Mr. Eric O. Kokish, a bridge expert and theoretician, believes that most experts are correct in the opinion, that two-suited holdings should not be opened with the artificial, strong 2 Clubs bid. Therefore, when the 2 Clubs opener shows a second suit, it is expected to be a 4-card suit. This stipulation affects some of the recommended sequences.

Response Method

The responses are based on the number of controls, whereby an Ace equals 2 controls, and a King equals 1 control.

2 :	shows zero or one control, and no special suits as below.
2 :	shows two (2) controls, and no special suits as below.
2 :	shows three (3) controls, and no special suits as below.
2 NT:	shows any 6-card or longer suit with an expected one loser opposite a void. This includes any 6-card suit with four of the top 5 honors except AKQTxx is not included.
3 any suit:	Three-level suit bids are transfers, Spades transferring to Clubs. They show a 6-card or longer suit that would have an expected no losers opposite an honor, but could have more than one loser opposite a void. This includes any 6-card suit with three of the top 4 honors except AKQxxx is not included.
3 NT:	shows an undisclosed solid suit. A solid suit is defined as AKQJxx or AKQTxxx, or better. Mr. Eric Kokish recommends that a 4 No Trump rebid by the opener in this sequence asks the length of responder's suit, although it makes sense also to play that bidding responder's Minor suit at the four level could also be length asking. The opener should be able to tell what suit the responder has.
4 any suit:	Four-level suit bids are transfers, Spades transferring to Clubs. They show a broken 8-card (or longer) suit.

Example

An example of an auction illustrates and clarifies this concept.

Opener		Responder		Meaning
2				Artificial. Strong. Forcing.
		2		Artificial. Zero or 1 Control
2				Forcing. Either a genuine Heart suit or a balanced holding with 25 or more high card points.

Additional Responses
2 :	90% of the time. A waiting bid. Denies the hands below.
2 NT:	Transfers to Clubs. A long suit headed by the Jack or Ten, no outside Ace, King, or Queen.
3 :	Transfers to the next higher suit. Shows a weak hand like the 2 No Trump transfer to Clubs above.
3 :	Transfers to the next higher suit. Shows a weak hand like the 2 No Trump transfer to Clubs above.
3 :	Transfers to the next higher suit. Shows a weak hand like the 2 No Trump transfer to Clubs above.
3 :	Artificial, showing at least 3 Queens and 3 Jacks, no Kings, and a balanced hand.
3 NT:	Conventional. Shows specifically a 5-0-4-4 shape with a King or two Queens, with, perhaps, an extra Jack. Caters to either hand opener may have.

Additional Auction Example 1
Opener		Responder		Meaning
2				Artificial. Strong. Forcing.
		2		Artificial. Negative Response.
2				Forcing. Two-Way bid.
		2		Denies a special holding.

Special Note: the opener's rebids above 3 No Trump have been fabricated by Mr. Eric Kokish, and are open to discussion. The opener may show a solid Heart suit via an immediate leap to 3 over the 2 response. This sets the trump suit.

The possible rebids by the opener after a 2 second response are:
2 NT:	The opener has a balanced 25+ high card points. Game force. The responder uses the usual tools to continue.
3 :	The opener has 5(+) Hearts and an expected 4-card Club suit. Forcing.
3 :	The opener has 5(+) Hearts and an expected 4-card Diamond suit Forcing.
3 :	The opener usually has 6 or more Hearts, but the suit is not solid. Forcing. The opener could have a balanced hand with 5 Hearts, lacking a stopper for No Trump.
3 :	The opener has 5(+) Hearts and and expected 4-card Spade suit. Forcing.
3 NT:	The opener has a 6-card Heart suit with stoppers, the Heart suit is not solid.
4 :	The opener has a 3-card fragment with 2 of the top 3 honors in Clubs with a long Heart suit playable opposite a void (4 of the top 5 honors, but not including AKQJxx).
4 :	The opener has a 3-card fragment with 2 of the top 3 honors in Diamonds and a long Heart suit playable opposite a void (4 of the top 5 honors, but not including solid suits.
4 :	The opener has a 3-card fragment in Spades with 2 of the top 3 honors, and a long Heart suit playable opposite a void (4 of the top 5 honors, but not including solid suits.
4 :	Transfers to 4 No Trump. The opener has a Heart suit, and the ability to run the top 11 tricks at No Trump. Invites a slam. Responder's Kx will be good. Responder's KQx will be worth a grand slam.
4 NT:	Roman Keycard Blackwood, Hearts is the trump suit. The responder answers as if the four Kings and the Queen of Hearts were the Key Cards.

Responding to 4 No Trump

5 :	1 King or the Queen of Hearts.
5 :	No Key Cards.
5 :	1 King and the Queen of Hearts, but not the Jack of Hearts.
5 :	1 King and the Queen of Hearts and also the Jack of Hearts.

Additional Auction Example 2
Opener		Responder		Meaning
2				Artificial. Strong. Forcing.
		2		Artificial. Negative Response.
2				Forcing. Two-Way bid.
		2		Waiting. No special holding.
3				Genuine Heart suit and no 4-card side suit.

The possible rebids of the responder are shown below:
3 :	No good 5-card suit, and no support.
3 NT:	Shows Spades. At least QTxxx, no support.
4 :	Shows Clubs. Up to QTxxx, if Heart support is included. Do not have to transfer because the opener already bid Clubs.
4 :	Shows Diamonds. Up to QTxxx, if Heart support is included. Do not have to transfer because responder already bid Diamonds.
4 :	True Heart support, but weak. (Qx or better).
4 :	Four card support with an undisclosed singleton. The opener may inquire the singleton via a 4 No Trump relay.
5 :	Flower bid meaning a 5-card or longer Club suit headed by the King, with 3-card Heart support to the 98x or better.
5 :	Flower bid meaning a 5-card or longer Diamond suit headed by the King, with 3-card Heart support to the 98x or better.
5 :	Flower bid meaning a 5-card or longer Spade suit headed by the King, with 3-card Heart support to the 98x or better.

 

 

If you wish to include this feature, or any other feature, of the game of bridge in your partnership agreement, then please make certain that the concept is understood by both partners. Be aware whether or not the feature is alertable or not and whether an announcement should or must be made. Check with the governing body and/or the bridge district and/or the bridge unit prior to the game to establish the guidelines applied. Please include the particular feature on your convention card in order that your opponents are also aware of this feature during the bidding process, since this information must be made known to them according to the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. We do not always include the procedure regarding Alerts and/or Announcements, since these regulations are changed and revised during time by the governing body. It is our intention only to present the information as concisely and as accurately as possible.