Roman Key Card Blackwood 3041

RKCB 3041 is similar to ordinary Blackwood. It is another convention for investigating a slam using the bid of 4NT.

In this case the King of Trumps is counted as a key card. There are now 5 key Cards, A, A, A, A & K of trumps.

You can confidently bid to the 6 level if the partnership holds,

4 key cards and 31 points 

4 key cards, 10 trump cards

4 key cards, 8 trump cards & the QofTrumps

4 key cards, 9 trump cards & the JofT

You will need 5 key cards and the Q of T to bid for a grand slam.

Trumps are defined as the last suit bid. Or an agreed suit (both have bid the suit).

The response to the 4NT bid, which is mandatory, is:

5C : none or 3 Key Cards

5D : 1 or 4 Key Cards

5H : 2 Key Cards without the queen of trumps

5S : 2 Key Cards with the queen of trumps

To ask for the Q of T if response to 4NT is 5C or 5D, bid the cheapest suit up

1H P 4NT P 5C P 5D (have you got Q of H) P 5H (no) / 6H (yes)

5NT can be bid to ask for the number of kings. However, the king of trumps is not included in this response because it has already been included in the response to 4NT. Only use the 5NT if you are looking for a Grand Slam.

The response to 5NT, which is mandatory:

5C : no kings

5D : 1 king

5H : 2 kings

5S : 3 kings

Following this response, the final contract can be bid. The person initiating the 4NT bid makes the final decision.

REM: After 1NT or 2NT opening, the 4NT bid is quantitative asking are you at the high or low end of your range.

REM: If you are confident that you can make all 13 tricks, 7NT scores better than 6NT