[Double !]

I am finding some differences in opinions regarding how people respond to Roman Keycard Blackwood when their hand contains a void. (Not referring to Exclusion RKC). In the interest of relative simplicity, assume that the agreed-upon suit is a major when answering the following questions.

1) How do you respond to RKC when holding one key card and a void in a suit that is lower-ranking than the agreed trump suit?

2) How do you respond to RKC when holding one key card and a void in a suit that is higher-ranking than the agreed-upon trump suit?

3) How do you respond to RKC when holding two key cards and a void in a suit that is lower-ranking than the agreed-upon trump suit?

4) How do you respond to RKC holding two key cards and a void in a suit that is higher-ranking than the agreed-upon trump suit?
(Granted, the previous bidding might have already made where the void is relatively clear prior to RKC.)

5) How do you ask for kings, if necessary, after partner's void-showing response to RKC?

6) How do you ask for the trump queen after partner's void-showing response to RKC?

This is all standard and elementary, and will yield fairly consistent answers by forum members you say? Let's see.

As always, thank you in advance.

DHL

[BillHiggin]

1) How do you respond to RKC when holding one key card and a void in a suit that is lower-ranking than the agreed trump suit?
Bid 6 of void suit

2) How do you respond to RKC when holding one key card and a void in a suit that is higher-ranking than the agreed-upon trump suit?
Bid 6 of agreed suit

3) How do you respond to RKC when holding two key cards and a void in a suit that is lower-ranking than the agreed-upon trump suit?
Raise the ask (usually 5N) - step asks for suit (without kickback, there may be two possibilities for the 6 of agreed suit answer)

4) How do you respond to RKC holding two key cards and a void in a suit that is higher-ranking than the agreed-upon trump suit?
(Granted, the previous bidding might have already made where the void is relatively clear prior to RKC.)
See answer to 3)

5) How do you ask for kings, if necessary, after partner's void-showing response to RKC?
No allowance for this ask. 1st step asks about trump Q, any other avail is SSA but really just a general suggestion of grand slam interest (got all controls and trump Q - bid it if you can, I cannot because of something that I hope you can figure out)

6) How do you ask for the trump queen after partner's void-showing response to RKC?
1st step after void suit identified that is not agreed suit (may be impossible).

[Double !]

Do Bill's answers represent the general consensus (they are what I thought).
Please, I would appreciate hearing from some more of you.

Thanx

DHL

[skjaeran]

Double !, on Jun 3 2007, 05:27 PM, said:

Do Bill's answers represent the general consensus (they are what I thought).
Please, I would appreciate hearing from some more of you.

Thanx

DHL

Here (Norway) you respond at the 6-level with 2 KC and a void, 5NT with an odd number of KC and a void. Except for that, no difference.

[BillHiggin]

skaeran, on Jun 3 2007, 10:43 AM, said:

Double !, on Jun 3 2007, 05:27 PM, said:

Do Bill's answers represent the general consensus (they are what I thought).
Please, I would appreciate hearing from some more of you.

Thanx

DHL

Here (Norway) you respond at the 6-level with 2 KC and a void, 5NT with an odd number of KC and a void. Except for that, no difference.

The nice thing about standards is that there are so many to choose from

My list was made with Kantar's book open (but I disagree with his views on kickback when hearts are agreed and his varying 0314/1430 strategy - olds-timers limitations).

[Double !]

BillHiggin, on Jun 3 2007, 11:57 AM, said:

My list was made with Kantar's book open (but I disagree with his views on kickback when hearts are agreed and his varying 0314/1430 strategy - olds-timers limitations).

Bill:

Thanx for that info. I have all of Kantar's chapter prior to publication of the book. What chapter covers void-showing response? Please and Thank you


DHL

[BillHiggin]

Double !, on Jun 3 2007, 12:37 PM, said:

BillHiggin, on Jun 3 2007, 11:57 AM, said:

My list was made with Kantar's book open (but I disagree with his views on kickback when hearts are agreed and his varying 0314/1430 strategy - olds-timers limitations).

Bill:

Thanx for that info. I have all of Kantar's chapter prior to publication of the book. What chapter covers void-showing response? Please and Thank you


DHL

My version comes from
http://www.geocities.com/daniel_neill_2000.../RKC_Kantar.zip

In that, chapter V is the reference. (RKB05.doc).

[mike777]

Double !, on Jun 3 2007, 07:29 AM, said:

I am finding some differences in opinions regarding how people respond to Roman Keycard Blackwood when their hand contains a void.  (Not referring to Exclusion RKC).  In the interest of relative simplicity, assume that the agreed-upon suit is a major when answering the following questions.

1)    How do you respond to RKC when holding one key card and a void in a suit that is lower-ranking than the agreed trump suit?

2)    How do you respond to RKC when holding one key card and a void in a suit that is higher-ranking than the agreed-upon trump suit?

3)   How do you respond to RKC when holding two key cards and a void in a suit that is lower-ranking than the agreed-upon trump suit?

4)   How do you respond to RKC holding two key cards and a void in a suit that is higher-ranking than the agreed-upon trump suit?
(Granted, the previous bidding might have already made where the void is relatively clear prior to RKC.)

5)  How do you ask for kings, if necessary, after partner's void-showing response to RKC?

6)  How do you ask for the trump queen after partner's void-showing response to RKC?

This is all standard and elementary, and will yield fairly consistent answers by forum members you say?  Let's see.

As always, thank you in advance.

DHL

In general I have given up showing a void over rkc. I have not missed it.
I will grant there may be some rare magazine hand when I may show it but in general just give it up.

Before debating the best way to show it may be worthwhile and take a step back and ask why bother to show it?

If you look at both sides and decide to go forward fine, but you may find it worthwhile to question your basic premise.

[Double !]

mike777, on Jun 3 2007, 02:02 PM, said:

Before debating the best way to show it may be worthwhile and take a step back and ask why bother to show it?

If you look at both sides and decide to go forward fine, but you may find it worthwhile to question your basic premise.

FWIW, I just lost a team match (not in itself a big deal) by 1 imp due to not having agreements on how to respond to rkc with a void.

DHL

[mike777]

Wow, as I said I may see a magazine hand once or twice a year but I would be interested to see the hands where it mattered to show a void directly over rkc.

[barmar]

There was a hand in this Saturday's Worldwide Pairs where you can bid a cold grand knowing about the void. The opponents were preempting us out of being able to cue bid the control. I had an even number and a void, and the preempts made it obvious where my void must be.

The only problem was that we got to the slam in the wrong suit -- I decided to support my partner's spades holding just AJ, and they forced dummy on the opening lead. We still could have made if the suit had been 3-3.

[jtfanclub]

barmar, on Jun 3 2007, 06:35 PM, said:

There was a hand in this Saturday's Worldwide Pairs where you can bid a cold grand knowing about the void.

We bid it without discussing the void.

Usual Precision
1♣ 1♠
2♦ 4NT
5♣ 6♦
7♦

How did I know to bid 7? Well, of the 5 keycards, I had two aces and the king of diamonds. Missing were the ace of diamonds and the ace of hearts. If partner didn't have the A or K of diamonds, he would have asked me about suit strength (3♦) rather than bidding Blackwood and risked being at the 6 level missing the AK of trumps. Therefore, he had the ace of diamonds, and therefore the missing keycard was the ace of hearts.

Cue bidding the void doesn't help, since partner's likely to think my void is spades, not hearts.

Unfortunately, we didn't do great otherwise. But hey, on that one hand...