DoPi-RoPi is a bridge Acronym standing for:

  • Double = 0 (nought,zero,nada) or 4 aces
  • Pass = 1 (1 ace)
  • Re-Double = 0 (nought,zero,nada) or 4 aces
  • Pass = 1 (1ace)

It is used in Blackwood or RKCB after you’ve asked your partner for aces and you get an intervening bid.

So if you get a bid over 4NT you use one of the bids above or if you have more aces you make bids higher up to show two or three aces.

If you are playing RKCB you add in the King of trumps and queen of trumps into the mix as well….so:

Playing Blackwood DOPI

So when a 4NT blackwood is overcalled:

  • Double = 0 or 4 aces
  • Pass = 1 ace
  • +1 Bid = 2 aces
  • +2 Bids = 3 aces

Playing RKCB (1430) DOPI

So when a 4NT(1430) RKCB is overcalled:

  • Double = 1 ace or 4 aces
  • Pass = 1 ace
  • +1 Bid = 2 aces
  • +2 Bids = 2 aces + Queen of trumps
  • +3 Bids = 3 aces

Playing RKCB (0314) DOPI

So when a 4NT(0314) RKCB is overcalled:

  • Double = 0 aces or 3 aces
  • Pass = 1 ace
  • +1 Bid = 2 aces
  • +2 Bids = 2 aces + Queen of trumps
  • +3 Bids = 3 aces

Playing RKCB (1430) ROPI

So when a 4NT(1430) RKCB is overcalled:

  • Double = 1 ace or 4 aces
  • Pass = 0 aces
  • +1 Bid = 2 aces
  • +2 Bids = 2 aces + Queen of trumps
  • +3 Bids = 3 aces

Playing RKCB (0314) ROPI

So when a 4NT(0314) RKCB is overcalled:

  • Double = 0 ace or 3 aces
  • Pass = 1 ace or 4 aces
  • +1 Bid = 2 aces
  • +2 Bids = 2 aces + Queen of trumps
  • +3 Bids = 3 aces

This is a hand where I’ve just lost 13 IMPS because my partner forgot how to play the system…

NorthSouth
♠ K863♠ AQ10742
AJ 964
AK9864QJ5
♣ 6♣ J
The Hands

So with this hand the bidding went:

NorthEastSouthWest
12♣2♠3♣
4♣Pass4NT5♣
5Pass5♠Pass
PassPass
The Bidding

So using DOPI-ROPI the 5 bid shows 2 aces….Now if you were playing normal blackwood that would be true…but we play RKCB so that bid now show only 2 of the 5 aces without the queen of trumps….so we missed the easy 6♠ because my partner should have bid 5♠ to show 3 aces (the king of trumps is counted as an ace in RKCB) and unfortunately the other team bid it. Oh well he won’t get it wrong the next time it occurs!

DEPO

This stands for:

  • Double = Even number of aces
  • Pass = Odd number of aces

I would suggest this just includes all the keycards AAAAKQ when playing whatever flavour of RKCB you choose to use.