Specific Suit Asks (Taka)

A conventional treatment after the partnership discloses all first round controls and the trump King. Specific Suit Asking bids solicit responder to disclose second and third round controls in a side-suit.

Most important to remember is that a return to the trump suit is the death response.

Also, if you have the ace of the ask suit, partner knows you have it, so don't count it. Think of the ace as a small card: Ax=xx, Axxx=xxx(x), etc.

Kantar's version

Klinger's version

I feel the effective usage of SSA needs two top cards known to us.

Opener SpadeAJx HeartKxx DiamondAJx ClubQJxx

Responder SpadeKx HeartAQJ10xx Diamondx ClubAxxx

In this case responders (more desirable club holdings) are AKxx and AQxx than Axxx.

1NT Pass 4Diamond Pass
4Heart Pass 4NT Pass
5Club* Pass 6Club**

* 3 keycards using 0314, ** SSA in clubs.

When you are conservative player or afraid of opener's response of 6Spade, you should not bid 6Club but 6Heart after 5Club, because total points are too short for 37 points!

7Heart needs the restricted holdings of club by opener such as Kx or KQJx.

Many other probabilities, Qxxx, Kxxx, xxxx are not enough for 7Heart as you know. But I am a slam dreamer and I agree with you to bid 6Club bravely, ha ha ha laughing in Japanese.

Let's go to examine by my way with you.

Opener's hands

Responder SpadeKx HeartAQJ10xx Diamondx ClubAxxx

Examples above were using Kantar's responses. Klinger would respond 6Spade to hand 3 and 4

Are you okay?

If it occur the case of Opener's 3rd hand which you worried 6Spade, and if opener plays 6NT,

If the opening lead is the spade, 6NT is already made.

If the opening lead is the heart or club, try the Clubs for 3-3 (duck first), next spade finesse, 6NT is almost made.

If the opening lead is the diamond, no choice but spade finesse.

Be optimistic!!

Opener SpadeAJx HeartKxx DiamondAJx ClubQJxx

Responder SpadeKx HeartAQJ10xx Diamondx ClubAxxx

1NT Pass 4Diamond Pass
4Heart Pass 4NT Pass
5Club Pass 6Club* Pass
6Diamond** Pass 6Heart

* SSA in clubs, ** 1st step response showing the queen or a doubleton.

If the responder to the SSA has already denied the king of the ask suit (after a queen ask and a king showing response) these are the responses:

A neat find!

Opener SpadeQJx HeartQJ DiamondAKJx Clubxxxx

Responder (you) SpadeAKxxx HeartAKxx Diamondx ClubAKx

1Diamond Pass 1Spade Pass
2Spade Pass 3Heart Pass
3Spade Pass 4NT Pass
5Club Pass 5Diamond Pass
6Diamond Pass 6Heart Pass
7Heart Pass 7NT

5Club (1 keycard) - 5Diamond (Queen ask) - 6Diamond (Yes with DK, but no HK, would have bid 5Heart over 5Diamond) - 6Heart (3rd round heart control? (I know you don't have the king) - 7Heart (The QJ) - 7NT (Wait till we tell them about this one) - Pass (You tell them, I'm too exhausted)

Not As Easy

Returning to the previous hand, If we exchange the queen and king of spades, we have this:

Opener SpadeKJx HeartQJ DiamondAKxx Clubxxxx

Responder (you) SpadeAQxxx HeartAKxx Diamondx ClubAKx

1Diamond Pass 1Spade Pass
2Spade Pass 3Heart Pass
4Spade Pass 4NT Pass
5Heart

5Heart (2 without) - ?

At this point you have to decide whether it is more important to look for the DK via 5NT or 3rd round heart control via 6Heart. There is not room to do both. If you bid 5NT and get a 6Diamond response, a follow up bid of 6Heart asks for the HK as it has not been denied.

You cannot use the SSA once you bid 5NT asking for specific kings.

If you bid 6Heart over 5Heart, the SSA, you will get a 7Heart response showing the QJ. So partner has the Ace of diamonds, the King of spades and the Queen, Jack of hearts, 10 HCP and 12 tricks. If you want to gamble that partner has the King of diamonds or the Queen of clubs (HIGHLY likely) bid 7NT.

If you want to play it closer to the belt, bid 7Spade. Perhaps partner has a doubleton club and a club ruff in dummy will be trick 13. At tournament bridge in a strong field, chance 7NT; otherwise 7Spade.

A SSA can also be made in a previously bid suit

The responses are the same except responder cannot have shortness.

Look what I found!

Opener SpadeQxxx HeartAxxx DiamondA ClubAQxx

Responder (you) SpadeAx HeartKQxxx Diamondxxx ClubKJx

1Club Pass 1Heart Pass
3Diamond Pass 4NT Pass
5Club Pass 6Club Pass
6Diamond Pass 7Heart

3Diamond (Nobody likes to splinter with a singleton ace, but that's what they dealt you. If you want to treat this as a balanced hand, jump to 4Heart) - 4NT RKB (0314 weak asks strong) - 5Club (3 keycards) - 6Club (You don't have room to ask for the SK and the CQ. Since finding the SK won't ensure a grand, but finding the CQ will, you trot out 6Club. (If you had any desire to play in clubs, you should have bid 4Club over 3Diamond.) - 6Diamond (1st step response showing the queen. (Opener must have at least four clubs so a spade can go off on a club) - 7Heart

Another SSA to keep in practice:

I Need a new partner!

Opener Spadex HeartAQxxx DiamondAx ClubAKxxx

Responder (you) SpadeAx HeartKxxx DiamondKQJ Clubxxxx

1Heart Pass 2NT Pass
4NT Pass 5Heart Pass
6Club Pass 6Heart

2NT (Jacoby) - 4NT (RKB) - 5Heart (2 without) - 6Club (SSA) - 6Heart (Zilch)

Hate to end with a sign-off response but look at how many slams you have already bid and made!

Taka