Did not you ever had problems with slam ambitions in a minor?

If you bid  4NT, you may find yourself too high, and (or) you do not have knowledge of the Queen of trumps.

There is a solution to your problems : the minor "TURBO".

Minor "TURBO"  is used when one of the two players fixes the trump suit at the 4-level (in a game forcing position)

 

4 ♣, 4♦ = TURBO 5 keys.

1st level = even number of keys.

following levels = odd number of keys with control in the economic order.

 

Only the first level control is sacrificed. It will be named later by one of two players by bidding 4NT.

The "TURBO"s bidder becomes the captain because he knows the total number of keys in his side.

If he directly bids the game or slam it is a conclusion.

If he bids 4NT while obviously having intermediate control he looks for the queen of trumps.

If he does not reach the game with all controls he is looking for the queen of trumps or supplementary trumps.

If he bids 5NT he is looking for the queen of trumps or supplementary trumps.

He may also bids a void by making a jump at the 5-level.

 

 

Some sequences:

 

 ... ...

4♣                    4♥              1-3-5 keys + ♥ control .

4♠ (capt)        4NT            ♠ control.                  ♦ control .

5♣                                       queen of trumps or extra lenght in trumps needed.

 

 ... ...

4♦                    4♥              (0) 2-4 keys.

4♠ (capt)        5 ♣            ♠ control.                    ♣ control without  ♥ control.

5♦                                       queen of  trumps missing or no ♥ control.

 

 ... ...

4♣                   4♦           (0) -2-4 keys.

4NT (Capt)                     if the captain has clearly jumped a major control,

                                         he looks for queen of trumps or extra length.

 

 ... ...

4 ♣                  4♦            (0) -2-4 keys.

4 ♥ (capt)      5♣             ♥ control .                   no ♠ , ♦ control and probably not the queen of trumps.

 

 ... ...

4 ♦                  4NT           1-3 keys + ♥ control , no ♠ control.

5 ♣ (capt)     6 ♦            ♣ and ♠ controls .              queen of trumps and nothing else to bid.

 

 

 ... ...

4 ♦                   4 ♥           (0) -2-4 keys.

4NT (capt)     5 ♣          ♥ control, ♠ uncontrolled.              ♣ and ♠ controls.

6 ♦                                   conclusion of captain.

 

 

 

 

 

You arrive at the 4 major contract with slam ambitions.

You must continue but there was no cue-bid before.

If 4NT is BLACKWOOD you do not have space for controls.

The solution : the major "TURBO".

If you bid 4NT you specify an even number of keys.

If you exceed 4NT you specify an odd number of keys and control in the bid suit.

Be careful : the captain is your partner who knows exactly the number of keys in your side.