Blackwood invented a convention

Playing bridge online with Xwing last night, we held the North-South hands (deal rotated):

                ♠ K 5
                ♥ 7 6 4 3
                ♦ A K Q 3
                ♣ A Q 6
♠ 9 7 6                        ♠ A J 8 3
♥ A 9 2                        ♥ 8
♦ 9 8 2                        ♦ J 7 6 5
♣ 9 8 7 2                      ♣ J 10 5 4
                ♠ Q 10 4 2
                ♥ K Q J 10 5
                ♦ 10 4
                ♣ K 3

        North     South
                  1♥ 
       2♦        2♠
       3♥        4♥
       5♣        5♥
       Pass

Xwing was South and I was North. Our auction isn't the greatest -- you hate to bid freely to five of a major. Nevertheless, the contract made, and we earned 2.86 IMPs for plus 650.

When I checked the scores later, I was surprised to see that at 15 out of the 67 tables, North-South bid slam on these cards. They bid all kinds of crazy slams online, but seldom off two aces.

I checked the auctions and many North players leapt to slam. Some used Blackwood first, however, and still got to slam -- amazing. One pair bid 7♥ and were doubled by the hand holding the ♥A -- what a sport.

My favorite contract: At one table, South declared 6NT. West led the ♠9, East put in the jack and South won the queen. When West won the ♥A at trick two, he shifted to a club. On the run of South's winners, East was caught in a squeeze between spades and diamonds -- making six for a gain of 13.91 IMPs.

You can see all the results if you click here.