KCB Majors

Saturday, August 31, 2002 7:32 PM

KCB Majors

PITBULLS:

Will discuss KCB over the majors in this e-mail . Built into the original KCB was the ability to show the Queen of trump with 2 Aces . The revised KCB played today allows you to ask for the queen of trump after 0 or 3 & 1 or 4 is shown . Responses shows specific Kings with the queen of trump and other goodies also …

AFTER MAJOR SUIT AGREEMENT

After major suit agreement the RKB ask is always 4NT. Some play "Kickback" and use 4S as RKB when hearts is agreed.
The most likely follow up to an RKB response is the queen-ask, particularly when partner shows one keycard with a response of 5C. The queen ask is 5D.

If responder does not have the queen, responder signs off at five of the agreed major.

If responder has the queen (or enough length to know that there are at least 10 combined trump), responder has three options:

1. Jumps to six of the agreed major denying a side suit king or the queen of either player's first bid suit.

2. Holding one king, responder bids the suit in which he has the king. Holding two kings, responder bids the lower ranking king suit first or the king at the lower level.

3. Bids 5NT denying a side suit king but showing a significant "extra". This extra is usually the queen of the ASKER'S first bid suit. However, it could also be the queen of the responder's first bid suit, if the asker has not bid a side suit. It might also show extra trump length such as a six card trump suit when the asker knows of only four.

TEN IS THE MAGIC NUMBER

Opener                         Responder
AKxxx                           xxxxx
AKQxx                          x
KQ                                 Axxx
x                                     xxx

Opener                         Responder
2C                                 2D (1)
2S                                 4H (2)
4NT                               5C (3)
5D (4)                            6S (5)
Pass

(1) Waiting
(2) Splinter
(3) 1
(4) Queen-ask
(5) Acceptance because there are 10 known spades; also denies a side suit king.

Had responder four small spades, responder would signoff at 5S after the queen-ask which opener would pass.   The idea is to stay out of small slams missing an ace as well as the queen of the agreed suit with a nine card trump fit.   However, a small slam is acceptable if the RKB bidder has the jack of the agreed suit.

REASONABLY GOOD CATCH

Opener                         Responder
xx                                  AQxx
Q10xx                          AKJxx
AKxx                            x
Kxx                              AQx

Opener                         Responder
1D                                 1H
2H                                 4NT
5C (1)                           5D (2)
6C (3)                           6H (4)
Pass

(1) 1
(2) Queen-ask
(3) Acceptance with the C-K. The 6C response denies the SK, but does not deny the D-K.
(4) Knowing the hand is missing the S-K, responder settles for the small slam.

NEAT IDEA

Opener                         Responder
Axx                                  x
AQJ10xx                        Kx
Qx                                   AKJxxx
Ax                                   Kxxx

Opener                         Responder
1H                                   2D
3H                                   4NT (1)
5C (2)                             5D (3)
5NT (4)                           7NT
Pass

(1) RKB
(2) 3
(3) Queen-ask.
(4) Has the queen, denies any side suit king, but shows the D-Q, the queen of the asker's first bid suit.
(5) Can count 13 tricks.   This little wrinkle comes in handy at matchpoints.

WHEN HEARTS IS THE AGREED SUIT AND THE RESPONSE IS 5D.

After a 5D response showing 0 or 3 keycards playing 1430, or 1 or 4 keycards playing 0314, 5H is to play if the responder has 0 or 1 keycards, but it is the queen-ask if the responder has 3 or 4 keycards.   The queen-ask facing 0 or 1 keycard is 5S.

The asker is supposed to know when he hears a 5D response how many keycards responder has from the previous bidding.   If the asker believes the responder has 3 or 4 keycards, 5H is the queen-ask.   If the asker believes the responder has 0 or 1 keycards, the return to 5H is to play and 5S is the queen-ask.   In any event, if the 5D responder has 0 or 1 he must pass the return to 5H, and if he has 3 or 4 he CANNOT pass; it is forcing to a small or a grand slam!

Think about it.   If the strong hand asks the weak (1430) and gets a "3" response, why would the strong hand ever want to sign off?   Similarly, if the weak hand asks the strong (0314) and gets a "4" response, why would the weak hand ever want to sign off?   Give me a break.

Opener                     Responder
1H                                 3H (1)
4NT(2)                         5D (3)
5H (4)
5S (5)

(1) Limit raise.
(2) RKB (hearts) 1430 responses-strong hand asking the weak.
(3) (0 or 3) surely 0, this is a limit raise, after all.
(4) To play facing 0, the queen-ask facing 3.
(5) The queen-ask facing 0.

B. RESPONDING TO A QUEEN-ASK:

RESPONDING TO A QUEEN-ASK BENEATH THE FIVE LEVEL OF THE AGREED SUIT:

There are three possible responses to a queen-ask, one of which denies the queen, the other two confirm the queen.

1. A return to the five level of the agreed suit denies the queen.

2. Bidding a new suit shows the queen plus the king of the bid suit.

3. Bidding 5NT shows the queen, denies a side suit king, but shows a significant extra. That extra could be the queen of partner's first bid suit, the queen of your own first bid suit or possibly extra unknown trump length.

RESPONDING TO A QUEEN-ASK, HEARTS AGREED WHEN THE ASK IS 5H (OR 5S).

Because 5H is the queen ask after a 5D response (when the responder has 3 or 4 keycards), it may pay to review the responses since a "pass" is not an option. If the responder DOES NOT have the queen, the hand figures to wind up in a small slam; if the responder has the queen, and the asker is bidding properly, the final contract should be a grand slam. The responses are:

1. A raise to 6H DENIES the queen.

2. A response of 5NT shows the queen, but denies a side suit king. It is the only way to show the queen when not holding a side suit king.

3. A bid in a new suit shows the queen plus the king of the bid suit.

A new suit by the RKB bidder after a 5NT response is a grand slam try looking for 3rd round control in the bid suit.

A new suit by the RKB bidder after a king showing response is a grand slam try looking for 2nd round control in the bid suit.

RESPONDING TO A FORCING 5H QUEEN-ASK WITH 3 OR 4 KEYCARDS AFTER A 5D RESPONSE TO RKB (HEARTS AGREED)

1. A raise to 6H DENIES the queen.

2. Bidding a NEW SUIT shows the king of that suit plus the HQ. This response should lead to a grand slam in either hearts or notrump. However, if the asker signs off after hearing about the queen and a side king, accept the decision, but consider looking for a new partner.

3. Bidding 5NT shows the queen but denies a side suit king. Any suit the asker bids over 5NT is a grand slam try looking for 3rd round control (or a singleton) in the bid suit.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP HAND

Opener                     Responder
S. Axx                         S. K
H. AKQ10                   H. xxxxx
D. A10                         D. Qx
C. QJxx                      C. AKxxx

Opener                     Responder
2NT                             3D (1)
4H (2)                         4NT (3)
5D (4)                         5H (5)
5NT (6)                       6C (7)
7C (8)                         7NT (9)

(1) Transfer.
(2) Good hand for hearts with 4 trump.
(3) RKB 0314 responses-weak hand asking strong.
(4) 4
(5) Queen-ask.
(6) Yes, but no side suit king.
(7) Do you have third round control in clubs?
(8) I have the QJ.
(9) 13 tricks.

This hand was played in the 2001 World Championships USA I vs. USA II.
Neither table arrived at the cold grand.

REMINDER: If the responder to a queen-ask knows of a 10 card trump fit, the queen is shown whether the responder has it or not!