Use to determine the number of Aces held by your partner after a suit has been agreed. Either partner can initiate the bid but whoever "asks" is in charge of setting the final contract.

Bid 4 N/T to ask about Aces.

Responses are:

5 Clubs = None or all of the Aces

5 Diamonds = 1 Ace

5 Hearts = 2 Aces

5 Spades = 3 Aces

When all the Aces are located, you can ask for Kings by bidding 5 N/T. Responses are the same (1 level higher).

To cut it off, simply bid the next level of the agreed suit or Pass if your partner's response happens to be the agreed suit and you can't go higher. Only the "asker" can end the bidding.

To sign off in NT - A bid of an unbid suit by the "asker" requires partner to correct to NT at the same level.

After an eight card or longer major suit fit has been found, a bid of 3NT is used to ask for aces.

The responses are the same, but at 1 level lower.

Ace Showing Responses

These bids are often referred to as Albarran Blackwood by some European players. They are named after Pierre Albarran, a very successful French international bridge player.

Used with strong two-club openings (at least 23 points).

Any minimum response (other than a negative one) shows the ace of the suit bid. The responses to a conventional 2-club bid would be:

2 diamonds negative

2 hearts or spades ace-showing

2 N/T at least 8 points, but aceless

3 clubs or diamonds ace-showing

3 N/T two aces

See also: