After a strong 2♣ and 2♦ relay (waiting bid). Now the 2♥ bid forces 2♠. Now the 2NT bid shows 25+ points if the bid of 2NT shows 23-24 points.
Partnerships can have different points holding for 2NT openers so make sure you have a partnership agreement as some people play 20-21 2NT openers.
Let’s look at some examples of 2♣ openers using kokish relays :-
| a) | b) | c) | d) |
| ♠ AK ♥ AJ10 ♦ AQ532 ♣ AK7 | ♠ AKJ5 ♥ AQ9 ♦ A87 ♣ AK5 | ♠ AQ10 ♥ AK ♦ QJ104 ♣ AQJ10 | ♠ Q103 ♥ AQJ ♦ AQJ ♣ AK96 |
| ♠ QJ732 ♥ 98765 ♦ 5 ♣ 42 | ♠ 107 ♥ K108632 ♦ K52 ♣ 43 | ♠ 7432 ♥ 543 ♦ 987 ♣ 973 | ♠ KJ954 ♥ 42 ♦ 1074 ♣ 743 |
a) 2♣ – 2♦ – 2NT – 3♣ – 3♥ – 4♦ – 4♥.
The 2NT bid shows 25+ points. partner bids muppet stayman and the 3♥ response denies a 4 card major. Partner bids 4♦ to show 5-5 in the majors and 4♥ is reached.
b) 2♣ – 2♦ – 2NT – 4♣ – 4♦ – 4NT – 5♣ – 5♦ – 6♦ – 6NT
The 2NT bid shows 25+ points. Partner bids a two under slam try 4♣ and partner accepts with a cue bid of 4♦. Partner does a quick check for keycards and decides 6NT is a better contract.
c) 2♣ – 2♦ – 2♥ – 2♠ – 2NT – All Pass
The 2NT bid shows 23-24points.
d) 2♣ – 2♦ – 2♥ – 2♠ – 2NT – 3♣ – 3♥ – 3NT – 4♠
The 2NT bid shows 23-24 points. 3♣ is muppet stayman, 3♥ denies a 4 card major, 3NT shows a 5 card major and partner bids 4♠.
The kokish relay is a useful system for keeping the bidding at 2NT when you have these 25+ point holding allowing partner to investigate major holdings below the 3NT level. The disadvantage of this system is in order to agree hearts you can end up bidding 4H…
2♣ – 2♦ – 2♥ – 2♠ – 3♥ – ? harder to agree hearts without signing off in 4♥
Where the bidding previously may have preceded with….
2♣ – 2♦ – 2♥ – 3♥ – now can look for a slam in hearts more comfortably
So it’s up to you if you want to play the Kokish relay system…how often do you pick up 25 counts?