Cue Bidding ***
Roman Key Card (RKC)Blackwood ***
Kickback ***
Auctions With 6 Key Cards ***
Gerber ***
RKC Gerber ***
Minor Suit Raises as RKC Blackwood ***
Grand Slam Force ***
Control Asking Bids ***
Andover Standard uses all standard slam bidding techniques in addition
to the special conventions described below, including quantitative jumps in NT and control showing cue bids. You
may simply leap to slam without investigating if you judge slam is on and there is nothing you would like to know
from partner. You may make slam tries which depend on partner's holding in an unbid suit or in a suit that the
opponents have bid.
1H/2C/5H requests Opener to bid 6H with only 1 club loser.
1C/1S: 3S/4D: 5S suggests that Responder can make 6S if he holds a heart stopper.
A cue bid is a new suit bid after the trump suit has been agreed and the auction is game forcing. These bids are usually at the 4 level, and are either Primary or Secondary. If the trump suit is a major suit, a cue bid may be made at the 3 level. If the trump suit is a minor, new suit bids at the 3 level are usually probes for 3NT.
Cue bidding is appropriate when the partnership may contain enough for slam but this is not certain. It is also appropriate when RKC Blackwood is not appropriate (hands with Voids or worthless doubletons, for example). Note that RKC Blackwood may be initiated by either partner if desired after a cue bidding sequence has been started, and the responses must include any key cards already shown by cue bids.
Note that a sign-off at game in the agreed trump suit after a cue-bidding sequence has been started shows no further controls are held and/or an unwillingness to bid any higher. When either partner knows what the final contract should be, he should terminate the cue bidding sequence immediately by bidding game or slam.
Note that a subsequent cue bid of a splinter suit shows a void in that suit.
A primary cue bid shows first round control of the suit (Ace or Void). The first cue bid made is always a primary cue bid. It should be the cheapest cue bid available, and you should not differentiate between an Ace and a Void. Note that a primary cue bid denies a first round control in all suits below the bid suit which are also cheaper than the bid suit.
For example: 1H/3H:4D shows first round control in diamonds and denies first round control in spades and clubs.
A secondary cue bid shows second round control of the suit (Kx(x) or singleton). A secondary cue bid may be made only if the previous bidding has shown a primary control in that suit, or if you have already specifically denied a primary control in that suit. Do not show a secondary control if you still have a suit with a primary control. A secondary cue bid shows that you do not have any undisclosed primary controls.
Do not differentiate between a King and a singleton in showing secondary controls. Show the cheapest secondary control first.
Although the opportunity does not arise often, a tertiary cue bid shows third round control of the suit (Qxx or doubleton). The rules for showing third round controls are the same as for primary and secondary controls.
Andover Standard uses RKC Blackwood, where there are 5 key cards - the 4 Aces and the trump King. In addition, if Responder has a void that is likely to be an asset at slam, the void may be included in the response. RKC Blackwood is in effect after there has been an agreed upon trump suit. If no trump suit has been agreed, then the King of the last naturally bid suit is the fifth key card.
A trump suit has been agreed under the following conditions:
1) A suit has been bid and raised.
2) A suit has been bid and jump rebid.
3) A strong jump shift suit that has been rebid.
4) A jump response to a take-out double.
5) If two suits have been bid and raised, the first bid suit is the agreed suit.
5C = 0 or 3 key cards,
5D = 1 or 4 key cards,
5H = 2 or 5 key cards but no trump queen (or extra trump length),
5S = 2 or 5 key cards and the trump queen (or extra trump length).
5NT = 2 key cards and a useful void. If the Blackwood bidder needs to know the void suit, he bids 6C. Responder then bids the void suit (or the agreed trump suit if his void is in clubs).
6("x") = 1 or 3 key cards and a void in suit "x". If the void is in a higher-ranking suit than the trump suit, he bids 6 of the agreed suit.
NOTE: Some partnerships reverse the meanings of the first 2 responses.
After responses of 5C or 5D, which do not speak of the trump queen, if the Blackwood bidder needs to know about the queen, he makes the cheapest bid that is not a sign-off. Responder then shows the queen by making his cheapest bid in a suit (or NT if he has no outside king) that he holds a king. He denies the queen by signing off in the agreed trump suit.
Responses of 5C and 5D are ambiguous as to the number of key cards held (0 or 3, 1 or 4). If the 4NT bidder signs off after such a response, and Responder holds the higher number of key cards, he should bid on after the sign-off. When bidding on, Responder should make the "Queen Ask" responses (holding the Trump Queen, bid the cheapest King or NT without a king, and sign off without the Queen).
After any response or after a queen ask, if the Blackwood bidder bids 5NT he is announcing that all 6 key cards are held and he is suggesting a grand slam. If Responder has a source of tricks not disclosed to his partner, he may bid the grand slam directly. If not, he bids 6 of the lowest ranking suit in which he holds a king, provided it is lower ranking than the agreed trump suit. Otherwise he signs off at 6 of the agreed suit. If this is all the Blackwood bidder needs to know, he bids the grand slam. If he needs to find a different king, he bids that suit. If Responder holds that king, he then bids the grand slam.
After any response or after a queen ask, if the Blackwood bidder bids any suit that is not a queen ask or a sign-off, this is a control Asking Bid. He is asking whether Responder has the King of that suit. This bid should only be made when this King is all that is needed for a Grand Slam. Responder bids the next higher-ranking suit to deny the King. Responder will bid either the suit one above the next higher, 6NT or 7 of the agreed suit to confirm that he holds the King.
If the overcall is below 5 of the agreed suit, use DOPI. Responses are:
1) Double is no Key Cards.
2) Pass is one Key Card.
3) Next suit above Overcaller’s suit is two Key Cards without the Trump Queen.
4) The next higher suit is 2 Key Cards and the Trump Queen.
5) The /next higher suit is 3 Key Cards, etc.
If the Overcall is above 5 of the agreed suit, use DEPO. Responses are:
1) Double is 0, 2 or 4 Key Cards.
2) Pass is 1, 3 or 5 Key Cards.
In some auctions, RKC Blackwood can get the bidding to the slam level with two or more key cards missing. Kickback is a variation which provides another bidding level, and avoids this problem. It uses the suit or NT level immediately above the agreed trump suit as the Asking Bid (4NT for spades, 4S for hearts, 4H for diamonds, and 4D for clubs). Responses are made in steps.
In some auctions a known fit in two suits has been established. In these cases, the kings and queens of both suits are important. Auctions in which this can occur are Puppet Stayman, Michaels and Unusual Notrump. RKC responses remain the same as when there are only 5 key cards. This should never cause a problem of having too many key cards to show.
When queens are asked for, step responses are necessary:
1) The first step shows neither queen
2) The second step shows the lower ranking queen
3)The third step shows the higher-ranking queen
4) The fourth step shows both queens
When the Responder to an opening bid of 1NT or 2NT bids an immediate 4C, this is Gerber – asking about Aces. The responses are the same as Blackwood, showing Aces by bidding up the line.
1) 4D shows 0 or 4 Aces
2) 4H shows 1 Ace
3) 4S shows 2 Aces
4) 4NT shows 3 Aces
A rebid of 5C by the Gerber bidder confirms that all 4 Aces are held, and asks for Kings. Responses are the same as for Aces.
If the overcall is at the 4 level, use DOPI, providing the response can be made without bypassing 4NT. Responses are:
1) Double is no Aces.
2) Pass is one Ace.
3) Next suit above Overcaller’s suit is two Aces.
4) The next higher suit is 3 Aces, etc.
If the Overcall is at the 5 level or higher, use DEPO. Responses are:
1) Double is 0, 2 or 4 Aces.
2) Pass is 1, 3 or 5 Aces.
When the Responder to an opening bid of 1NT or 2NT uses Stayman and finds a fit, an immediate bid of 4C is RKC Gerber. The responses are the same as RKC Blackwood, showing key cards by bidding up the line.
Other uses for RKC Gerber are:
1) Over partner’s 2D, 2H, 2S, 3D, 3H or 3S pre-empt, 4C is RKC Gerber. And over partner’s 3C pre-empt, 4D is RKC Gerber.
2) In the sequence 2C/2D/3NT, 5C is regular Gerber (4C is Stayman).
3) If no suit has been established, a jump to 4C over a natural bid in NT is Regular Gerber.
1) 4D shows 0 or 3 Key Cards
2) 4H shows 1 or 4 Key Cards
3) 4S shows 2 Key cards without the trump Queen
4) 4NT shows 2 Key cards with the trump Queen
A bid of 5C confirms that all six Key Cards are held, and asks for Kings. The cheapest King is shown, unless Responder can bid a grand slam directly.
If the overcall is below 5 of the agreed suit, use DOPI. Responses are:
1) Double is no Key Cards.
2) Pass is one Key Card.
3) Next suit above Overcaller’s suit is two Key Cards without the Trump Queen.
4) The next higher suit is 2 Key Cards and the Trump Queen.
5) The next higher suit is 3 Key Cards, etc.
If the Overcall is above 5 of the agreed suit, use DEPO. Responses are:
1) Double is 0, 2 or 4 Key Cards.
2) Pass is 1, 3 or 5 Key Cards.
Minor Suit Raises as RKC Blackwood
In many auctions where a minor suit will be trumps, RKC Blackwood can force the bidding to slam where 2 or more key cards are missing. The following alternatives are available:
1) After a strong raise of a minor suit opening to the two level, a jump to 4 of the minor asks Responder to show key cards starting with the first available step.
2) In general, whenever a minor suit has been agreed, a bid of this minor at the 4 level asks for key cards.
After partner’s first response, showing key cards, further bids may be an attempt to locate the trump queen, to check on the possession of kings, or to ascertain controls in a specific suit. The rules for doing this are as follows:
1) After the showing of key cards, a bid of 5 of the minor by either partner is a sign-off.
2) If the first key card response does not speak of the trump queen, the next bid up the line is a Queen Ask. Partner shows the Queen by cue-bidding his cheapest king, or bidding 4NT if he has no king other than the King of trumps. Partner denies the Queen by signing off with the cheapest bid in the trump suit.
3) If the first key card response does not speak of the trump queen, a bid one higher than the next bid up the line is asking for Kings. Partner cue-bids his cheapest king. With no king other than the King of trumps, partner signs off with the cheapest bid in the trump suit.
4) If the first key card response does speak of the trump queen, the next bid up the line is asking for kings. Partner cue-bids his cheapest king. With no king other than the King of trumps, partner signs off with the cheapest bid in the trump suit.
5) Any bid other than a Queen Ask or a King Ask is a Control Asking Bid, asking about the King of that suit. This is only done when the King is all that is needed for a Grand Slam. Responder denies the King by bidding the next higher suit. He confirms the King by bidding either the suit above the next higher, 5NT or 7 of the agreed trump suit.
A jump to 5NT after a suit is agreed upon requires partner to bid 7 of the agreed suit with 2 of the top 3 honors in the suit. Failing this, Responder bids as follows:
6C (if clubs is not the agreed suit) with the Ace or King.
6D (if a minor is not the agreed suit) with the Queen (or extra length).
6 of the agreed suit otherwise.
Control Asking Bids are used in slam explorations to discover
whether a control or controls are held in a specific suit. The following are "Asking Bids":
1) A jump shift response to an opening weak two or three level bid.
2) A new suit bid over an opening 4 level bid in a major suit.
3) After a Namyats 4C or 4D Opener, a bid beyond the "anchor" suit.
4) An unusual jump having no other "systemic" meaning. Usually this is one level higher than a Splinter bid. Note that an exception to this is that a double jump reverse shows a void Splinter, so a triple jump reverse would be an Asking Bid.
Cheapest Bid in NT Shows Kx.
First step No Control (No Ace, King, void or singleton).
Second step Second Round Control (Singleton or KQ(xx)).
Third step First Round Control (Ace or void (with poor trump length)).
Fourth step Absolute Control (AK or singleton Ace or void with good trump length).
NOTE: In the above responses, shortness is shown as well as high card controls. If the final contract is likely to be in NT, only high card controls should be shown. Note also that an asking bid should not be made if the worst response will get you too high.
Repeating the Asking Bid asks for third round control. Responses are:
First Step Denies a third round control
Second Step Third Round Control (doubleton)
Third Step Third Round Control (Qxx..)
