Monday, September 02, 2002 2:12 AM
KCB - The Minors at the 2 Level
PITBULLS:
In order to reap the benefits of KCB you need to have room to
ask partner various questions. After major suit agreement you
normally can get the job done starting as high as 4NT with the first
ask. However, after minor suit agreement, starting at 4NT doesn't
even allow you the luxury of a queen-ask without forcing the hand to a small
slam even if partner doesn't have the queen ! Clearly lower keycard asks are
the answer.
The trick to determining if a sequence is KCB is the level at which the minor suit agreement is made
. We will discuss the 2 , 3 and 4 level to sort things out . The pull of 3NT to
4 of a minor is a special case and will be discussed in a different E-mail . 4
NT is still Blackwood with minors when no fit has been established or the
limited hand asks. ( Kantar has other ideas which I do not like ) . A generalization : whenever a minor suit agreement has
been made at the 2 level ( directly or implied ) a jump preference to the 4
level is KCB .
AFTER
TWO LEVEL MINOR SUIT AGREEMENT
Opener
Responder
Opener
Responder
1C
2C
1D
2D
?
?
Opener
Responder
Opener
Responder
1C
1D
Pass
1C
or 1D
2D
?
2H
or 2S (1) ?
(1) Fit showing with opener's minor. A two-suited hand.
My take is that after two level minor suit agreement (playing inverted minors),
a jump to the four level of the agreed suit by either player
should be RKB.
Opener
Responder
1C
2C
(1)
4C
(2)
4D
(3)
4S
(4)
5H
(5)
6C
Pass
(1) Inverted
(2) RKB
(3) 1
(4) Specific Suit Ask (SSA)
(5) Kx
When responding to the specific suit ask, the return to the trump suit shows
the worst possible holding, xxx(x). Excluding that response,
these are the step responses to the SSA.
1ST STEP: Qx(x) or xx
2ND STEP: Kxx(x)
3RD STEP: Kx
4TH STEP: KQ(x)
With a singleton, jump in the trump suit.
Therefore, it meets the requirements for a
low level keycard ask.
RKB ASKS AFTER TWO LEVEL MINOR SUIT AGREEMENT (
IMPLIED )
Since you have 4th suit forcing available to show strong minor suit
fit hands there is no use for a jump in a minor by responder to force . Therefore use it as KCB .
(a)
Opener
Responder
1C
1D/1H/1S
2C
4C
(b)
Opener
Responder
1D,
1H/1S/2C
2D
4D
(c)
Opener
Responder
1C
1D
1H
2D
4D
OPENER
REBIDS A MINOR AND RESPONDER GETS ITCHY
Opener
Responder
S.
Jx
S.
AK10x
H.
xxx
H.
AJ
D.
AK
D.
Qxxx
C.
QJ10xxx
C.
AKx
Opener
Responder
1C
1S
2C
4C
(1)
4D
(2)
4H
(3)
5D
(4)
5H
(5)
6C
(6)
?
(1) RKB
(2) 1
(3) Queen-ask
(4) Yes, with DK
(5) SSA in hearts
(6) xxx(x) (Return to trump suit = weakest holding).
At this point the responder is at the crossroads. If
responder has a likely six clubs along with the SQ, 13 tricks are
available. In addition, if opener has a third diamond and the
suit breaks there are 13 tricks without the SQ. There are
other chances as well. Sometimes you reach a point where you
either have to bid conservatively or aggressively. At
matchpoints if you decide not to bid 7C, at least bid 6NT beating all of the
pairs in 6C.
Opener rebids a minor as a
second suit.
(a)
Opener
Responder
1H 1S
2C 4C
(b) Opener
Responder
1D 1H
2C 4C
(c)
Opener
Responder
1H 1S
2D 4D
These sequences all have a new suit or 4th suit by responder as a
force therefore the jump preference is a wasted bid . Splinters also
have replaced the usefulness of a jump preference past 3NT . Therefore the jump
in partners minor is KCB .
After a two over one minor suit
response
(a)
Opener
Responder
1H
2C/2D
4C/D
(b)
Opener
Responder
1S
2C/2D
4C/D
(c)
Opener
Responder
1D
2C
4C
A jump is unnecessary after a 2/1 ,
therefore its KCB
Opener
Responder
S.
AKxxxx
S. x
H.
x
H.
Kxx
D.
x
D.
KQJx
C.
AQxxx C. K10xxx
Opener
Responder
1S
2C
4C
(1) 4D (2)
5C
(3)
Pass
(1) If there ever was a perfect hand for a lower level RKB ask, this is it.
(2) 1
(3) Not enough.