Roman Keycard Blackwood
We are playing 03-14 all the time
Applies over Majors always
In Minor suit slam auctions, our Minorwood agreements usually apply and take
precedence, but occasionally we may use 4NT as RKCB.
DEFINITIONS:
ASKER:The partner who initiates RKCB, or the King-Ask, or the Queen-Ask, or the Direct Ask, or the Delayed Ask or the Secondary Ask.
RESPONDER:The Asker’s partner
KING ASK: After initial response to RKCB, a follow up bid of 5NT / in the
case of Minorwood it is one above the agreed suit at the 5 level.
QUEEN ASK: After initial response of either Step 1 or Step 2 to RKCB, the next cheapest bid which is not the trump suit asks for the Trump Queen.
DIRECT ASK:A follow up bid in a NEW SUIT, after the initial response to RKCB, which is NOT the King Ask or Queen Ask.
DELAYED ASK:A new suit bid by ASKER, after the response to the
King Ask or Queen Ask
SECONDARY ASK: Asks for third round control in a suit in which Responder
has already Affirmed or Denied second round control –
it only occurs after an initial Delayed Ask.
REPLACEMENT ASKS and RESPONSES:
-A 4NT bid may be a Step response in Minorwood auctions.
-A 4NT bid may be a Queen ASK or even a Direct ASK in
some Minorwood auctions
-A 5NT bid may be a Step Response in RKCB auctions eg.
response to Direct Ask
-A 5NT response may be a Replacement Q bid – eg. to
Queen-ask in RKCB ( showing specific K of the suit
utilized for the Ask.
-A 5NT bid may be a Delayed Ask or Secondary Askin
space limited auctions – it then refers to the suit or
cheapest suit in which there is no room to ask.
4NT5C = step 1 = 0/3 Key Cards
5D = step 2 = 1/4 Key Cards
5H = step 3 = 2 Key Cards without Trump Q
5S = Step 4 = 2 Key Cards with Trump Q
The KING ASK:
4NT followed by 5NTAsks for Kings/
King of trump suit is excluded /
We reply specific Kings /
Show cheapest King /
Bypassing a King denies it /
With all 3 Ks bid 7C or 7 of trump suit
Showing cheapest King does not deny possession of
another King in a higher suit /
Return to 6 of theagreed trump suit denies
possession of any Kings /
In a Minorwood or ASK-TELL auction a bid of the suit above the agreed Minor at the 5 level, immediately after the initial response is the King Ask. Responses
are as above.
Rule:asking for Kings guarantees that the partnership possesses allthe Key
Cards as well as the trump Queen. In this context knowledge of
possession of 10 or more cards is equivalent to holding the Queen of
trumps.
Rule: 5NT is a Grand Slam Try. However the 4NT bidder is obliged to bid 5NT
whenever he knows the partnership possess al Key Cards and the Trump
Queen., even if he has no real interest in a Grand Slam. This is to enable
Partner bid a Grand Slam.
Rule:While Partner will usually reply specific Kings in response to the 5NT
enquiry, he is allowed to bid 7 with a source of tricks. It is preferable in
these situations to bid 7C and allow the original 4NT bidder to place the
contract. This enables the Asker to play at the 7 level in a suit of his
choosing ( rarely may not be the suit agreed for RKCB ) or in 7NT.
Rule: King of a suithigher than trump may be shown if space permits below
the 6 level. However don’t show it at 6 level unless confident of landing in
a playable slam.
The QUEEN ASK:After a first or second step response to RKCB, the next
available bid (which is not the trump suit) is the trump
Queen Ask.
Without trump Q:return to trump suit at 5level
With trump Q but no side-King:return to trump suit at 6 level
( or extra trump length )
With trump Q + side King(s):Q-bid cheapest side King
( or extra trump length )
RULE:If either partner knows that the combined trump length is
10 or higher, then he bids as if the partnership possesses the
Trump Queen. This means a) Resp. will show possession of trump
Queen when responding to a Queen-Ask and b) Asker will
make a Grand slam try (real or courtesy) if he knows that
the partnership possesses all the key cards.
As a corollary the partner who actually holds the trump Q knows
that there is extra trump length opposite.
RULE:After a Step1 or Step 2 reply to RKCB, the Asker may sign-off
at 5 of the trump suit fearing there are only 0 or 1 key cards opposite. If that happens Responder with 3 or 4 key cards:
Must bid 6 of the trump suit:a) lacking the trump Q.
b) Trump Q but no side King.
Must Q-bid cheapest King if he also holds the trump Queen
NOTE: When Hearts are trumps there is no Queen-Ask available after
a 5D (1 or 4) response.
NOTE:5NT is a replacement Q-bid for theKing of the suit utilizedto
make the Queen Ask. This provides more room for making
Delayed or Secondary Asks
4NT ( RKC for Ss )5C = 0/3
5D = Q-ask5H = trump Q + HK
5S = no trump Q
5N – trump Q + DK
6C = trump Q + CK
6D and 6H = non-system
6S = trump Q, no side Ks
The DIRECT ASK:Following the initial response to RKCB/Minorwood a bid
in a newsuit which is not the Queen Ask is a Direct Ask.
The Direct Ask is a Grand Slam Try and confirms
possessionof all Key Cards and the Trump Queen.
Responses to the Direct Ask are usually in 3 steps when space permits.The
Trump suit is not counted a step. Asker must be prepared for the Resp. to
bid higher than 6 of the trump suit .
Step 1 3rd. round control without second round control – Qxx or dbltn. Step 2 2nd. round Honor control +, but no 3rd. round control - Kxx(x)
Step 32nd. and 3rd. round control + - KQ(x) or Kx or singleton.
Return to trump suit: denies any control.
Modified Responses to the Direct Ask in T-1 Suit at the 6 level.
Now Resp. ignores third round control and shows only second round control.
Return to 6 of trump suit:no 2nd. round control
Bid one step higher than 6 of trump suit shows possession of second round
control. (Kx(x), KQ(x), singleton)
Note:T-1 = suit immediately below the trump suit/ T-2 suit = second suit below the trump suit / T-3 = third suit below trump suit.
Note:Usually the Direct Ask will be above the level of the King Ask.
It may be possible sometimes to make a Direct Ask at a lower
level eg. a bid of 5S when Hs is the agreed trump suit.
Note:After the reply to the Direct Ask, the Asker places the contract.
Logically he cannot wish to make another asking bid even if space
permits.
CAVEAT:Asker must be PREPARED. Some responses may go beyond 6 of
the trump suit. In these cases a bid of 6NT by Asker is to play.
If unprepared DON’T ASK.
Note:We are using these same step responses (including the modified
response in the T-1 suits) for all the DELAYEDASKS also (see
appropriate section)
DELAYED ASK:A new suit bid by ASKER, after a positive response to the
King Ask or Queen Ask. A Grand Slam Try and confirms
possession of all Keycards and trump Queen.
They arise in 3:1. Zero or 3 KCs / +ve response to Q-Ask
situations2. 1 or 4 KCs / +ve response to Q-Ask
3. King Ask followed by a +ve response
For all the Delayed Asks the responses follow the USUAL 3 STEP response
stucture including the modified responses for the T-1 suit at the 6 level
(as outlined in the section under Direct Asks)
SECONDARY ASK: Asks for third round control in a suit in which Responder
has already affirmed or denied second round control –
it only occurs after an initial positive response to a
Q-Ask.
Following both 0-3 and 1-4 response and a positive response to the Q-Ask it is
possible to make a Secondary Ask in ANY (but not both) of two of the remaining
side-suits. One of these will always be the T-1 suit.
Responses:Return to trump suit – no 3rd. round control
1st. step – 3rd. round control present
4NT (RKB for Ss)5C = 0/3
5D = Q-Ask5H = TQ + HK
5S = sign-off
5NT = sec. ask in Hs
6C = del. ask in Cs
6D = del. Ask in Ds
or 5S = no TQ
or 5NT = TQ + DK (no HK)
6C = del. ask in Cs
6D = sec. ask in Ds
6H = sec. ask in Hs
or 6C = TQ + CK (no DK/HK)
6D = sec. ask in Ds
6H = sec. ask in Hs
Or 6S = TQ (no side K)
Void Showing:
Q-bid void at 6 level below 6 of out trump suit – shows 1 or 3 KCs
6 of Trump suit shows void in suit higher than our trump suit and1 or 3 KCs
5NT = 2 key cards with a void.
In all cases the void should be obvious to partner – if not DON’T SHOW VOID
Exclusion Blackwood:When trumps have been clearly agreed, a JUMP into
a new suit above 4NT or the corresponding Minorwood/Ask-Tell bid is Exclusion Roman Key Card Blackwood. It shows a void in the suit and asks for Key
Cards excluding the Ace of the void suit. Usual 03-14 responses. Once Responder
makes his reply, subsequent bids follow the usual rules. Queen-Ask is only
possible below 5 of the trump suit and may not always be available. With this
caveat all other ASKs are unchanged.
- EKCB applies when a trump suit is clearly agreed – classic auctions:
I maj.2NT
3D5C/5D/
1D2D
4 maj./5C
- I would suggest it also applies after Texas transfers over both1NT and
2NT Openings.
INT4D
4H4S/5C/5D = EKB
KEYCARD 4 Clubs: Refer to section on weak 2 bids. This also applies
for 3 level pre-empts.
What suit is Trumps?
1. 4NT is reg. Blackwood. (This would be rare with our bidding system.)
When a trump suit could have been unambiguously set and has not been,
In the absence of trump agreement
Certain defined auctions by prior agreement.
eg.1 Major4NT = reg. Blackwood.
- If only one suit has been bid and raised – that suit is the trump suit. The raise
may be Conventional, Q-bid raise etc.
- In the absence of explicit trump agreement if only one suit has been rebid, that
is the trump suit, particularly if the rebid shows a long strong suit.
- After a 4 level pre-empt by our side – 4NT is RKCB for the pre-emptor’s
suit.
5. After an opposing pre-empt and a 4 level Overcall by our side, 4NT is RKCB
for the Overcaller’s suit.
6. In the absence of other clear agreements by us 4NT is RKCB for the last suit . bid by the partnership
- For No-Trump auctions – see our agreements in the relevant section.
DOUBLE AGREEMENT Auctions:
Non-touching suits:4NT is RKCB for the higher suit
Minorwood/Ask-Tell agreements for lower suit
For touching suits:4NT is RKCB for higher suit
With majors. – no RKCB for Hs
With Hs and Ds – no Keycard for Ds.
When Blackwood/RKCB/Minorwood etc. is doubled:
Here we play D1P2/R1P2 at the 5 level:Dbl/Redbl = step 1
Pass = step 2
Cheapest bid = step 3 etc.
If the intervention forces us to the 6 level Dbl = Even (0, 3 or 4)
we play DEPO:Pass = Odd (1or 3)
When the response to Blackwood/RKCB/Minorwood etc. is doubled: which
is a commoner situation. We play as follows based on a treatment by Klinger:
1. Asker returns to the trump suit at 5 level = sign-off
2. Pass = Asker is still interested in slam if Resp. can control the suit which has
beendoubled - all other Key Cards and trump Queen are accounted for,
(see below for continuations)
3. Redbl = Asker has Qx(x) in the suit which has been doubled – still interested in
slam if combined assets of partnership can control the suit which has
been doubled. (see below for continuations)
4. System On if Asker has control of the doubled suit. (all Asks are on)
5. Asker bids slam in his own suit – Asker controls doubled suit – no Grand.
Asker Passes after Blackwood response had been doubled:
Asker confirms possessionWith no control Resp. signs-off. of all other Keycards and With KQ(x) – bid 6NT
the trump Queen.With Kx – bid 6 if Resp. can declare /
or sign-off at 5 level
With Ace – redouble
6 of doubled suit = Void
6 of trump suit = stiff
New suit = K of bid suit + 1st. round control
ofdoubled suit.
Redbl = Qx(x) with all otherResp. can bid 6 with 1st.or 2nd. round
Keycards and Trump Queen. Control / may consider 6N with Ace.
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