How to Use the RKB Convention in Bridge

In another article I outline and review the original 4NT Blackwood (BW) Slam Convention. The idea of BW is to steer the partnership into a successful 6 or 7-level bid. However, BW has its limitations, as it is a simple Ace-asking bid at the 4 level and the King-asking bid at the 5 level. Occasionally, vital information can be missing, especially in the trump suit. Roman Key Card BW (abbreviation - "RKB") is an innovation and improvement on the original BW system. It was created by Bridge legend Eddie Kantar. RKB allows you to explore partner's hand to determine if he holds the King and/or Queen of your agreed upon trump suit. These "key" cards often make the difference in feasibility of a Slam bid. You will learn in this article to avoid plowing onto the Slam level if you are missing vital control cards (or worse yet, the Ace and King of trump!)--and it will be possible, with RKB, to bid a sound Grand Slam with complete confidence!

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A well-lit and ventilated room
• A card-sized table
• 2 Standard decks of playing cards
• 4 experienced Bridge players

1. ROMAN KEY CARD BLACKWOOD (RKB) BASICS
   
   There are FIVE key cards in the system: Four Aces and the King of trump. Another vital card is the Queen of trump. After a trump fit has been established and 4NT is bid, here are the responses and their meanings:
   
   FIVE CLUBS = one or four key cards
   FIVE DIAMONDS = three or zero key cards
   FIVE HEARTS = two or five key cards WITHOUT the Queen of trump
   FIVE SPADES = two or five key cards WITH the Queen of trump
   
   When you use RKB you will never bid a Small Slam missing two key cards and you will never bid a Grand Slam missing ANY key card!

2. ASKING FOR KINGS
   
   After hearing partner's response to 4NT, you may now ask for Kings with the a bid of 5NT. You have already counted the King of trump; there is no need to show it again. Respond as you would to regular BW
   and give the count of Kings outside of the trump suit.

3. THE QUEEN OF TRUMP
   
   When your partner bids five Hearts or five Spades to your RKB 4NT inquiry, he is telling you whether or not he holds the Queen of trump. If he responds with five Clubs or five Diamonds, information about the Queen of trump is still unclear. After the first RKC response, the lowest available bid that is NOT your designated trump suit inquires about the trump Queen. If your trump suit is hearts, then five Spades asks about the Queen of trump. This intricate series of requests and responses MUST be thoroughly understood by you and your partner. Some pairs modify the RKB system and response bids.

4. RESPONDING TO QUEEN OF TRUMP ASKING BID
   
   The lowest available bid in the agreed trump DENIES the Queen of trump. Any other bid promises the Queen of trump. There are variations in the bidding which will show the Queen of trump and will deny an outside King (a jump bid in the trump suit is the most popular application). If you have the Queen of trump and a higher ranking King, bid 5NT.

5. VARIATIONS OF RKB
   
   There are two accepted series of responses: One has the Code name "1403" (five Clubs show one or four key cards and five Diamonds show zero or three key cards). The other has the Code name "0314." In this case, five Clubs promises zero or three key cards and five Diamonds show one or four key cards. BE SURE THAT YOU AND YOUR PARTNER ARE ON THE SAME PAGE!

Tips & Warnings

• Don't forget that there are five key cards (four Aces and the King of trump).
• 5NT by the RKB bidder asks about the non-trump Kings (use BW responses).
• Review throughly the bids which ask about the trump Queen and the proper responses.
• For more detailed information on RKB, research the system via the Internet.
• Roman Key Card Blackwood is intended for experienced players. Do NOT attempt to use this system unless your partnership is familiar with all of its aspects.
• RKB bids are alertable! (opponents must be informed if they ask)