Gerber convention
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Gerber is a contract bridge convention devised by John Gerber (winner of regional and national championships in the 1940s, 50s and 60s, representing the USA at world championships in the early 1960s). It is similar to Blackwood in that it uses a basic "asking bid" to enquire about aces and subsequently kings. However, 4♣ bid is used as query instead of 4NT.
Today, Gerber is used primarily after notrump openings and rebids, making it a complement to Blackwood rather than a replacement.
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[edit] Asking for aces
When a situation has been reached that an enquiry for aces seems to one player to be suitable, the asking bid of 4♣ is made. The replies by partner are on a sliding scale similar to Blackwood (but at a lower level):
- 4♦ = 0 or 4 aces
- 4♥ = 1 ace
- 4♠ = 2 aces
- 4NT = 3 aces.
[edit] Asking for kings, standard replies
The asking bid for kings is 5♣ and the replies are as for aces except one level higher:
- 5♦ = 0 or 4 kings
- 5♥ = 1 king
- 5♠ = 2 kings
- 5NT = 3 kings.
[edit] Asking for kings, progressive replies
An alternative favoured by some, because it keeps the bidding slightly lower, is that the asking bid for kings is the next denomination up from the reply for aces. As an example, after this bidding 4♣ (how many aces partner?) - 4♥ (I have 1 ace), then 4♠ is the asking bid for kings. Naturally the replies have to be adjusted accordingly.
[edit] Comparison with Blackwood
- The main perceived advantage of Gerber is that it is bid at a lower level and therefore allows for a final contract lower than does Blackwood (in the event that insufficient aces are present). This lower level also allows for an exploration of kings in more cases.
- A second advantage is that it is highly suitable for potential NT contacts, whereas with Blackwood a final contract of 5 NT is easly confused with a bid asking for kings. It is for this reason that many players use Gerber when the potential contract is NT.
- A significant disadvantage is that the 4♣ bid can be confused with a splinter bid (see below) or a cue bid (see below). For this reason, it is important that partnerships agree, in advance, when 4♣ is to be Gerber and when it isn't. Common methods of distinguishing are:
- 4♣ is always Gerber.
- 4♣ is Gerber unless a natural club suit bid has been made.
- 4♣ is only Gerber following opening bids of 1NT, 2NT or (strong artificial) 2♣.
- 4♣ is Gerber unless it could reasonably have another meaning (e.g. splinter and cue bids take precedence).
