[BillHiggin]

A friend asks:
How to bid
♠ A K Q
♥ A K
♦ A K 8 7
♣ A K x x

He has not told me responder's hand, but since he specified the ♦ spot cards, I am betting on Q fifth there (all the various forms of blasting to 6N worked).

Is there any (somewhat) standard way with Kokish to show this much extra?

[kenrexford]

There's a lot of material out there on showing 30-HCP balanced hands. But, it's super-secret stuff, where you need passwords to get access.

[ArtK78]

I can't imagine that there is an "expert-standard" for treating this type of hand.

Perhaps a preliminary question is more appropriate - does the 2♦ response show values (in other words, is the 2♥ response a negative)? I know that some players don't believe that this method co-exists well with Kokish, but I play it and I know that others do as well.

If the 2♦ response shows values, then bidding 2♥ followed by 2NT is forcing. I know that it shows a specific point range (if the 2NT rebid is 22-23, then 2♥ followed by 2NT should show 24-25) but it can be used as a two-way action - either the usual range or a hand so strong that it will act after partner signs off in any contract.

It also matters how the partnership deals with other balanced hands stronger than 25 HCP (assuming that the partnership bothers to deal with them).

[jdonn]

If partner has a yarb with a four card minor and doubleton in the other minor we have slam. So in theory I definitely consider this a slam force.

I would start Kokish, and when partner bids 3NT I will bid 5NT. Hopefully he figures out what I'm trying to do. If not, oh well I tried. Although it's the best I can do I'm definitely not satisfied with that approach. If partner has Qxxxx of a minor then I would be willing to take my chances on him having 3+ hearts and bid 7 of the minor. But I just can't find out everything I want to.

[3for3]

Josh, you should use 5 Spades as 'baron' there. Parnter bids 5NT without a 5 card suit, then you can scramble for 44 fits. Got to be better than 5NT.

Danny

[jdonn]

Yes I had thought of using the in between bids but it really seems not worth it, an accident waiting to happen the twice in my life i get a balanced hand this good.

[blackshoe]

In Romex you would open this hand 2♣, and rebid 3NT, which over 2♦ (0 or 1 control) is forcing to 4NT. This allows the use of Romex Stayman and major suit transfers by responder.

[gnasher]

3for3, on Jun 6 2009, 08:46 PM, said:

Josh, you should use 5 Spades as 'baron' there.  Parnter bids 5NT without a 5 card suit, then you can scramble for 44 fits.  Got to be better than 5NT.

You have the whole of the four- and five-level available to investigate minor-suit fits and you want to use 5♠? If I were agreeing methods to use over 3NT, I'd use 4♣ and 4♦ as natural four-card suits, and 4♥ and 4♠ as five of the linked minor.

[gnasher]

I have agreed with one occasional partner that after the game-forcing 2NT a hand with some values would always go via Puppet Stayman, so a direct raise to 3NT is known to be very weak. I don't have sufficient data to tell you how well this works.

[FrancesHinden]

I know of a partnership who played the Kokish 2H rebid as game forcing, and played 2C - 2D - 2H - 2NT as 0-2 balanced to help when partner had 28+ so that the 2S relay promised at least a 3-count.

I just go with 'hope for the best'

I saw a 30-count at the table once in a match played at someone's house. It emerged at half time that the board had been prepared for a lesson and no-one had got round to redealing it.

[lexlogan]

Whether you play Kokish or not, it seems normal just to bid more notrumps the stronger your hand is. Assuming 2C, 2D waiting, 2H Kokish, 2S relay, if 2NT is 24 or 25 then 3NT would be 26-27 or so and 2C-2D-4NT or 2C-2D-2H-2S-4NT would both be stronger. (I'm assuming 2C-2D-3NT would show 9 tricks rather than a strong balanced hand.) Without discussion I'd try Koksih followed by 4NT on the given hand.

[jdonn]

It's fine to have a way to show 28-30 or whatever but with all due respect, calling this 30 hcp is a joke. If partner has xxxx xxx xx xxxx or the same with the minors reversed then you belong in 6 of a minor. If partner has xxx xxx xx Qxxxx or minors reversed then you belong in 7 of a minor. If partner has xx xx xxx Txxxxx or minors reversed then you belong in 7NT.

[pirate22]

Interesting-we use Modified Norman A=1 K=1/2 and holding all A and K
I still would open 2cl-Pard bids 2d!=0
2n/t-pard can now use stayman/transfer,he will not pass,depending his bid now,one makes a blasting bid,but then again,how many times does one get this type of hand (points wise)
if pard uses stayman,will comply-if transfer thkg minor slam,if rebidis 3n/t blast 6n/t-i will test my pard--pity no hand displayed for partner

regards

[pirate22]

Interesting-we use Modified Norman A=1 K=1/2 and holding all A and K
I still would open 2cl-Pard bids 2d!=0
2n/t-pard can now use stayman/transfer,he will not pass,depending his bid now,one makes a blasting bid,but then again,how many times does one get this type of hand (points wise)
if pard uses stayman,will comply-if transfer thkg minor slam,if rebidis 3n/t blast 6n/t-i will test my pard--pity no hand displayed for partner

regards