Kokish Game Tries

The auction 1D-2C is a problem auction for Standard bidders. To solve this, 2/1 and strong notrumpers have often chosen to play it as game forcing. Kearse/Shienwold system bidders have different problems; 1D/2C can sometimes be bid on weaker hands than Standard bidders. Then if opener has an unbalanced hand, disambiguating the responding hand's values can be difficult.

The Standard approach is to allow the rebid to be pretty much anything, but that (in particular in K/S) forces a rebid by responder and leaves the auction unclear. (Playing Standard, who is responsible for starting the search for a 4-4 major suit fit?)

A set of rebids, attributed to Eric Kokish, attempts to handle these problems. They were designed for use along with a weak NT, but work with any NT range. I'll assume 15-17 NTs and others can transpose from there.

1D-2C

	2D=5+ diamonds and 1 round forcing
	2H = 4441 hand
	2S=good club raise 
	2NT= balanced hand with 12-14 HCP
	3C=bad club raise
	3D=16+ HCP, good 6 card diamond suit
	3H,3S = splinter in support of clubs
	3NT= 18-19 balanced

Responder's major suit rebid is normally a 4-card suit, but can sometimes be just a stopper; opener is not expected to go past 3NT. Opener's 2S and 3C deny a four-card major, but 2D often contains one.

Source: Jeff Goldsmith jeff@tintin.jpl.nasa.gov