Monday, September 02, 2002
4:12 AM
PITBULLS:
O.K. Kantar has got to me . He
advocates “Kickback” when the partnership has just found a minor fit at the 4 level . I like this because 4NT
being natural is a bonus . Kickback is bidding the cheapest available bid after the minor fit . Kickback extends to the next ranking suit when the
suit has been bid previously .
Kickback is a dangerous convention because you have
years of using the bid as a Q bid.
Old habits are hard to break especially for old guys. Using
it only after 4 level minor agreements
makes sense to me.The 4 level is the agreement but
not the ask for minors. When you have just found ( agreed ) your minor fit by the 4 level, you need something to be KCB. Use Kickback not
4NT. 4NT & the minors is a terrible mix.
WHEN A MINOR IS INTRODUCED FOR THE FIRST
TIME AT THE THREE LEVEL
Opener
Responder
1S
2H
3C,
3D
?
Opener
Responder
1H
1S
3C,
3D
?
Opener
Responder
1H
2D
2H
3C
?
My feeling ( Kantar ) is that in sequences when a second bid minor suit is introduced for the first time suit at the three level there should be no immediate keycard ask
available in that minor. Must support partner first at the 4 level ( the
agreement ) and Kickback is KCB .
Opener Responder
1D 1S
3C 4C
4D
?
Four diamonds is not RKB because it is a first bid suit. In this sequence 4H is RKB.
In the preceding example, the response to the queen
ask would be 4NT, denying the queen.
Opener should correct to 5C, but at least has the option of
passing.
DIAMONDS ARE A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND WHEN
CLUBS IS THE AGREED SUIT
Opener
Responder
S. AKxxxx S. x
H. x H.
Kxxxxx
D. x D.
KQ
C. AJ108x C. KQxx
Opener Responder
1S 2H
3C 4C
(1)
4D (2) 4H
(3)
5C(4)
Pass
(1) The agreement
(2) The ask
(3) 1
(4) Two keycards missing
STILL
NOT ENOUGH ROOM
Opener
Responder
S.
AQ
S.
xx
H.
x
H.
AQxx
D. AKxxx
D. xxx
C.
AJ9xx
C.
KQxx
Opener Responder
1D 1H
3C 4C
4S (1) 5H
(2)
5NT (3) 6C
(4)
Pass
(1) RKB Both diamonds and hearts are first bid
suits.
(2) 2 with.
(3) Grand Slam try. Not a king ask. Looking for an extra.
(4) No extras, no extra trump length, no DQ, plus the
death holding in diamonds, xxx.
AFTER
SIMPLE FOUR LEVEL PREFERENCE
Opener Responder
S. AKQxx S. x
H. x H.
J109xx
D. x D.
AK10xx
C. AK9xxx C. Qx
Opener Responder
1C 1H
2S 3D
3S 4C (1)
4D (2) 4H
(3)
4S (4) 5D
(5)
6C Pass
(1)The agreement.
(2) RKB
(3) 1
(4) Queen-ask.
(5) Yes with DK.
Once RKB is in
motion, the RKB bidder frequently uses a previously bid suit as the
queen-ask. However, facing a 0 or 1
response, a return to the asker's first bid
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS 2001
Opener
Responder
S. Kx S. J10x
H. AKJx H. Qx
D. AQxxxx D.
Kx
C. x C. AKJ10xx
Opener Responder
1D 2C
2H 3C
3D 4D
(1)
4H (2) 5C
(3)
6D Pass
(1)
The agreement
(2)
RKB (hearts is not a first bid
suit)
(3)
2 without
AFTER
A SINGLE RAISE
Opener Responder
S. AJ9xx S. Qx
H. -
H. AKQxx
D. Axxx D. KQxxx
C. Axxx C. x
Opener
Responder
1S
2H
2S
(1)
3D
4D
(2)
4NT
(3)
5D
(4)
5S
(5)
6D
(6)
Pass
(1) Considered the limited hand for RKB purposes
(2) The agreement.
(3) RKB.
(4) 3
(5) Specific Suit Ask.
(6) No second or third round spade control.
ROSENBLUM QUALIFYING
West (Sontag) East (me)
S. xx
S. Kx
H. xx
H.
AKQ
D. AKQxx
D. Jx
C. Kxxx C.
QJ10xxx
West
North
East South
1D
1S 2C 3S (1)
4C
Pass 4H (2) Pass
5C(3)
Pass Pass Pass
(1) Preemptive.
(2)
RKB (Diamonds is a
first bid suit).
(3) 2
without.