Sunday, July 23, 2006 12:45 AM

2/1 Kickback

PITBULLS:

An established partnership should have a number of 2/1 understandings. 2/1 and openers two suiter sometimes complicates auctions. One understanding is when opener shows a two suiter and the 2/1 bidder accepts one of partners suits via a Q bid. How do you ask for Aces ? Is this Q bid Kickback ? Lets start with the opener showing a major/minor combination. ♠ AK1098x ♥ K ♦ x ♣KJ1098 .

1♠-P-2♦-P

3♣-P-3NT-P

4♣

You should not pull 3NT to a minor from a position of weakness so this is a slam try. Partner accepts clubs as trump by bidding 4♦ as Kickback and accepts spades with 4♥ as Kickback. 4♠ or 5♣ or 4NT is to play. Same scenario with hearts opened so 4♠ is Kickback for hearts.

There is one Kickback exception where 4NT is KCB with a minor agreed. This is where the Kickback suits have been bid naturally so confusion might arise. 4NT is KCB for a minor – what a quaint idea !! ♠AQxxx ♥x ♦AQxxx ♣Ax and you open 1♠ . Partner bids 2♥ , you bid 3♦ and partner raises to 4♦. The Kickback suits have been bid already so 4NT is KCB for diamonds.

There are some Q bidding auctions where 4NT to play would be ridiculous. Do not be stubborn & hold partner to Kickback with a minor agreed. If 4NT can not be anything else but KCB , it is KCB !!

If opener has a major two suiter , slow arrival is a slam try and fast arrival shows a minimum.

1♠-P-2♦/♣-P

2♥-P-2NT-P

3♥ 4♥ is fast arrival so this is a slam try.

A 3♠ preference agrees spades and a Q bid implies hearts. 4NT is KCB with hearts as the agreed suit. Major two suiters are easier to handle than major/minor combinations J.