5NT Pick a Slam: Practical Partnership Agreements

5NT as pick a slam is a very simple but effective tool, so much so that most expert pairs have adopted it. It is easy to learn and highly recommended as a simple addition to your system.

In case you are thinking 5NT in your system asks for Kings, you are correct. 5NT as "pick a slam" does not apply if you have bid 4NT blackwood. So, if you bid blackwood asking for keycards, and then follow that up with 5NT, it should still keep the normal meaning of asking for Kings. With that out of the way, lets look at how 5NT as "pick a slam" applies.

This hand came up recently for an expert pair. 3 ♣  was stayman and 3 ♦  denied a major. What next?

It is typically better to play in an 8 card fit on the 6 level, than to play in 6NT. So responder bid 5NT! In this context, it means "please bid a minor suit if you have one". Opener bid 6 ♦  and that was the final contract.

The meaning of 5NT does change depending on the context. Lets look at a slightly similar example as the previous.

In this auction the pair played 4NT as Quantitative (they have other bids if they wanted to agree spades, so responder would not have four card spades here). Since opener was a maximum, he was glad to accept the invite, however he thought he would keep the possibility of a 4-4 diamond fit alive. If his partner bids 6 ♦  he will pass, otherwise the pair will play in 6NT. 5NT in this context simply says - I may have a better contract than 6NT available, just bid your suits naturally. 

Like any good thing, its not good to overuse it. Modifying the above example slightly, this time opener bid 1NT with a 4252 shape, on account of the heavy values in the two card suits. The auction continued in a similar way.

In this situation, opener can simply bid 6 ♦  immediately, and not bid 5NT at all. What does 6 ♦  show? It says "I accept your invite, and I have a nice five card suit that might be suitable as the trump suit. You can pass this if you think its a good idea, or correct to 6NT if you prefer". Bidding like this sends a stronger message about playing in 6 ♦ , whereas bidding 5NT would be done on a four card suit.

It also can be very useful in competitive auctions, where your side does not have room to explore properly. Take this example

Opener decided to bid on, and chose 5NT as the bid. Why? His hearts are longer than the four he has already shown, so his partner can "pick that slam" with three card support here. In actual fact his partner had a six card diamond suit and was delighted to bid that over 5NT. That was the final contract (and best contract), it made comfortably. 

Why is 5NT actually very descriptive? Lets take the previous example,  why should responder "know" that declarer does not have a four card diamond suit? Because as mentioned, do not over-use 5NT. If opener had a four card diamond suit and wanted to bid over 5 ♣ , he would have bid either 5 ♦  or 6 ♦ , instead of 5NT - showing an actual diamond suit. That would therefore show a 5440 shape.

Overall 5NT should be a simple and easy tool to use. Keep it in your backpocket as an option when you are stuck. You might be surprised how simple and intuitive it can be to use. But do not over-use it! 

Where to next

• -> Next: Find a Major Fit as Responder: Mainstream Methods
• -> Related: Vulnerable Preempting: Risk and Reward
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