Any user of Roman Keycard Blackwood (RKBW) must have at some time been frustrated that he cannot bid RKBW because a response would take the bidding too high and force him into a slam missing two aces.
The solution is Kickback; a form of Blackwood that guarantees you can always sign off at the five-level.
Bid and Responses. Bidding the suit above the agreed trump suit at the 4 level is Roman Keycard Blackwood. The responses are the same as for RKBW, just several bids further down.
For example, in the following auction:
1![]() |
Pass | 1![]() |
Pass |
4![]() |
Pass | 5![]() |
Pass |
5![]() |
* 4 is RKBW, * 5
shows 2 or 5 Keycards without the Queen of Trumps and *** 5
is a sign
off, as from his hand he knows he is missing two Keycards.
Using normal RKBW, a bid of 4NT by opener would have given a response of 5, which
would have forced the partnership into a slam missing 2 Aces. This perfectly illustrates
the usefulness of Kickback.
Notes One disadvantage of Kickback is that it means that some bids are unavailable as cuebids.
For example, in the auction:
1![]() |
Pass | 3![]() |
Pass |
4![]() |
Pass | 4![]() |
4 would normally be a cuebid, showing an Ace or Void in Diamonds. However, playing
Kickback it would be RKBW. One solution is to play that 4NT is the equivalent
of a cuebid in the Kickback suit.
It is very important to agree when a bid is RKBW and when it is natural.
For example:
1![]() |
Pass | 2![]() |
Pass |
4![]() |
Pass | 4![]() |
* Is 4 RKBW or natural? I personally play that if there is not agreed trump suit,
bidding a previously bid suit is natural.