KOKISH
REBIDS

Kokish Rebids after 1 - 2

It seems that the following auction 1 Diamond - 2 Clubs is generally a problem auction for Standard bidders. To solve this, partnerships agreeing to open a strong No Trump have often chosen to play an opening of 2 Clubs as game forcing.

However, those partnerships playing the Kaplan-Scheinwold system, this feature may indicate circumstances where 2 Clubs could sometimes be bid on weaker hands than are normally opened as such by Standard bidders. And, as a consequence, if the opener has an unbalanced hand, attempting to clarify the holdings of the responder can become more difficult to show regarding both length and strength.

The generally accepted Standard approach is to use the 2 Diamond rebid as a catch-all response, but this bid, particularly in the Kaplan-Scheinwold system, forces a rebid by the responder, which may lead to a misinterpretation in the bidding sequence, and therefore in danger of contracting incorrectly.

For example, playing the Standard system, which player becomes responsible for beginning the search for a 4-4 Major suit fit? The answer to this question was the beginning point of the investigation by Mr. Eric Kokish.

Mr. Eric Kokish took on this question and came up with a solution to handle these problems in the bidding system. His foundation was that the partnership should start with using the Weak No Trump, generally between 15 and 17 high card points. However, in theory and practice, the series of rebids devised by Mr. Eric Kokish should work with any No Trump range.

These rebids apply only when the bidding sequence has been 1 Diamond - 2 Clubs:

2 :		shows		5+ , forcing
2 :		shows		4-4-4-2 distribution
2 :		shows		a good Club raise
2 NT:		shows		12-14 HCPs, balanced distribution
3 :		shows		a bad Club raise
3 :		shows		16+ points and a 6-card Diamond suit
3 :		shows		a Splinter bid in support of Clubs
3 :		shows		also a Splinter bid in support of Clubs
3 NT:		shows		18-19HCPs, balanced

Using the set of responses listed above, it must also be noted that the Major suit rebid by the responder is normally a 4-card suit. However, a rebid in a Major suit can sometimes be just show a stopper. The opener is not expected to go past 3 No Trump. If the opener rebids 2 Spades or 3 Clubs, then the opener is denying a 4-card Major, but a rebid of 2 Diamonds shows a 4-card Major suit.

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.