Weak Pre-empts

5-10 HCP 6-card suit strength undisciplined in third seat, undisciplined -- often 5 card suit in fourth seat, likely a hand with 10-12 HCP -- desire to make competition difficult

Weak 2

2/ natural, forcing for one round

• 2NT shows no fit but a non minimum
• 3 shows a second suit (could be good hand and 3-card suit)
• 3 shows a weak hand
• 3/ shows 2 with an honour or xxx
• 4/ is a splinter (often 4-card fit)
• 3/4 is a splinter (often 4-card fit)
• 4/4 shows a good fit (no shortness or hand too bad to show shortness)

2NT asks Opener to rate his hand

• 3 is bad suit, bad hand
• 3 is bad suit, good hand
• 3 shows a 4 card suit in spades, HCP unspecified
• 3 shows a 4 card suit in hearts, HCP unspecified
• 3NT is a good suit (usually AKQ)

3 asks for a NT stopper (doesn't have to be Ace or King)

3 is preemptive (fit not necessarily good!)

3/ are asking bids, Special RKCB (see Asking Bids Over Preempts)

4 is an asking bid, Special RKCB (see Asking Bids Over Preempts)

4/ are to play

Note: After a jump asking bid, if Responder rebids the ask suit then wants to know Opener's holding

• 1st step = King
• 2nd step = Ace
• 3rd step = singleton
• 4th step = void

Weak 2

2 natural, forcing for one round

• 2NT shows no fit, but a non-minimum
• 3/ shows a second suit (could be good hand and good suit)
• 3 is a weak hand
• 3 shows 2 with an honour or xxx
• 4/ is a splinter (often 4-card fit)
• 4 shows a good fit (no shortness or hand too bad to show shortness)

2NT asks Opener to rate his hand

• 3 bad suit and bad hand (BB) OR good suit and good hand (GG)
  • 3 asks for further description
    • 3 is BB
    • 3 shows 2 of the top 3 honours, good hand
    • 3NT is GG with 6 hearts and 4 spades
    • 4/ is GG 6-4
• 3 is an intermediate hand (7-8 HCP)
• 3 is good suit (2 of top 3 honours), bad hand
• 3 is bad suit, good hand
• 3NT shows a solid suit (AKQ)
• 4/ shows 6-5 (rare)
• 4 is a 7-card suit (rare)

3 asks for a NT stopper (doesn't have to be Ace or King)

3 is natural, forcing for one round.

3 is preemptive

4 asks if opener has shortness

• 4/ short in that suit
• 4 no shortness
• 5 short clubs

Responder's Actions(over shortness) Next step (excluding 4 is Special RKCB)

4 is to play

Jumps in new suits (below game) ask partner to respond key cards if at least second round control (see Special RKCB after Opener preempts) i.e. 3/4/4

Note: After a jump asking bid, if Responder rebids the ask suit then wants to know Opener's holding

• 1st step = King
• 2nd step = Ace
• 3rd step = singleton
• 4th step = void

Weak 2

2NT asks Opener to rate his hand

• 3 is a bad suit and bad hand (BB) OR good suit and good hand (GG)
  • 3 asks for further description
    • 3 is 2 of the top 3 honours, good hand
    • 3 is BB
    • 3NT is GG with 6 spades and 4 hearts
    • 4/ is GG 6-4
• 3 is a intermediate hand (7-8 HCP)
• 3 is bad suit, good hand
• 3 is good suit (2 of top 3 honours), bad hand
• 3NT shows a solid suit (AKQ)
• 4/ shows 6-5 (rare)
• 4 shows a 7 card suit (rare)

3 asks for a NT stopper (doesn't have to be Ace or King)

3/ is natural, forcing for one round

3 is preemptive

4 asks if opener has shortness

• 4/ is short in that suit
• 4 shows no shortness
• 5 is short clubs

Responder's Actions  (over shortness) Next step (excluding 4 is Special RKC)

4 to play

Jumps in new suits (below game) ask partner to respond key cards if at least second round control (see Special RKCB after Opener preempts) i.e. 4/4/4

Note: After a jump asking bid, if Responder rebids the ask suit then wants to know Opener's holding

• 1st step = King
• 2nd step = Ace
• 3rd step = singleton
• 4th step = void

3-Level over interference 2NT Asking Bid

2// - (Pass) - 2NT - (3X)

• Pass is minimum
• Dbl is Hxx or better in overcaller's suit (could be Jxxx, but not Jxx)

Bid is natural and non-minimum

2// - Dbl or 2X) ??

• 2NT - invitational with a fit
• Rdbl - good hand

Asking Bids over Preempts

1. When partner opens 2 to 3, DBL jumps are asking bids looking for second round control. Partner responds Special RKCB if he has second round control or better. With no control he returns to his suit.

e.g. 2 - 3 is RKCB, asking if Opener has a spade control

• 4 shows no control
• 3NT shows no keycards
• 4 is 1 keycard without the trump queen
• 4 is 1 keycard with the trump queen

2. When partner opens 3 to 4 then a minor suit (without a jump) asks for second round control. Partner responds Special RKCB if he has second round control or better. With no control he returns to his suit. A major suit is always natural. Forcing below game, otherwise to play.

3 - 4 is RKCB, asking if Opener has a club control

• 4 shows no control
• 4 shows no keycards
• 4 shows 1 keycard without trump queen
• 4NT shows 1 keycard with the trump queen

3 - 3 are natural

3 - 4 are natural

4 - 4 natural

4 - 4 is RKCB asking if partner has a diamond control

3. Partner can make a second asking bid in the jump suit to clarify if Opener has strength or shortness

2 - 4 - 4NT - 5

• 5 shows the King of clubs
• 5 shows the Ace of clubs
• 5 shows a club singleton
• 5NT shows a club void (impossible since RKCB has a step to show a void)

4. A raise of 4 to 5 or 4 to 5 asks about a control in the other major

4 - 5

• Pass is no second round control
• 5 is the first step response to Special RKCB

Interference over our Asking Bids

DIPS and RIPS (assuming Special RKCB) below our game level

2	Pass	4	Dbl
?

• Rdbl shows no keycards
• Pass shows 1 keycard
• 4 is 1 keycard with the Queen of hearts
• 4 shows no second round control of clubs
• 4 shows 2 keycards
• 4NT is 2 keycards with the Queen of hearts

2	Pass	4	4
?

• Dbl is no keycards
• Pass is 1 keycard
• 4 shows no second round control of clubs
• 4NT is 1 keycard with the Queen of spades
• 5 is 2 keycards
• 5 is 2 keycards with the Queen of spades

When the opponents bid the ask suit OR bid higher than our suit, the responses change

2	Pass	4	4
?

• Pass shows no second round control
• Dbl shows the Ace or King of clubs

If Responder bids anything other than Opener's suit, this is Special RKCB Suit Bid. With void or singleton respond to Ace-ask

From a memory perspective, if you wish to simplify then you might adopt the following: Partner rebids his/her suit with 2 of top 3 honours. Otherwise you can play a "graded" response around the rebid of partner's suit. The more you like your hand the more you bid. This is less restrictive than playing Ogust. 3NT can be retained as top 3 honours in the suit.

Special RKCB (When Partner Pre-empts or is Known to Be Weak)

When partner opens a preempt, RKCB changes to the following:

• 1st step no keycards
• 2nd step 1 keycard without the trump queen
• 3rd step 1 keycard with the trump queen
• 4th step 2 keycards without the trump queen
• 5th step 2 keycards with the trump queen

Any time partner is known to be < 10 HCP then Special RKCB applies When partner is known to be 0-3 HCP then RKCB asks about suit quality (i.e. steps are no honour, J, Q, QJ, K)