(Down - Top)
BR 33.1 - Multi Cue bidding
We dealt with the convention of Cue bidding to locate 1st and 2nd round controls for a Slam contract in Lesson 23.3. This is a good method, especially if your hand contains a singleton or void, but it can eat up considerable bidding space and become at occasion rather awkward.
Many experienced players have therefore ceased using this method, replacing it with bidding multi cues.
After a trump suit has been confirmed the bid of a new suit (usually at the 4 level) is a multi cue, showing 1st round or 2nd round control. The multi cue therefore shows (in the suit bid) :
an Ace or a King or a void or a singleton
Bypassing a suit denies 1st round and 2nd round control. As a consequence uncontrolled suits are quickly identified.
After multi cue bidding has confirmed that all suits are controlled you can use RKC Blackwood to check on the key cards.
Here follow two examples.
| Ex. 1
| Opener (W)
♠ - A Q 9 8 5
♥ - K 8
♦ - 8 2
♣ - A K 4 2
|
| Responder (E)
♠ - K J 7 4
♥ - A Q 7
♦ - Q 10 3
♣ - Q 8 6
|
| Comment
After Opener's multi cue of 4♣, Responder cue bids 4♥, denying Diamond controls. This is revealing enough for the Opener to sign off in Game. |
| |
Bidding : (W) 1♠ - 3♠ - 4♣ - 4♥ - 4♠ - Pass
(Or, using Jacoby 2NT
: (W) 1♠ - 2NT - 3♠ - 4♥ - 4♠ - Pass)
|
| Ex. 2
| Opener (W)
♠ - K 8
♥ - A K 9 8 5
♦ - 8 3
♣ - A K 7 4
|
| Responder (E)
♠ - A 2
♥ - Q 7 4
♦ - A Q 10 3
♣ - Q 10 8 6
|
|
Comment
After Responder's show of a Diamond control, Opener is confident Slam is there. Through RKC Blackwood Responder reveals holding 2 Aces plus the trump Q♥, but lacking the K♦. |
| |
Bidding : (W) 1♥ - 3♥ - 4♣ - 4♦ - 4NT - 5♠ - 5NT - 6♣ - 6♥ - Pass
|
(Down - Up -
Top)
BR 33.2 - The Kabel 3NT Opening bid
It is not often that you are lucky enough to get a hand like this, but when it does occur : How are you going to bid this ?
♠ A K ♥ A K Q 10 9 7 6 4 2 ♦ 7 4 ♣ -
Are you going to open 2♣ ?
Or will you bid 4NT directly ? Neither may give you the answer to the only question you want to ask : has Partner got the A♦ ?? And if so, does he also has the K♦ ?
This is where the Kabel 3NT Ace asking opening bid comes in. It is specifically designed for freak hands containing 10 or more tricks or 2-4 losers. (The Responder can also use it as his first response to Partner's Opening bid.)
Replies to Kabel 3NT are as follows :
- 3NT - 4♣ = No Ace
- 3NT - 4♦/4♥/4♠/5♣ = Ace in the suit bid
- 3NT - 5♦/5♥/5♠/6♣ = Ace in the suit bid + Ace in the next suit
- 3NT - 4NT = Two non-touching Aces
- 3NT - 5NT = Three Aces
When Opener rebids a suit it is a sign off, if he rebids 4NT it is a King asking bid.
Responder's replies are :
- 3NT - 4♦ - 4NT - 5♣ = No King (but has A♦)
- 3NT - 4♦ - 4NT - 5♦/5♥/5♠/6♣ = King in the suit bid
- 3NT - 4♦ - 4NT - 6♦/6♥/6♠ = King in the suit bid + King in the next suit
- 3NT - 4♦ - 4NT - 5NT = Two non-touching Kings
- 3NT - 4♦ - 4NT - 6NT = Kings in both minor suits
- 3NT - 4♦ - 4NT - 7♣ = Three Kings
If the 4NT bid is not available for a King ask, 5NT is the King asking bid.
Replies are :
- - 5NT - 6♣ = No King
- - 5NT - 6♦/6♥/6♠= King in the suit bid
- - 5NT - 6NT = King of Clubs
- - 5NT - 7♣ = Two Kings
Here follow three examples.
| Ex. 3
| Opener (W)
♠ - A K
♥ - A K Q J 9 8 5 4 2
♦ - 8 2
♣ -
|
| Responder (E)
♠ - 9 7 4
♥ - 7 3
♦ - A J 10 7
♣ - Q J 9 8 6
|
| Comment
East shows the A♦ but no King.
West signs therefore off in 6♥ |
| |
Bidding : (W) 3NT - 3♦ - 4NT - 5♣ - 6♥ - Pass
|
| Ex. 4
| Opener (W)
♠ - A K Q J 10 8 2
♥ - 7
♦ - K Q J 10
♣ - 3
|
| Responder (E)
♠ - 3
♥ - A 9 8 7 4
♦ - 9 5
♣ - A Q J 8 6
|
|
Comment
East shows two non-touching Aces, which West recognises must be the A♣ and A♥. Small Slam in Spades is therefore certain. |
| |
Bidding : (W) 3NT - 4NT - 6♥ - Pass
|
| Ex. 5
| Opener (W)
♠ - A K Q J 10 8 2
♥ - 7
♦ - K Q J 10
♣ - 3
|
| Responder (E)
♠ - 3
♥ - K 9 8 7 4
♦ - 9 5
♣ - Q J 9 8 6
|
|
Comment
East shows to have no Ace at all and West signs off in Game. |
| |
Bidding : (W) 3NT - 4♣ - 4♠ - Pass
|
