Monday, September 02, 2002 4:12 AM

KCB - Minors at 4 level

PITBULLS:

O.K. Kantar has got to me . He advocates “Kickback” when the partnership has 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 fit or the next bid if the suit has been bid previously to use as KCB .

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 and not the ask. When you have just found your minor fit by the 4 level you need something to be KCB. Use Kickback.

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.