Keycard Asking and Control bid

Italian Style Control Bid

Promise 1st or 2nd round control. Bypassing a suit denies a 1st and 2nd round control.

Control bid at 3-level promises an honor (not only shortness).

Cuebid Interference

When they double our cuebid

• P
  No 1st or 2nd round control
• Rdbl
  1st round control
• Other
  2nd round control

When they overcall during cuebid

• P
  No 1st or 2nd round control, or high enough. Forcing
• Dbl
  1st round control
• Bid
  2nd round control

RKCB

Normal and Kickback RKCB

RKCB is used. Unless specified, it is asked with the 4N bid. Sometimes kickback is used.

RKCB

• 1st step
  1 or 4 keycards
• 2nd step
  0 or 3 keycards
• 3rd step
  2 keycards without trump Queen
• 4th step
  2 keycards with trump Queen
• 5th step
  Even keycards, working void somewhere
• Higher
  Odd keycards, working void in the bid suit

Trump Queen Ask (After 1st / 2nd steps)

• 5 of trump
  No trump Q
• 5N
  Trump Q, no unbid side King
• Side suit
  Trump Q, side King of the suit bid
• 6 of trump
  Trump Q, side King in a suit unbiddable below 6 of trump

After the first 4 steps of RKCB responses

• 5N
  Ask for the lowest side K

  • 6X
    Lowest unbid King in suit X
  • 6 of trump
    No unbid side King below 6 of trump
  • Higher
    At least two unbid side Kings
• 6X
  General Grand Slam Try. Ask for help in X

Weak Keycard Ask

Used when partner has limited strength:

• 4♣ after 3♦/♥/♠
• 4♦ after 3♣
• 4N after 4♥/♠
• 1♦ - 1♥ …, then asked by opener

Weak Keycard Ask

• 1st step
  0 Keycards. +1 step ask for trump Queen
• 2nd step
  1 Keycard without trump Q
• 3rd step
  1 Keycard with trump Q
• 4th step
  2 Keycards without trump Q
• 5th step
  2 Keycards with trump Q

Exclusion RKCB

A jump to a side suit above 4♥ ask for the number of Keycards outside the bid suit

ERKCB

• 1st step
  0 or 3 Keycards. +1 Step ask for trump Queen
• 2nd step
  1 Keycard. +1 Step ask for trump Queen
• 3rd step
  2 keycards without trump Queen
• 4th step
  2 keycards with trump Queen

RKCB Interference

If RKCB is interfered by Dbl / 5♣ / 5♦ (at most 2 steps)

D0P1

• Dbl
  0 or 3 Keycards
• P
  1 or 4 Keycards
• 1st step
  2 Keycards without trump Queen
• 2nd step
  2 Keycards with trump Queen
• 3rd step
  2 keycards with a working void
• 4th step
  1 Keycard with a working void

If RKCB is interfered by 5♥ or above (3 steps or more)

DEPO

• Dbl
  Even number of Keycards
• P
  Odd number of keycards