HOME > BRIDGE LESSONS > BRIDGE CONVENTIONS LESSONS
Slam in NoTrump – Quantitative Bids
In bridge there are two types of slams – small and grand. A small slam is bidding for 12 tricks whereas with a grand slam you contract to win all 13 tricks. Slam bidding falls into two groups: notrump slams and trump (or suit) slams.
This page is a ‘lite’ version of the interactive Bridge lessons available in our Premium Members area.
Subscribe to our free ‘Hand of the Week’ newsletter and get instant access to 31 interactive Bridge lessons and 32 guided Bridge games in our Premium Members area. Our Premium Member area also includes hundreds of interactive Bridge lessons covering: Standard American Bidding, Acol Bidding, Conventions, Defensive Bidding, Defensive Card play, Decrlarer Play lessons plus – daily Bridge competitions, daily guided Bridge hands, ‘extra for experts’ Bridge games, inline Bridge glossary, instant-answer quizzes and much more.
Try it Free Today.
In no trumps
Requirements for Notrump Small Slams
Typically, the two main ingredients to bid all the way up to 6NT are
- A balanced hand facing a balanced hand
- 33 high card points (HCP) between the two hands
Bidding Notrump Grand Slams
These are also true for grand slam except, you need 37+ points for grand slam. and if you have..
- A balanced hand facing partners balanced hand
- 37+ high card points (HCP) between the two hands
- Controls in every suit
Wouldn’t you like to see a hand in which you have the power to make a small slam in Notrumps?
North
Responder
♠ Q 9 5
♥ A K 2
♦ K Q 5 4
♣ K J 4
18 HCP
South
Opener
♠ A K 4 3
♥ Q 6 5
♦ A J 8
♣ Q 6 5
16 HCP – These two hands contain 34 HCP enough points for a small slam
In NoTrumps a control or stopper is:
An honor card/s in a suit (usually the Ace or King & Queen) which is certain to prevent the opponents from running a suit in a notrump contract.
NoTrump Slam Bidding
When your partner has bid NoTrump you can signal to your partner 5 different options. Do you want to invite to them to bid game, sign off yourself in game, invite partner to bid slam, force partner to bid slam or sign off yourself in slam. See table below.
Quantitative NoTrump Bid
| You Bid | Meaning |
| 2 NT | Inviting Partner to Bid Game |
| 3 NT | You signing off in Game |
| 4 NT | Inviting Partner to Bid Slam |
| 5 NT | Forcing Partner to Bid Slam (they choose small or grand slam) |
| 6 NT | You signing off in Slam |
Table of NoTrump Bids and their meanings
