Slam bidding showing controls.

First and second round controls, either by honor control or shortness are shown indiscriminately. That is the lowest ranking control is shown first, regardless of its type. Short suit control in a suit where partner has shown length is not shown at the first opportunity to do so. Cuebids below game do not necessarily show extra values. Bids of 4NT and 5NT, made in the midst of a cue-bidding sequence are general cuebids, showing extra values and asking partner to show extra values Second round controls are not shown above 4NT unless it is reasonably certain that first round control of the suit is held by the partnership. A suit bypassed by one partner during a cue-bidding sequence denies holding either first or second round control of that suit. If the other partner continues cue-bidding, he shows by inference control of the suit his partner bypassed. A repeat cue-bid in the same suit generally implies first and second round control, occasionally, if the repeat cue-bid is made at the 5 level or higher, it may be made to confirm first round control{especially if the partnership has already cue-bid the suit}. When a suit has been bid and raised and a game force situation exists, a new suit is a cue-bid. A new suit bid at the 4 level, if bid without a jump is a cue-bid, with partner`s last bid suit as trumps.{unless opening bid was 2C } example: 2 C -2 S -3 H - 4 C not a cuebid The bid of a new suit in which the partnership cannot have an 8 card fit, or in which  the cue-bidder is known to hold less than 4 cards is a cue-bid for partner`s last bid suit and establishes a game force When starting cue-bidding, you cue-bid the first available suit in which you hold first or second round control{ace, king, singleton or void}. The corollary to this is that when a player bypasses a suit in a cue-bidding sequence, they deny first or second round control. The only exception to this rule is when cue-bidding in a suit where partner has shown length. At the first available opportunity to cue-bid in a suit we do not cue-bid a short suit control. Thus if this suit is bypassed the first time around it denies first or second round honor control of the suit

The apparent drawback to the use of indiscriminate cue-bids is the possibility of reaching slam off an unsuspected ace {the best chance of this happening is when one partner has the king of a suit and the other partner has a singleton, and both cue-bid the suit}. This case is almost completely eliminated by the Principle of Neutral vs Positive Acceptance and the ability to rescue-bid a suit to confirm first round control. When cue-bidding reveals two quick losers in any suit there is obviously no interest in slam and the player who acquires this information immediately signs off. If this player does not sign off but continues to cue-bid the obvious inference is that they have control of the suit bypassed by partner. If they subsequently cue-bid in the suit partner bypassed it guarantees first round control as they have already promised at least second round control by continuing to cue-bid.

Principle of Neutral vs Positive Acceptance

A cue-bid made below game does not promise extra values. It can be considered a neutral expression of slam interest. If partner cue-bids in response, still below game, it is a Neutral Acceptance of the slam try, again not promising extra values. This style is of great value as the information exchanged by these cue-bids below game may prove vital in assessing a deal`s slam chances. The old notion that a cue-bid showed at least mild slam interest {ie extra values} is wasteful of bidding space and may in fact conceal vital information which would have allowed one of the partners to recognize a deal`s slam potential. The Principle of Neutral Acceptance can be taken to extremes. Obviously if one partner knows slam is impossible they will sign off at the appropriate level. When making a Neutral Acceptance cue-bid you are telling partner that there is some hand that you can construct for partner, consistent with their previous bidding, that makes slam a good contract. It also says that you are not subminimum for your bidding. If you have stretched in your previous bidding then do not make a Neutral Acceptance cue-bid. The principle of Neutral Acceptance extends to higher levels. If partner has shown extra values in  a cue-bidding sequence {cue-bidding beyond game for example} a responsive cue-bid that does not increase the level further is still Neutral Acceptance. Of course, during a cue-bidding sequence, at some point one of the partners at some time must decide that a slam try above game is warranted. That is they must make a Positive Acceptance of the slam try. There are two ways to do this. The obvious one, is to cue-bid beyond game. To do this the cue-bidder says that the information exchanged to date suggests the real possibility of slam, not just if partner has the perfect hand, and that should the slam try peter out at the 5 level it will be safe. The other method of showing a Positive Acceptance of a slam try is with the general cue-bids of 4NT and 5NT.

General Cue-bid 4NT and 5NT.

In order for the bids of 4NT and 5NT to be considered as general cue-bids they must be made in the following circumstances:

Both partners have made at least one cue-bid.

These bids are made without a jump.

Thus the bids of 4NT and 5NT made without a jump in the midst of a cue-bidding sequence are general cue-bids showing extra values and slam interest. They are Positive Acceptance cue-bids. The general cue-bid of 4NT{by far the most commonly used} is most often showing a Positive Acceptance of the slam try. However it can be used in two other related fashions. Firstly it can be used to rectify the timing of a cue-bidding sequence so that one can receive the information of most use. For example if you would like to hear a 5C bid from partner but your next cue-bid would take you past 5C then you could temporize with 4NT to give them that chance. If partner does bid 5C, you can later issue a grand slam invitation of 5NT. If partner does not show club control you will continue as indicated by partner`s response. The second related use for the general cue-bid of 5NT is as a trump asking-bid. If after a series of cue-bids one of the partners knows that there is sufficient controls for a grand slam but they are worried about trump solidarity then the non-jump bid of 5NT may be used to ask about the trump holding. 5NT would be understood to be of this type if two or more cue-biddable suits are bypassed.

Grand Slam Force

A jump to 5NT after trump agreement is the Grand Slam Force, asking about the high honor cards in the trump suit. The responses vary depending on the trump suit.

With S as trump 6 C jack or less 6 D queen 6 H ace or king, minimum length 6 S ace or king, extra length 7S 2 of the top 3 honors

With H as trump 6C queen or less 6D ace or king, minimum length 6H ace or king, extra length 7 H 2 of the top 3 honors

With D as trump 6 C queen or less 6D ace or king 7D 2 of the top 3 honors

With C as trump 6 C zero or one honor 7 C 2 of the top 3 honors