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ROMAN KEY CARD BLACKWOOD (RKCB)

♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ Note: The core / essential system is presented in normal type-face, more advanced aspects, possibly to be regarded as 'optional extras', are in italic font.

Basic System

4NT asks about the 5 key cards : the 4 aces and the king of trumps. Responses are:

5♣ = 0 or 3 key cards.
5♦ = 1 or 4 key cards.
5♥ = 2 key cards, and not the trump Q.
5♣ = 2 key cards plus the trump Q.
5NT = 5 key cards, and not the trump Q.
6♣ = 5 key cards, plus the trump Q.

If the response to 4NT is 5♣ or 5♦, the 4NT bidder may want to find out about the trump Q. To do this, bid the lowest non-trump suit. This says "Do you have the trump Q?" The responses to this are:

1st step: No
2nd step: Yes

Note that when the trump Q is being asked about, if he knows that there are at least 10 trumps between the two hands, responder should show it even if he hasn't got it.

There is a further move possible after responder has positively shown or denied the trump Q. The next non-trump suit up asks about the K and Q of the suit bid. The responses are:

1st step: neither
2nd step: just the Q
3rd step: just the K
4th step: both

For example:

1♠	2♣
2♠	4NT (RKCB, spades agreed).
5♦ (one or four key cards)	5♥ (asks about Q of spades)
5NT (yes)	6♣ (what about Q,K of clubs?)
6♠ (K only)	7NT (there appear to be 13 tricks at least!)

When using RKCB, which is the agreed suit?

When a suit has been bid naturally and supported. Otherwise, it is the last suit bid naturally or implied by either player.

What if no natural suit has been bid or implied?

There are some sequences when no suit has been bid naturally or implied, and in this case, we revert to "Modified Roman Blackwood" (responses 30/41/CR/O. i.e. 5♣= 0 or 3 aces, 5♦ = 1 or 4 aces, 5♥ = 2 aces of same colour or rank, 5♠ = 2 'odd' aces).

For example:

1NT	2♣
2♦	4NT (Roman Blackwood, not RKCB).

What if any of our sequences are disturbed by an intervention?

Note that several of the asking bids shown previously invite STEP responses (e.g. 4NT itself, or asking about the trump Q, or asking about K/Q in a new suit.) If there is any intervention over these bids, we play R1P2, D1P2, which works in this way: If the intervening bid was a double, Redouble = 1st step, pass = 2nd step, next bid up = 3rd step, etc. If the intervening bid was a suit (or NT), Double = 1st step, pass = 2nd step, next bid up = 3rd step, etc.

What about asking for Kings?

After 4NT (RKCB) has been used, 5NT subsequently asks for kings outside the trump suit. The responses are: 6♣= 0 of the 3 Kings, 6♦ = 1, 6♥ = 2, 6♠ = 3. (R1P2, D1P2 again applies after intervention). If 4NT was Roman Blackwood, 5NT will ask about all 4 Kings, with 30/41/CR/O responses.

Do we ever use Gerber?

Only immediately after partner has opened 1NT or 2NT, when we use 'Modified Roman Gerber', by bidding 4♣. The replies are 30/41/CR/O. Then 5♣ asks for Kings with 30/41/CR/O responses.

'Quantitative' bid of 4NT

After partner has opened 1NT or 2NT, a bid of 4NT is treated as natural / quantitative, asking partner to bid 6NT with a maximum for the opening bid, or to pass otherwise. Usually, in the same situation, a response of 5NT to the opening 1NT or 2NT is interpreted as 'bid 6NT unless you are minimum'.