Roman Key Card - Exclusion

 

In a recent poll of leading experts, this convention was voted Number 1!  Yes, really, it was top of a list entitled "Least Favorite Convention", and it achieved that dubious honor by virtue of the fact that (a) it's obscure, (b) it comes up rarely, (c) it's downright dangerous, fraught with opportunities for misunderstanding.  So, if you like danger, read on!

 

The basic premise of Exclusion is that a surprising jump to the 5-level in a constructive auction is Roman Key Card with a twist.  The twist is that the Ace of the jump-bid suit is excluded from the responses, presumably because the Exclusion bidder is void in that suit and has no use for the Ace.

 

3rd May, 2006                   Board 23       Dealer South        Both Vul

 

 

Do you open South’s hand 1♣ or 2♣?  Many players would cite the fact that South has a two-loser hand and so should open 2♣.  We prefer 1♣, most of the time it’ll make the subsequent auction easier (if, indeed, there actually is a subsequent auction!).  When you open a super-strong hand with a non-forcing bid, as South did here, there is always the risk that it will get passed out … but, on those minor-oriented hands, 2♣ auctions are so awkward that it’s usually worth taking that chance.

 

South’s 2♦ was a reverse, of course, forcing for one round.  2♠ is obviously encouraging, and should probably show a good hand with Diamonds, though we’ll bet that few pairs have firm agreements in this particular auction.

 

What next?  If we really can trust North to have a good Diamond raise, then 6♦ seems likely, maybe even 7♦.  If Partner has the A♥ and K♦ (not out of the question), then we’d like to be in the grand … how do we find out about Partner’s Key Cards without him including the useless A♠ in his response?  Yes, indeed, we can bid 4♠ … Exclusion Key Card Blackwood!  If Partner has that A♠, he’ll exclude it from his response, and we’ll be able to get to the grand if Partner has those two red Key Cards.

 

 

28th June, 2006                 Board 12      Dealer West       N-S Vul

 

 

North’s hand is solid (well, almost) except for the small matter of those 3 missing Aces.  There’s no point in using regular Key Card because an answer of “two” will leave us none the wiser, we’ll not know whether the Aces include the useless A♣ or not.  This is a hand for Exclusion Key Card Blackwood … a leap to 5♣ here can be used as Roman Key Card Blackwood, but excluding the (useless) A♣.  Partner will respond as if the A♣ does not exist, and we’ll get to 6♥ if Partner has two of the “right” Aces, and 7♥ if she has 3 of them.

 

By the way, South is right to bid 5♣ immediately … if she prevaricates by bidding 3♣ (shortness) first her Partner might inadvertently preempt her with a 4♠ bid, taking away the Exclusion option.  In general, Exclusion is at the 5-level (or 4♠), and must be a jump.

 

From 19th December, 2007    Board 9      Dealer North       E-W Vul

 

 

Partner’s 2NT shows Heart support and game-going values.  At this point all that North cares about is the A♦ and the A♠.  But regular Roman Key Card won’t be helpful, because if Partner shows 2 Key Cards that might include the useless A♣.  So, if N-S are playing that exotic variation of Roman Key Card known as Exclusion Key Card, a majestic leap to 5♣ says “Tell me about your Key Cards, but exclude the A♣”.

 

Back to the opening bid.  Do you agree with it?  It would be hard to argue if North started out that 2-loser hand with a 2♣ opening bid, and this will work out better on the actual hand as Partner, with 3 Aces and a King, will no doubt charge into the better-scoring 7NT.

 

 

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