Roman KeyCard Blackwood
The"Broken record" chapter-Four level non-agreement
Four level non-agreement, notrump not in the picture.
When a player bids and rebids the same minor all the way to the four level, perhaps
mentioning the suit three or four times, perhaps bidding and then jumping in the suit, perhaps
sneaking one other suit in there, he is presumed to have a "reasonable" suit. (Good thinking).
However, it doesn't have to be a solid suit. It could be a one or two loser seven or eight card
suit. If the suit has been bid and then jump rebid, partner should assumes either a solid suit or a
seven or eight card one loser suit with an outside entry.
The player who makes a lone ranger venture will henceforth be called "broken record". (BR)
Either opener or responder can be a BR.
When BR's last bid of 4C or 4D is not forcing and partner is limited, no keycard ask. However,
if BR's partner is unlimited, a keycard ask "may" be available.
The rules are simple and depend upon the number of unbid suits. (A suit bid by an opponent
is considered unbid.)
If there are no unbid suits the 4th suit can be used as to ask for keycards. If clubs is the 4th suit
diamonds the BR suit, the asker can use his 2nd suit to ask for keycards). The idea is not to use
5C to ask for keycards...ever.
Opener Responder
1H 2D
2S 3D
4C 4D (BR in action)
?
There are no unbid suits, but clubs is the fourth suit and since 5C cannot be used to ask for
keycards, opener can use his second suit, spades, to ask. 4S in this sequence is keycard for
diamonds. 4NT is to play.
If there is "1" unbid suit, that suit is used to ask for keycards. If clubs is the unbid suit, again the
asker can use his 2nd suit for RKB.
Opener Responder
1H 2D
2S 4D (BR suit)
?
The unbid suit is clubs to opener can use his second suit. Once again 4S is RKB (1430) and 4NT
is to play.
If there are 2 (or 3) unbid suits, no RKB ask, just cuebids. Finally, 4NT is to play opposite any BR
bid.
Now you try it. Let's look at some BR sequences paying attention to who's limited, who isn't,
and the number of unbid suits. Your job is to determine what the RKB ask is, assuming one is
available. Hang in there. It'll be over soon.
(a) Op Resp (b) Op Resp (c) Op Resp
1C 1H 1D 2C 1D 2C
2C 3H 2D 2S 2D 2S
4C ? 4D ? 3D 3H
4D ?
In (a) both hands are limited. Neither 2C, 3H or 4C for that matter is forcing. When both hands
are limited, no RKB asks.
In (b) there is "1" unbid suit, spades, responder is unlimited so 4H is RKB (1430)- opener not
having jumped or reversed.
In (c) all suits have been bid, responder is still unlimited, so responder's second suit, hearts, can
be used to ask for keycards (1430).
Try this one for size: Is the last bid in this sequence forcing? If it is, what is the ask?
Opener Responder
1D 1H
2D 2S
3D 4C
4D ?
The sequence is forcing. Responder is trying for slam! All suits have been bid and clubs is the
4th suit so the asker's second suit is used. 4S (1430) is the winner.
After "BR" makes a forcing 4C or 4D bid, responses of 4NT and a raise to game are to play.
Either may be a plea for mercy.
4NT by "BR" after partner cuebids at the four level
Opener Responder
1H 2D
3H 4D (1)
4S (2) ?
(1) A BR suit
(2) Cuebid. Two unbid suits, so no keycard ask available.
When there are two (or three) unbid suits and BR's partner cuebids, this is the story:
If BR is limited, 4NT shows the king of the unbid suit.
If BR is unlimited, 4NT is RKB. In this sequence BR is unlimited so 4NT is RKB (3014)-opener
has jumped.
A TOUGHIE
Opener Responder (you)
S. x S. xxx
H. xx H. AKQx
D. AKJ10xxx D. xx
C. Axx C. QJ109
Opener 2nd hand You 4th hand
1D 1S Dbl. (1) 3S (2)
4D Pass 4H (3) Pass
4S (3) Pass 5D (4) Pass
Pass (5) Pass
(1) Negative dbl.
(2) Preemptive
(3) Cuebid facing a BR suit (three unbid suits including spades)
(4) No more to say
(5) Ditto
Responder, unlimited is worth one cuebid. If opener can't take over, it is best to bow out.
Opener, minimum, is reluctant to take charge so cuebids and then bows out.
A VICTORY FOR THE METHODS
Opener Responder
S. AKxx S. x
H. AKxxx H. x
D. QJx D. xxxx
C. x C. AKQJxxx
1H 2C
2S 4C (1)
4NT (2) Pass (3)
(1) Presumed solid. After a reverse or a jump shift, a jump by responder in his original suit
shows solidity, in theory denying an outside ace or king.
(2) If partner remembers what he is supposed to have we are off the DAK.
(3) Insults, insults, insults. When will it ever end?
TROUBLE FROM A LOCAL TOURNAMENT
Opener Responder
S. Axxx S. Jx
H. x H. Axx
D. AKJ10xxx D. -
C. A C. KQJ10xxxx
1D 2C
2S 4C (1)
4H (2) 5D (3)
7C (4)
(1) BR suit if there ever was one
(2) RKB (1430) for clubs- the unbid suit
(3) "2" with .
(4) You don't have to play it, partner does.
Not one pair arrived at 7C with this layout. Of course it's not cold with a trump lead.
EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL
Opener Resp (a) Resp (b)
S. Axx S. x S. x
H. x H. AQJx H. KQJx
D. KQJxxxxx D. 10x D. 10x
C. x C. AKxxxx C. AKxxxx
Opener Resp (a) and (b)
1D 2C
2D 2H
4D (1) ?
(1) BR diamonds, minimum hand.
Responder (a) can afford to use 4S, the unbid suit, as RKB (1430). A "2" without 5D response
can be passed. A "2" with 5H response can be converted to 6D.
Responder (b) cannot afford to use 4S as RKB (1430) because a "2" with 5H response puts the
partnership overboard.
To ask for keycards holding "1" without (don't make a practice of this), at least be sure you can
handle responses of "2" with or "2" without if you like your present partner.
THE ETERNAL STRUGGLE
Opener (you) Responder
S. - S. AQJ10xxx
H. Kx H. AJxxx
D. Qxx D. x
C. AQJxxxxx C. -
1C 1S
2C 2H
4C (1) 4S (2)
? (3)
(1) Great clubs, minimum hand. I want clubs to be trump, do you hear me?
(2) Yes, I hear you, but I want spades to be trump, do you hear me?
(3) The moment of truth!
After you have shown a BR suit and partner stubbornly rebids his first bid suit at the game
level, he is trying to tell you something-like he thinks his suit is as good or better than yours.
And when his suit is a major and yours a minor he is reminding you that game in his suit is one
level lower. Of such sequences come breakups, divorces, murders and worse.
It is rare and courageous, very courageous, to overrule a BR suit. If you do, you had better be
right!
CLOSE CALL
Opener Responder
S. KJxxxx S. x
H. Kx H. AJ
D. Kxx D xx
C. Ax C. KQJxxxxx
Opener Responder
1S 2C
2S 4C (1)
4NT (2) Pass
(1) Forcing - Does not have to be a solid suit because opener has neither jump shifted nor
reversed.
(2) To play
Works out well to play a 4NT after a BR bid as natural. (Of course it does, I made up the hand).
LET ME OFF THIS SHIP!
Opener Responder
S. KQxxx S. -
H. AJxx H. Kxx
D. - D. AQ10xxxxx
C. Qxxx C. Kx
Opener Responder
1S 2D (1)
2H 4D (2)
? (3)
(1) Not a game force but promises another bid.
(2) BR suit, forcing
(3) You want out, big time, but dare not pass a forcing bid, Big Brother may be watching. There
are four ways to get out of this mess: (1) Pass and lose partner's confidence forever; (2) Bid 4NT
and actually play this abomination; (3) Raise to 5D and let PARTNER play it; (4) excuse
yourself from the table and never come back.
(4) is clearly best, but if you decide to stay, raising with a void shows real class. Disregard all
snickers and raised eyebrows when you table this disease.
Even playing 2 over 1 as a game force, unless you have a mechanism to stop at four of a minor
after a two level response, you are doomed on hands like this.
GIVING UP ON A BR SUIT
Opener Responder
S. AKJxx S. x
H. Jxx H. xxx
D. x D. AKJxxxx
C. AKJx C. Qx
1S 2D
3C (1) 3D (2)
3H (2) 3NT(3)
Pass (4)
(1) Game force after a 2 level response.
(2) More diamonds
(3) 4th suit by opener-an ambiguous force. Could be looking for a full or a half stopper in hearts,
even heart length, xxx(x) to play 3NT. Could also be cuebidding an ace with a diamond slam in
mind. Responder assumes the former.
(3) Can't believe I'm doing this
(4) These things happen
ONE LAST LOOK
What do you think is the keycard ask in the following BR sequences- and is it a 1430 or a 3014
ask?
(a) Opener Responder
1S 2D
2S 4D
?
Answer: Trick question. There is no ask- two unbid suits. The best opener can do is cuebid one
suit denying a control in the other. After a cuebid, and unlimited BR, can, if he wishes, pick up
the ball and bid 4NT RKB (1430).
(b) Opener Responder
1S 2D
2H 4D
?
Answer: 4H (1430). When the unbid (or 4th) suit is clubs facing BR diamonds, the askers second
suit, hearts in this case, is used to ask for keycards.
And what if the opener has five hearts and wants to bid 4H naturally? Why did I know you
would ask that question? Well, you can't have everything. Besides, a hand usually plays more
comfortably when the seven or eight card suit the trump suit. At least that is what you plan to
tell when he turns up with 6-6 in the majors.
(c) Opener Responder
1D 2C
2S 3C
3D 4C
?
Answer: 4H (1430)- the unbid suit, opener asking.
(d) Opener Responder
1H 2D
3H 4D
?
Answer: No ask- two unbid suits. 4S and 5C are cuebids, 4NT and 5D are to play.
(e) Opener Responder
1D 1H
3D 4C
4D ?
Answer: 4S, the unbid suit (3014) because opener has jumped.
(f) Opener Responder (you)
1D 2C
2D 3C (not forcing)
4D ?
Answer: No ask, both hands limited.
PART II: GAME-FORCING FOUR LEVEL BR SEQUENCES, THE PREVIOUS BID BEING
3NT.
A player who bids 3NT is limited. If BR is also limited and removes 3NT to the four level of his
long minor, the bid is not forcing; another cry for mercy.
Opener Responder
1S 1NT
2NT 3D (1)
3NT (2) 4D (3)
Pass
(1) Not forcing
(2) Should have a diamond fit
(3) Even a fit is not enough to make game with this hand.
(4) Can't wait to see this disease
When the player with the BR minor suit is unlimited, a four level takeout of 3NT is not only
forcing, but is also a slam try.
Facing a slam try, the 3NT bidder has options. He can:
(1) Cuebid to show slam interest.
(2) Bid 4NT to play
(3) Raise the minor to game or slam
What the 3NT bidder can't do is ask for keycards or pass!
ACBL BULLETIN BIDDING COMPETITION
Opener Responder
S. AKxxx S. Qx
H. Kxxx H. Ax
D. Q D. AKJ108x
C. Qxx C. Axx
1S 2D (1)
2H 3C (2)
3NT (3) 4D (4)
4S (5) 4NT (6)
5C (7) 5H (8)
5S (9) 5NT (10)
6H (11) 7D (12)
Pass
(1) Not played as a game force
(2) 4th suit at the three level, game force
(3) Presumed minimum
(4) A BR slam try suit
(5) Cuebid- 4NT would be natural. The 3NT bidder cannot ask for keycards
(6) RKB (1430) An unlimited responder can ask for keycards after the 3NT bidder cuebids.
(7) "1"
(8) Queen-ask, 5D is to play
(9) Yes, with SK
(10) After a king showing response to a queen-ask, a follow up bid of 5NT, a grand slam try,
asks for any other king.
(11) How does the HK grab you?
(12) Just fine, thank you. Expecting to set up a spade for trick 13.
Escape Hatch
Opener Responder
S. QJxxxx S. x
H. AQJ H. xx
D. x D. AKQ10xx
C. QJx C. AKxx
Opener Responder
1S 2D
2S 3C
3NT 4D (1)
4NT (2) Pass
(1) Four level slam try with a BR suit.
(2) Natural. Not interested. Too much secondary strength, too little primary strength.
Final Review: If a 3NT bidder cuebids after a four level BR slam try, 4NT by BR is RKB. (1430)
or (3014) depending upon whether opener has shown extras or not.
Keep the faith.
