Tuesday, June 26, 2007 2:11 PM

Hand Evaluation – Minorwood ( KCB Rights )

PITBULLS:

Minor suit KCB brings in the concept of KCB rights. You have to be allowed to use a minor at the 4 level as KCB. If you have already found a minor fit at the 3 level , a 4 level bid in the trump suit is KCB. As Kantar is so fond of saying , if you just found your minor fit at the 4 level, it is the agreement & not the ask. You must use Kickback or if that offends you , 4NT as KCB.

1♠-P-2♥-P

3♦-P-4♦-P is not KCB it is just agreeing diamonds.

Both sides are given KCB rights by the simple act of jumping to the 4 level in the agreed minor. This can not be misconstrued as anything else but KCB.

There are certain auctions where you are given KCB rights. The 2♣ opener is given KCB rights thru the virtue of “might is right”. 2♣-P-3♣-P

4♣ is KCB because of who is bidding it .

KCB is taking control so you must be given the right to take control. If you have a systemic auction where one hand is describing her distribution to the other , you can be given KCB rights by partnership agreement.

Opening 2NT & finding a minor fit via the 3♠ relay is one of them. After the 3♠ relay & partner shows a single suited minor , the 2NT opener is given KCB rights by virtue of fitting the minor. 4NT says I do not like the minor so the next suit up is Kickback saying I agree your minor & KCB is unleashed.

Two other sequences where responder is describing her hand to the strong NT hand , the 1NT is given KCB rights. Why , because since you have described your hand ( shortness) in some way , the other hand is in a better position to take control. Control means KCB rights. Two systemic bids are common with 1NT bids where responder describes her hand. The 3♦ bid by responder where she shows a two suiter in the minors , the other is a jump in a major to show 5-4 in the minors with a stiff majors. Responder in both instances forego KCB rights as you have described your hand to the 1NT bidder..

Over 3♦ by responder , my partners & I play a major bid by the NT opener as agreeing the minor & asking for distribution. After responders bid if favourable , the 1NT bidder has KCB rights. A direct bid of a minor after responders 3♦ bid is not KCB as she would have asked for the distribution. This is just agreeing the trump suit so if responder is interested , she can take control.

You open 1NT with ♠Axx ♥AKQ ♦QJxxx ♣xx , partner bids 3♥. This shows a good hand with 5-4 in the minors and the way we play the bid , a stiff spade. My hand has turned into gold. By virtue of responder showing her hand to me , I have KCB rights. I bid 4♦ which confirms diamonds as trump & is KCB. Partner has ♠x ♥xxx ♦AKxx ♣AKxxx so via KCB we reach 7♦. 4NT as KCB would not specify the trump suit.

You are given minor KCB rights by the simple act of partner splintering as a slam try. You have found the minor fit & the other hand splinters. This is the one hand describing her hand to the other principle. Opener must bid 3NT or fast arrival to game with duplication of value. A simple return to the trump suit is KCB . This is because the splinter gave you KCB rights. Unlimited hands or very strong hands in forcing to game auctions have minor suit KCB rights by the virtue of “might is right”. Limited hands do not have KCB rights but unlimited hands do.