Source: ACBL
Everything’s under control — Part 1
A control bid is so named because it promises a control in that suit —whether first or second round. This style is often referred to as Italian control bids. In a game-forcing auc-tion, after a major is agreed, a bid in another suit shows a control in that suit. At the three or four level, the con-trol is usually a king or ace, but could be a singleton or void. A control bid at the five level shows first-round control. Controls are bid up the line. If you bypass a suit, you deny a control in that suit. This allows your side to know: Do we have controls in all three side suits? If not, then you don’t want to be in slam, so stop in game. Avoiding the five level is often crucial. Let’s continue with the auction dis-cussed last month. You hold: 
KQ6 
AKQ987 
9 
762.
| Partner | You |
| 1 |
1 |
| 3 |
3 |
After you bid 3, you will listen carefully to what partner has to say. You want to learn if he has a control in clubs. If partner bids 4 , he denies a club control. You’ll be disappointed, but when you sign off in 4 , you will do so with the knowledge that a club lead would have been fatal against slam.
Because you already determined that you have enough points for slam, if partner bids 4, you’ll bid 4NT. If he has one ace, you’ll sign off in 5. Opposite two aces, you’ll bid 6. If he has three aces, you’ll bid 5NT and try for seven.
For all the first-round-control-only advocates, I can hear the wheels in motion. “Marty, this is why I make control bids only with first-round controls. If partner has a hand like: A3 J1063 AK763 K3, you’ll end up in 6. If you get a club lead and the ace is behind the king, you’ll go down.” The answer is perhaps.
Notice that:
❖ on a spade, diamond or heart lead, 6 is cold;
❖ if clubs are led, 6 will make if left-hand opponent has the ace;
❖ when RHO has the A, he will often double 4 for the lead. If that happens, we will have a chance to reconsider the situation.
Declaring 6 with this hand is at worst a 50% slam. Those are excellent odds, as opposed to a slam that is at best 50%. Now that we have gotten our feet wet with up-the-line Italian control bidding, let’s discuss several hands. Consider this auction:
| Partner | You |
| 1 |
1 |
| 3 |
? |
1. A97652 K4 74 KJ9 When partner raises your suit, your first step should be to count your Bergen points. Reminder: declarer shouldn’t count anything for his first doubleton. Bergen points: 11 high-card points + 2 (six-card suit) = 13 starting points 13 + 1 (doubleton) + 1 (six trumps) = 15 Bergen points Because 3 showed 17-19 dummy points, slam is possible. Bid 4 to show your slam interest and club control. If partner control bids 4 over 4, he is denying a diamond control. That would tell you to forget about slam and you would sign off in 4.
If partner bids 4 , you’ll control bid 4. Your king in partner’s five-card heart suit could be the key to slam. Should you do the same with a singleton or void in hearts? The answer is no. It’s better that a control bid in partner’s long suit promises the ace or king.
2. 86532 K9 KQ8 KJ3 12 HCP + 1 (5 trumps) = 13 Bergen points Your side definitely does not have 33 total points. In addition, having a weak trump suit and an aceless hand strongly suggests that you have the wrong cards for slam. Take the low road and bid 4.