Wednesday, September 18, 2002 5:54 AM

Kokish Game Tries

PITBULLS :

Playing Bergen raises adds a new dimension to your major game try structure . Knowing that partner always has 3 trump makes 3NT a powerful alternative to a 10 trick contract . Getting to the right game can be considered as well as getting to game period . I like the Kokish game tries as a good exploratory tool to find the right game .

1 ♥-2 ♥: 6-9, exactly 3 ♥.

2 ♠: Kokish Game Try, a long suit trial in any suit, asking partner which Game Try suit she would have accepted.

2 NT: Accepts a game try in ♠. Opener now signs of in 3 or 4 ♥, makes a second game-try by bidding the suit or starts to cuebid.

3 ♣: Accepts a game try in ♣, but not in ♠.

3 ♦: Accepts a game try in ♦, but not in ♠/ ♣.

3 ♥: Rejects all game tries.

4 ♥ /3 NT: Accepts all game tries.

2 NT: x/- ♠, Short suit Game Try or better.

3 ♣: Short suit Game Try or better.

3 ♦: Short suit Game Try or better.

3 ♥: Preemptive, 6 card suit.

3 ♠: 6 4 or extremely concentrated 5 4.

3 NT: 5332, proposal to play.

4 ♥: SO

1 ♠-2 ♠: 6-9, exactly 3 ♠.

2 NT: Kokish Game Try, a long suit trial in any suit, asking partner which Game Try suit she would have accepted.

3 ♣: Accepts a game try in ♣ . Opener now signs of in 3 or 4 ♠, makes a second game-try by bidding the suit or starts to cuebid.

3 ♦: Accepts a game try in ♦, but not in ♣.

3 ♥: Accepts a game try in ♥, but not in ♣/ ♦.

3 ♠: Rejects all game tries.

4 ♠:/3 NT Accepts all game tries.

3 ♣: Short suit Game Try or better.

3 ♦: Short suit Game Try or better.

3 ♥: Short suit Game Try or better.

3 ♠: Preemptive, 6 card suit.

3 NT: 5332, proposal to play.

4 ♠: SO

The type of information obtained by these bids can lead to 3NT instead of 4 of a major . You are normally bidding values in that suit and that could lead to 3NT. If you are like Peter Jones and have a propensity for bad trump breaks then this tool would be very useful.

Kokish game tries are also used when you find your major fit after partner responds a major and you raise to two of a major. The rules are the same but there is a twist. 1♥-P-1♠-P 2♠-P-3♠ this shows a stiff in partners bid suit. Showing stiffs in partners bid suit is generally not a good idea. Bidding partners suit should show an honour in that suit. 1♦-P-1♥-P 2♥-P-3♥-P is a game try with a stiff diamond. I held xxxx KQJx x K1098 and BJ opened 1♦ on J10 10xxx Axxx AQJ so we get to a tight 4♥ due to no duplication in diamonds.