Generally you need 33 points to make a small slam and 37 points to make a grand slam. You can make a slam with fewer points with a good fit, extra distributional values like voids or singletons, or a double fit.
The key to slam bidding is to establish a fit, understand the combined values of the two hands, and to ensure that you have sufficient key cards (aces and kings) and stops in every suit. You do not want to bid a slam and find that you are missing the ace and king of one suit.
Everyone in a club is familiar with BLACKWOOD, the ace-asking convention. This is a call of 4NT asking partner to state the number of aces that they hold, 5C=0 (or 4), 5D=1 ace, 5H=2 aces, 5S=3 aces. This has been the primary slam tool for decades and is misused by most: they use Blackwood to bid a slam when they have at least three aces when they should be using it to avoid slams when they are missing two; a subtle difference.
Key tools in slam bidding are:
RKCB extends normal Blackwood to include the king and queen of the trump suit, as these are important cards as well as the four aces: there are FIVE key cards, the four aces and the trump king. It is essential that both players know what the trump suit is otherwise confusion will result.
The responses are as follows:
Experienced players will use the higher responses to show hands with voids, but this is beyond the scope of this article.
Most club players just play these responses and do not bother about the follow-ups, but it is an important part of the convention.
A bid of the trump suit is sign-off. Otherwise:
The easiest way to practise your slam bidding is on Bridge Base Online. Contact Paul for some advice.