Minor Suit Keycard

An example is 1 - 4 or 1 - 2 - 4. 4 is Keycard for clubs.

Responses:

• 4 shows 1 or 4
• 4 shows 0 or 3
• 4 shows 2 without the Queen
• 4NT shows 2 with the Queen

How do you show a useful void in response to MSKC:

• with 0 Keycards ignore the void
• with 1 or 3 Keycards and a useful void jump a step in your void suit so long as it is lower than 6 of your suit, otherwise bid 6 of the minor.
• with 2 Keycards and a useful void raise the asking suit. (always the 5th step)

The advantage of Minor Suit Keycard is you can find your level and get out if you have to at 4NT or 5.

After Minor Suit Keycard is started. 4NT or 5 of your minor bid by Keycard asker is always to play. If your Keycard response does not tell anything about the Queen the next available bid by Keycard bidder (not counting 4NT or 5 of your minor) is the Queen ask. If you do not have the Queen you bid 5 of your minor. If you have the Queen then you bid your cheapest King

Example.

1	Pass	4	Pass
4*	Pass	4**	Pass
?

* 0 or 3, ** Queen ask

• 5/5/5 now shows the Queen and the King of bid suit.
• 6 shows the Queen without an outside King

If your response to Keycard shows the Queen and partner does not bid 5 of your minor or 4NT but bids another suit then he is asking for your cheapest King and guarantees you have all the Keycards. At this point if you have any extra values that partner does not know about then bid 7 of your minor instead of showing a King. If you can see 13 tricks bid the Grand.

If your response says nothing about the Queen and partner skips one step past the Queen ask not counting 4NT or 5 of your minor then he is looking for your cheapest King.

Examples:

1	Pass	4	Pass
4*	Pass	4**

* 1 or 4, ** 4 is looking for your cheapest King . 4 would have been Queen ask.

1	Pass	4	Pass
4*	Pass	5**	Pass
?

* 2 without, ** 5 asks for cheapest King .. bid 6 with no King, or 5/5/5NT (5NT shows Diamond King)

1	Pass	4	Pass
5*	Pass	5**	Pass
?

* 2 with, ** 5 asks for cheapest King .. bid 6 with no King, or 5/5NT/6 (5NT shows Heart King)

Agreements:

When the minor is not agreed until the four level then some rules come in to effect about whether Keycard or Kickback is being played. When the stronger hand raises the minor to the four level that is Keycard. When the weaker hand raises the minor to the four level, the stronger hand bids Kickback.

Strong hands

• 2 openers
• Jump shift bidders
• Bidding over partner's weak two
• First to take action over the opponent's weak two.
• Bidding over partners NT opener. (1NT opener is limited and can never be the strong hand)

Examples:

1	Pass	1	Pass
3	Pass	4	Pass
4NT*	Pass

* 4NT has to be Keycard

1	Pass	1NT	Pass
3	Pass	4	Pass
4*	Pass

* 4 is Keycard

1	Pass	1NT	Pass
3	Pass	4	Pass
4*

* 4 is Kickback. (jump shift bidder is the stronger hand)

1	Pass	1NT	Pass
3	Pass	4	Pass
4

* 4 is Kickback. (jump shift bidder is the stronger hand)

2	Pass	2	Pass
2	Pass	3	Pass
4*	Pass

* 4 is Keycard. (2 bidder is the stronger hand)

2	Pass	3	Pass
4	Pass	4

* 4 is Kickback. (3 bidder is the stronger hand)