Wednesday,
September 18, 2002 5:54 AM
Hand Evaluation - Kokish Game Tries
PITBULLS :
Playing
3 card simple major raises adds a new dimension to your major game try structure . Knowing that partner
always ( usually )
has 3 trump for a simple raise makes 3NT a powerful alternative to a 10
trick major suit contract . Getting to the right game can be considered as well
as getting to game period . I like the Kokish
game tries as a good exploratory tool to find the right game
. Kokish game tries introduces a new game try concept. Opener asks responder where she would accept a long
suit game try . As an option ,
opener can show responder shortness instead. Quite a powerful
game try structure as captaincy changes depending on the hand. This
structure is also useful for slam tries as responder shows where she lives with
her HCP’s or opener can show a singleton for assessing duplication of value.
2 ♠:
Kokish Game Try, a long
suit trial in any suit,
asking partner which Game Try suit she would have accepted.
2 NT: Accepts a game try in ♠. Opener now signs of in 3 or 4 ♥, makes a second game-try by bidding the
suit or starts to cuebid.
3 ♣:
Accepts a game try in ♣, but not in ♠.
3 ♦: Accepts a game try in ♦, but not in ♠/
♣.
3 ♥: Rejects all game tries.
4 ♥ /3 NT: Accepts all game tries.
2 NT: x/- ♠,
Short suit Game Try or better.
3 ♣:
Short suit Game Try or better.
3 ♦: Short suit Game Try or better.
3 ♥: Preemptive, 6
card suit.
3 ♠:
6 4 in majors or extremely concentrated 5 4.
3 NT: 5332, proposal to play.
4 ♥: SO
2 NT: Kokish Game Try, a
long suit trial in any suit,
asking partner which Game Try suit she would have accepted.
3 ♣:
Accepts a game try in ♣
. Opener now signs of in 3 or 4 ♠,
makes a second game-try by bidding the suit or starts to cuebid.
3 ♦: Accepts a game try in ♦, but not in ♣.
3 ♥: Accepts a game try in ♥, but not in ♣/
♦.
3 ♠:
Rejects all game tries.
4 ♠:/3
NT Accepts all game tries.
3 ♣:
Short suit Game Try or better.
3 ♦: Short suit Game Try or better.
3 ♥: Short suit Game Try or better.
3 ♠:
Preemptive, 6 card suit.
3 NT: 5332, proposal to play.
4 ♠:
SO
The type of information obtained by these bids can
lead to 3NT instead of 4 of a major . You are normally
bidding values in that suit and that could lead to 3NT. If you are like Peter Jones
, so have a propensity for bad trump breaks then this tool would be very
useful.
Kokish game tries are also
used when opener finds
your major fit after partner responds a major and you raise to two of a major.
The rules are the same but there is a twist.
1♥-P-1♠-P
2♠-P-3♠ this shows a stiff in partners bid suit ( not pre-emptive ). Showing stiffs in partners bid suit is
generally not a good idea. Bidding partners suit should show an honour in that suit.
1♦-P-1♥-P 2♥-P-3♥-P is a game try with
a stiff diamond. I held ♠xxxx ♥KQJx ♦x ♣K1098 , partner opened 1♦ on ♠J10 ♥10xxx ♦Axxx ♣AQJ so we get to a tight 4♥ due to no
duplication in diamonds.