Bulletin

Case for Kickback (in English) author kaapo, 23.2.2010 at 19.13.
Summary: The Kickback Blackwood convetion presented

The following board was played in one of the Nordic Friendship League matches:

8      ♠ AJ9754
West   ♥ KQJ
None   ♦ J3
       ♣ K6
♠ K632       ♠ T8
♥ 82         ♥ 65
♦ 7642       ♦ A985
♣ 872        ♣ AT954
       ♠ Q
       ♥ AT9743
       ♦ KQT
       ♣ QJ3

In one room, North opened 1♠, South responded 2♥, North showed a good raise by cuebidding 4♣ (apparently 3♥ would've been nonforcing), South cue bid 4♦, and North suggested 4♥. South, with some extra values, 6 trumps, a likely usefull queen of spades, and partner also showing extras, had higher aspirations and chose to go on by bidding Roman Key-card Blackwood 4NT. This cought a somewhat embarrassing 5♠ response: South now knew they were off two key-cards, but they had already gone beyond 5♥. Perhaps playing partner for short clubs, South tried 6♥. A club was led, allowing East to cash both aces. Thanks to the favourable lie of the spades, 5NT would make, so this time South still had a safe haven after RKCB. However, there's a cadget that solves the problem of getting overboard after an ace inquiry: Kickback blackwood.

Playing Kickback and after agreeing hearts as trumps, South could use 4♠ as Roman Key-card Blackwood. Response steps would remain the same: first step 0 or 3, 2nd step 1 or 4, 3rd step 2 without trump queen, 4th step 2 with trump queen. The trick is, the highest response would now be 5♥ instead of 5♠. This convention would suit the hand in question perfectly: South would ask with 4♠, North would respond 5♥, allowing South to pass without getting past the safety level.

Kickback has some drawbacks: The pair may be unable to cue bid spades, because 4♠ would be RKC. This can be solved by using 4NT as a substitute for the cue bid. Admittedly, the pair loses the ability to bid RKCB in the situation. Another trouble may come out of memorization. Especially if spades have been bid naturally, it may be difficult to remember that 4♠ might be RKC for hearts. Therefore it's essential for a pair playing Kickback that they have clear rules on when 4♠ is RKC and when not.

Kickback can also be applied when a minor suit is agreed. Either 4♦ (for clubs) or 4♥ (for diamonds) would then be used as RKC. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but Kickback suits the editor's bridge philosohy well.

Kickback at Bridgeguys