Inverted Minors - Relays (Kokish)

Inverted Minors apply only as non passed hands and not in competition. If we have 5 of partner's minor and a game forcing hand we suppress a 4 card major in favor of an Inverted Minor bid. If limit raise values, we will respond a 4 card major. Inverted Minors are fit showing bids limit raise or better.

Inverted Minors also include all balanced NT hands of game going strength. Rather than playing a jump to 2NT or pre-empting partner by bidding 3NT or making a shaky 2/1 in a 3 or 4 card suit, we bid an Inverted Minor with balanced hands. In addition, if the hand is NT suitable with queens and jacks and ten-aces to protect, we will bypass a 4 card major in favor of an Inverted Minor bid.

How do we sort this out? A simple relay does the trick. An Inverted Minor becomes a relay.

• A 2 Inverted Minor becomes a relay to 2.
• A 2 Inverted Minor becomes a relay to 2.

Balanced hands are shown by bidding 2NT, as the opener is forced to take the relay 99 % of the time. In order to keep the Inverted Minor as limit raise or better, we work these hands into the structure.

The jump raises will remain as pre-emptive

Opener will accept the relay 99% of the time but will break the relay with these hands:

• Break the relay with distro 6-5 etc
• Break the relay with 18-19 balanced 5-3-3-2, 2-3-4-4, 3-3-3-4 and bid 3NT
• Break the relay with 18-19 flat with 4 card major(s) and bid 2NT

Besides handling the NT hands very well, this Inverted Minor treatment has an unexpected benefit. It allows the partnership to differentiate between an Inverted Minor with 4 trump as opposed to 5 or more. The relay allows some sequences to check back for majors, singletons and minimums. An excellent way to handle the minors and flat hands!!

Adding structure to Inverted Minors, assist minor suit auctions where IMPS can be picked up in bushels.

1	Pass	2	Pass
2*

* relay

2 - limit raise in clubs

• 3 ends the auction.
• 2 is forcing and asking for more info.
  • 2NT is a minimum with bad clubs
  • 3 is a minimum with good clubs
• 2NT is invitational to 3NT.
  • Pass is a minimum with bad clubs
  • 3 is a minimum with good clubs

2 - inverted club raise GF with 5 or more clubs

• 2NT - natural 3 cards (min)
• 3 - waiting (4 or more clubs)
• 3 - asks for a singleton (step responses)
• 3/3 - natural
• 3NT - 4 clubs or more no 4 card major, minimum
• 4 - KCB

2NT - game forcing and may have a 4 card major

• 3 - constructive
• 3/ - natural
• 3 - Stayman

3 inverted club raise GF with 4 clubs

• 3// are natural
• 3NT - to play
• 4 - KCB

3 - clubs and diamonds 5-4 or 5-5 game force

3NT - 15-17 doubleton club

1	Pass	2	Pass
2*

* relay

2 - inverted diamond raise GF with 5 or more

• 2NT - natural 3 diamonds (min)
• 3 - asks for a singleton (step responses)
• 3 - waiting, 4 or more diamonds
• 3/ - natural
• 3NT - 4 diamonds or more no 4 card major, minimum
• 4 - KCB

2NT - game forcing and may have 4 card major. Opener is now allowed to bid a 4 card major, major fits found with Reverse Kokish 3 Stayman. Responses are:

• 3 - distro and minimum
• 3/ - natural
• 3NT - to play

3 - Limit raise in diamonds.

• 3 by opener will end the auction.
• 3/ asks for a stopper in the bid suit.
• 3NT - to play
• 4 - KCB

3 - Game forcing diamond raise with 4 diamonds

• 3/ - natural
• 3NT to play
• 4 - KCB

3NT - 15-17 doubleton diamond

Broken relay examples

1 - 2 - 2NT breaks the relay showing (18-19. 4423, 4324, 3424) responses are:

• partner should bid 3 with 6 Any subsequent bid to 3 is a cuebid in support of the minor
• Bid a 4 card major if he has 1 (or take control). Any subsequent bid to a major is a cuebid in support of the major
• 3NT

1 - 2 - 2NT breaks the relay showing (18-19. 4432, 4342, 3442) responses are:

• partner should bid 3 with 6. Any subsequent bid to 3 is a cuebid in support of the minor
• a 4 card major if he has 1 (or take control). Any subsequent bid to a major is a cuebid in support of the major
• 3NT

1m - 2m - 3NT breaks the relay showing 18-19 balanced 5-3-3-2, 2-3-4-4, 3-3-3-4

If partner pulls 3NT to 4m it is KCB for the minor (he will place the contract).

With this solution, this leaves the one of a minor 3NT jump response to be a picture bid. A 15-17 HCP hand with 4-3-3-3 distribution is almost impossible to describe anyway.