Tuesday, October 25, 2005 5:22 PM
 
Hand Evaluation -  KCB ( Double Agreement )

 

PITBULLS

 

            Garazzo says Bridge is a game of suits . The Edmonton doctrine has been that Bridge is a game of singletons. This concept is so over done it hurts. A singleton is a control that can be bid by other means rather than jumping. Yes , splintering does identify duplication of value but without the long trump to go with it , the singleton pales in comparison to the importance of showing long suits. In auctions like Jacoby 2NT , 2/1 auctions especially , we prefer unnecessary belated jumps to show a long 2nd suit , not a singleton. Showing two suits brings in the concept of double agreement KCB one of Kantars inventions. This is now Bridge World Standard.

 

            You hold ♠void ♥KJ1098 ♦Kx ♣KQJ10xx  , partner opens 1♠ . You bid 2♣ , partner bids 2♠ so now what ? You have lots of room to show your 6-5 you think so you take it slowly by bidding 3♥ . Partner bids 4♣ which says she likes clubs – next ? The wrong hand is taking control of this auction. if you described your hand to partner with a leap to 4♥ , you could show your 6-5 and partner will take control of the hand. Some people play that sequence as exclusion , however.  ♠KJxxxxx ♥AQx ♦A ♣Ax .  Double agreement KCB should be in effect . By showing your heart king, KQ of clubs and spade void,  you can get to a grand.

 

            All your 6-5 systemic toys or two suiters after a 1NT opener should have double agreement KCB as the default. Whenever a 2/1 auction occurs when you have a two suited fit , double agreement KCB should also be the default. The following is from Kantar :

In double agreement sequences the keycard ask is ALWAYS 4NT.    The king and queen of BOTH suits are included in the RKB response. In double agreement sequences there are SIX keycards, the four aces, and the two kings.   Also, when you have exactly two keycards you can tell partner which queen(s) you do or do not have.

Playing 1430, these are the responses to RKB in a double agreement sequences.

One partnership having 6 or 5 controls is virtually impossible that is should not even be considered .  The 4NT bidder having no controls herself is absurd. Simple step responses with queens are used.

5♣= (1 or 4) with no mention of either queen
5♦= (0 or 3) with no mention of either queen
5♥= 2 with neither queen
5♠ = 2 with the lower ranking queen
5NT= 2 with the higher ranking queen
6♣ = 2 with both queens

After a 5♣ response playing 1430,  5♦ is the (multiple) queen-ask, with these step responses:

5♥= Neither queen
5♠= Lower ranking queen only
5NT= Higher ranking queen only
6♣= Both queens

A  5♦ response showing 0 or 3 playing 1430 , is handled like this with inferences on how many controls taken from the previous  bidding: 

After a 5♦ zero response HEARTS agreed, 5H is to play and 5S is the queen-ask. If the 5♦ response shows 3, 5♥ is the queen-ask with the similar four step responses:   

5NT= Neither queen
6♣ = Lower ranking queen only
6♦= Higher ranking queen only
6♥= Both queens

After a 5♦ response showing 0 or 3, SPADES agreed, 5♥ is the   queen-ask and 5♠ is to play.     

            OK let’s try our auction . After 4NT , the 6-5 hand has two key cards so she can show which queen(s) she has simultaneously with 5♠ ( 2 with lower ranking queen ) . Partner does a suit ask in spades (5NT)  so you leap to 7♣ . Voila !

          With Jacoby 2NT sequences , a jump to the 4 level shows two suits. Our jump shift reverses shows 6-5 so in both these auctions 4NT would be double agreement Blackwood. Knowing that partner has two suits makes counting tricks during the auction very easy. Lets try a few more auctions for practice .

♠AQxxx ♥AQxxx ♦xx ♣x           opposite ♠Kxxx ♥Kxx ♦Ax ♣AKx

 1♠-P-2NT-P 

  4♥-P-4NT-P

  6♣*-P-7♠-P    * two with both queens ,  so I can count 13 tricks for a 29 HCP grand.

            ♠x ♥AQxxx ♦x  ♣AJxxxx    1♣-P-1♠-P

          3♥-P-4NT-P

         5NT*-P-7♥-P       * two with higher ranking queen   ♠Axxxx ♥Kxxx ♦Ax ♣Kx    Can count 13 tricks for a 25 HCP grand. 

            Some more double agreement sequences occur after a 1NT opener with a conventional two suiter is shown. 1NT-P-3♦-P  or responder just showing a 5-5 and a subsequent 4NT bid by either side. A simple 2/1 sequence can often signal double agreement KCB.

1♠-P-2♣-P 

3♣-P-3♠-P

4NT .