Kickback

Any user of Roman Keycard Blackwood (RKBW) must have at some time been frustrated that he cannot bid RKBW because a response would take the bidding too high and force him into a slam missing two aces.

The solution is Kickback; a form of Blackwood that guarantees you can always sign off at the five-level.

Bid and Responses. Bidding the suit above the agreed trump suit at the 4 level is Roman Keycard Blackwood. The responses are the same as for RKBW, just several bids further down.

For example, in the following auction:

1	Pass	1	Pass
4*	Pass	5**	Pass
5***

* 4 is RKBW, * 5 shows 2 or 5 Keycards without the Queen of Trumps and *** 5 is a sign off, as from his hand he knows he is missing two Keycards.

Using normal RKBW, a bid of 4NT by opener would have given a response of 5, which would have forced the partnership into a slam missing 2 Aces. This perfectly illustrates the usefulness of Kickback.

Notes One disadvantage of Kickback is that it means that some bids are unavailable as cuebids.

For example, in the auction:

1	Pass	3	Pass
4	Pass	4*

4 would normally be a cuebid, showing an Ace or Void in Diamonds. However, playing Kickback it would be RKBW. One solution is to play that 4NT is the equivalent of a cuebid in the Kickback suit.

It is very important to agree when a bid is RKBW and when it is natural.

For example:

1	Pass	2	Pass
4	Pass	4*

* Is 4 RKBW or natural? I personally play that if there is not agreed trump suit, bidding a previously bid suit is natural.