[fromageGB]

blackshoe, on 2017-December-22, 11:21, said:

in all, I'd suggest starting off with no Blackwood. Learn Italian style cue-bidding instead.

Seriously though, of course you should learn to cue bid, but that applies only if trumps have been agreed. Often as the strong "trump agreer", not in a sequence already GF, you cannot cue bid because trumps are not agreed, and you can't bid 3T because it is not forcing. Other sequences too must agree at 4T, and when this is the case you do need the ability to investigate beyond. IMHO ace asking is more important than cue bidding, and Italian or not, cue bidding is not going to help when you are missing the AKQ of trumps.

[Zelandakh]

fromageGB, on 2017-December-23, 05:41, said:

Seriously though, of course you should learn to cue bid, but that applies only if trumps have been agreed. Often as the strong "trump agreer", not in a sequence already GF, you cannot cue bid because trumps are not agreed, and you can't bid 3T because it is not forcing.

Having the agreement that 4 of the 4th suit is a forcing raise in partner's last bid suit covers many of these cases. That said, I agree with your main point - an ace-asking convention is usually a simpler slam investigation tool than cue bidding for a complete beginner and generally sufficient until they have at least covered the basics of game and part-score bidding.