Handbook - International Bridge Press Association
Handbook - International Bridge Press Association
Handbook - International Bridge Press Association
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a grand slam that depends upon a finesse for the king<br />
of trumps.<br />
Similarly, you bid no small slams missing two key<br />
cards - you may be off two aces.<br />
The Queen-Ask and Responses<br />
Whenever partner responds either five hearts or five<br />
spades to RKC, the location of the queen is known.<br />
(Either you have it or they do!) However, when partner<br />
responds either five clubs (none or three) or five diamonds<br />
(one or four), the location of the queen is uncertain.<br />
In order to ask for the queen over either of these<br />
responses, bid the next ranking suit-provided it is not<br />
the agreed suit. If it is, skip over the agreed suit and<br />
bid the next one. Returning to the agreed suit is always<br />
a signoff (with one common-sense exception,<br />
which will be covered in the examples that follow).<br />
Opener Responder<br />
♠ A x ♠ x x<br />
K Q x x A J 10 x x<br />
x x A K Q x x<br />
♣ A K x x x ♣ x<br />
Opener Responder<br />
1♠ 1<br />
3 4NT (a)<br />
5♣ (b) 5 (c)<br />
6♣ (d) 7 (e)<br />
Pass (f)<br />
(a) RKC<br />
(b) 0 or 3<br />
(c) Queen-ask<br />
(d) I have the queen of hearts as well as the king of<br />
clubs.<br />
(e) You don't mind if I bid a cold grand, do you?<br />
(f) Be my guest!<br />
When partner asks for the queen of trumps, the denial<br />
is the next step, "Worst First." Any other response<br />
promises the queen. Five of the trump suit or five<br />
notrump, if not the first step, show the queen but no<br />
side king. Bidding any suit other than the first step<br />
shows the king of the bid suit as well as the queen of<br />
trumps. Bidding six of the trump suit shows the queen<br />
of the agreed suit and may show the king of the firststep<br />
suit as well.<br />
Let's practice, because this is important. Assume<br />
spades are trumps:<br />
Opener Responder<br />
1♠ 3♠<br />
4NT (a) 5 ( b)<br />
5 (c) 5♠ (d) or,<br />
5NT (e) or,<br />
6 ♣/ / (f)<br />
(a) RKC<br />
(b) 1 or 4<br />
(c) Queen-ask (next-ranking suit)<br />
(d) No queen (Worst First)<br />
(e) Queen but no side kings<br />
(f) Queen plus the king of the bid suit.<br />
Opener Responder<br />
1 3<br />
4NT (a) 5 (b)<br />
5 (c) 5NT (d) or,<br />
6♣/ (e) or,<br />
6 (f)<br />
(a) RKC<br />
(b) 1 or 4<br />
(c) Queen-ask (next-ranking suit after the trump suit)<br />
(d) No queen (first step)<br />
(e) Queen of hearts plus king of the bid suit<br />
(f) Queen of hearts plus a possible king of spades<br />
If the agreed suit is a minor, the responder is limited<br />
by the fact that he is not allowed to go beyond six of<br />
the agreed suit to show any side kings. However, as<br />
we will see later, RKC sequences might begin lower<br />
than four notrump after minor agreement.<br />
Opener Responder<br />
1 1♠<br />
2 4<br />
4NT (a) 5 (b)<br />
5 (c) 5♠ (d) or,<br />
5NT (e) or,<br />
6♣ (f) or,<br />
6 (g)<br />
(a) RKC<br />
(b) 1 or 4<br />
(c) Queen-ask in diamonds<br />
(d) No queen<br />
(e) Queen but no side kings<br />
(f) Queen with king of clubs<br />
(g) Queen with at least one major king<br />
When partner responds specifically five diamonds to<br />
RKC, showing one or four key cards, a return to the<br />
trump suit is a signoff only if responder has one key<br />
card. With four key cards he answers for the queen.<br />
IBPA <strong>Handbook</strong> 2010 125
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