Blackwood in action.

North		South		Meaning
1				An opening showing at least a 5-card Spade suit. The opening can also be the Heart suit for employment of the Extended Baby Blackwood variant.
		2 NT		This is the initiation of Extended Baby Blackwood, which establishes Spades as the trump suit.
3				Shows zero or four Aces.
3				Shows one Ace.
3				Shows two Aces.
3				Shows three Aces.

The partnership agreement states that whenever the responder immediately bids 2 No Trump after partner has opened the auction, then this first response initiates the extended version of Baby Blackwood.

However, the partnership agreement usually stipulates that the opening suit be a Major suit and not a Minor suit. The responses follow the same pattern. The advantage to this extended version of Baby Blackwood is the possibility of the following:

North		South		Meaning
1 /		2 NT		Establishes by inference Spades or Hearts respectively as the trump suit and is, per partnership agreement, Ace-asking.
3				Shows zero or four Aces.
3				Shows one Ace.
3				Shows two Aces.
3 :				Shows three Aces.
		3 NT		Promises the possession of all Aces and is King-asking.
4				Shows zero or four Kings.
4				Shows one King.
4				Shows two Kings.
4				Shows three Kings.
		4 NT		Promises the possession of all Kings and is Queen-asking.
5				Shows zero or four Queens.
5				Shows one Queen.
5				Shows two Queens.
5				Shows three Queens.
		5 NT		Promises the possession of all Queens and is Jack-asking.
6				Shows zero or four Jacks.
6				Shows one Jack.
6				Shows two Jacks.
6				Shows three Jacks.

As the student of this conventional method can immediately recognize is the fact that the foundation of the concept allows the partnership to exchange information not only for the number of Aces, but also the honors including Kings, Queen, and Jacks. If the response does not, however, promise any of the requested honors, then the partnership is free to sign off at the appropriate level.

Whether this method can be also used for Minor suit slam tries is based entirely upon the partnership. The responses are also individual to the partnership as to whether they are only Ask-asking, incorporate Keycards, or RKCB-1430 based, or any variation thereof.

 

 

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.