Saturday, September 16, 2006 5:04 AM

Modern Q Bidding

PITBULLS:

Most expert pairs have adopted the Italian style of Q bidding. Using this philosophy , going to the 5 level or forcing the contract to the 5 level by a Q bid is a systemic no-no. Last train slam tries were invented to prevent going to the 5 level with a Q bidding auction. Last train slam tries are especially handy in splinter auctions to the 4 level. Kickback KCB was also invented to keep the auction at the lowest possible level while doing your query.

One aspect of Kickback , I have never liked is having 4♠ as Ace asking with hearts agreed as the trump suit. 4NT means KCB to me whenever we have a major fit. Since a 4♠ Q bid forces you beyond the 4♥ game level , I suggest that such a bid be defined as Exclusion KCB. This treatment is close to being Kickback but a lot more useful as 4NT will still functions quite well as KCB , thank you.

Here is an auction from a Spingold . Partner opens 1♣ and you have ♠void ♥AKQxxx ♦Kxx ♣QJxx . You respond 1♥ and partner rebids 1NT . Your partnership has a number of forcing bids you can use but I like the “ recovering the strong jump shift” bid of 3♥. This brings a 4♣ bid by partner and you bid 4♦. Partner now bids 4♥ so in these auctions if you have a spade control and are in slam mode you would bid 4NT. With your void , you bid exclusion KCB instead. Partner bids 5♦ showing two Aces outside spades. I like repeating exclusion as specific king asking so you bid 5♠. Partner bids 6♣ showing the king. Since you have already shown the diamond king as a Q bid , you now bid 6♦. This can only be interpreted as a suit ask for the queen. Partner bids 7♥ with ♠Jxx ♥xxx ♦AQx ♣AKxx .