Minorwood RKC (Roman Key Card)
Bidding 4NT to ask for key cards (Blackwood RKC) raises the level too high to explore for slam in a minor suit; i.e., clubs or diamonds. Minorwood RKC solves that problem. Specifically, Minorwood RKC keeps the level low enough to close out the bidding at game (5-Clubs or 5-Diamonds) when slam is not possible.
Trigger
After the partnership agrees on a minor suit (see the Inverted Minors convention), a jump bid in the agreed minor suit triggers the Minorwood RKC convention. A bid to the 4-level in the agreed minor suit over a partner’s 3NT bid also triggers the Minorwood RKC convention.
The Bidding Sequence
In brief, responses to Minorwood RKC bids move up the line at the cheapest available bid. Like Blackwood RKC, the partnership needs to have previously agreed on either the 1430 or 3014 RKC variant. The following paragraphs reflect 3014 RKC.
After a 4-Club Minorwood RKC trigger, the following responses apply:
- 4-Diamonds = 0 or 3 key cards
- 4-Hearts = 1 or 4 key cards
- 4-Spades = 2 key cards without the Q-club
- 4-NT = 2 key cards with the Q-club.
After a 4-Diamond Minorwood RKC trigger, the following responses apply:
- 4-Hearts = 0 or 3 key cards
- 4-Spades = 1 or 4 key cards
- 4-NT = 2 key cards without the Q-club
- 4-Clubs = 2 key cards with the Q-club.
If the partnership has all 5 key cards, consider asking for kings before bidding slam. To ask for kings, make the lowest available bid excluding the agreed minor suit and NT. For example, if partner’s Key-Card response was 4-Hearts, bid 4-Spades to ask for kings.
After a 4-Hearts king-ask bid, the following responses apply:
- 4-Spades = 0 kings
- 4-NT = 1 king
- 5-Clubs = 2 kings
- 5-Diamonds = 3 kings.
