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The sub-title reads "for the above average" and not for the "good" OR the "weak" player! Please enlighten me as to what information Roman Gerber gives that Katie Cutie doesn't, and additionally using Progressive KTQT one can still stop in 4♠ or 4NT!

Those that already use Gerber in one of its various forms ("any time, if ♣s not bid naturally or after No Trump openings), have already 'sacrificed' the 4♣ bid, in order to safely achieve a 4♥/♠ or 5♣/♦ game, without having to resort to a 4NT convention and ending up too high! Remember your average club player can't handle control cues AND natural suit bids, and therefore often has an incomplete picture of their partners hand!

Katie Cutie KT QT (4 aces + KT/King of Trumps followed by 3 Kings + QT/Queen of Trumps). This is a much better variation of Gerber, where the King of the ‘agreed’ trump suit is included, with the 4 aces, totalling 5 Ace Key Cards. The responses to partner’s 4♣ bid, are the same as regular Gerber: - 4♦ = I have 0 (or 4) of the 5 Ace Key Cards (4 Aces + King of Trumps) 4♥ = I have 1 of the 5 Ace Key Cards (OR ALL 5 of the 5 Ace Key Cards – additional reply to regular Gerber) 4♠ = I have 2 of the 5 Ace Key Cards 4NT=I have 3 of the 5 Ace Key Cards. If your partner then bids 5♣, your response is the normal Gerber 5♣ response, except you EXCLUDE the, already accounted for, King of the ‘agreed’ Trump suit, but you now instead INCLUDE the Queen of the ‘agreed’ Trump suit, totalling 4 King Key Cards. 5♦ = I have 0 (or ALL 4) of the remaining 4 King Key Cards (3 Kings + Queen of Trumps) 5♥ = I have 1 of the remaining 4 King Key Cards 5♠ = I have 2 of the remaining 4 King Key Cards 5NT=I have 3 of the remaining 4 King Key Cards Naturally this convention can be played Progressively, where after the 5 Ace Key Cards response the initiator normally bids the next available bid to inquire about the 4 King Key Cards, and the replies are the next available bid up = 0, 2 bids up = 1 of the remaining 4, etc. etc. However, if the next available bid would be “Trumps” – this would be a “sign-off”, thus the initiator must bid the next bid above “Trumps” to ask about the 4 King Key Cards. Any other bid is a “sign-off”. Other useful variants that can be used when trumps have NOT been established, is either to use regular or progressive Gerber, OR for very experienced users only, to default trumps to clubs and bid as above.

Did you get to review Finch Cue Bid above - a considerable improvement on Ghestem, "modern" Ghestem and Questem?

FINCH CUE BID (very SIMPLY and FULLY covers all 6 possible 2-suit combinations, and 3/4 of the time a 3♣ bid actually includes ♣s).) Finch Cue Bid (alertable) is used to show a hand with two 5-card suits with one bid, some partnerships do allow 4-5/5-4 when holding both majors. It can be used when you are stronger, but generally it’s used as a weak, pre-emptive, 6-11 point bid, with both vulnerabilities being taken into account. It replaces Michael’s Cue Bid/Unusual 2NT; CRO (all variations of Colour\Rank\Other); Ghestem and Questem. Bidding (and remembering) couldn’t be any simpler! The lowest cue bid possible 1x 2x (1♣2♣/1♦2♦/1♥2♥/1♠2♠), signifies the 2 highest unbid suits; with the highest bid 1x 3♣, showing the 2 lowest unbid suits; and the middle bid 1x 2NT, used to specify the 5/5 holding of the highest and the lowest unbid suits. “The Lowest (1x2x Finch Cue Bid) shows the Highest (2 unbid suits), and the Highest shows the Lowest, otherwise the middle (2NT) must be the other two (Highest and the Lowest)”. Other options – If 1 of opponents' 2 bid suits is a phoney (♣), then, treating (♣)sas UNBID, permits all 3 Finch Cue Bids, a 2(♣) bid being used as your normal overcall. If opps have bid 2 suits (e.g. 1♦ & 1♠), 2 unbid suits are left, so with 5/5 in ♣s & ♥s, a 2♦ bid (lower bid suit) shows 6-9 points; 2♠ (higher) 10-12; 2NT 13-15 & 3♣ 16+. Michael’s Cue Bid/Unusual 2NT has 2 “the other Major and a minor” and 2 totally omitted combinations (lowest & highest unbid suits over opponent’s minor openings)! All CRO versions (CRO COR ROC etc;) are totally neutral, neither major nor minor! The Finch Cue Bid overcomes the Ghestem problem of having to bid 3♣ when holding both majors, as now the lowest Direct Cue Bid (2♣ ♦ ♥ ♠) is very much major oriented. The Questem problem stills exists when you’re strong and one of your suits is Clubs, in which case the initial bid should be DOUBLE, rather than bidding 3♣, which partner may pass thinking you are weak! Although the 3♣ Bid can’t now be used as a weak jump overcall, 75% of the time when you overcall 3♣, you actually have clubs! Where Questem is an inversion of Ghestem, the Finch Cue Bid is a further inversion, making it even better than Questem, in that the 3♣ Bid is very much for the minors; the 2NT bid becomes neutral; the low 2-level Direct Cue Bid remains major oriented; culminating in a simple yet complete and exact logical scientific bidding system.

NO! Progressive Void Gerber just shows Aces and if requested Kings - Finch Cinch/CLINCH is far more complex and includes the King of Trumps as a Key Card, and also can incorporate the Queen of Trumps in the bidding, in addition to the ability to show which specific Kings are held!

Just 3 cents for every Grand Slam, 2 cents for every Small Slam and 1 cent for every time you can stop in 4♥ or 4♠, instead of bidding 5 and going 1 down! Please also see new discussion FINCH CLINCH, which purely as an additional option, safely allows the inclusion of voids in the Finch Cinch bidding system.

Just 3 cents for every Grand Slam, 2 cents for every Small Slam and 1 cent for every time you can stop in 4♥ or 4♠, instead of bidding 5 and going 1 down! Please also see new discussion FINCH CLINCH, which purely as an additional option, safely allows the inclusion of voids in the Finch Cinch bidding system.

FINCH CLINCH Any totally unexpected, weird, “non-system” bid made higher than 4♣s, is Finch Clinch. How often have you had a problem including/showing a void suit when considering a slam, and have to settle for game, and very often making 6 or even 7? The reason for this is, so often you don't know if one of your partner's Aces is the ace of your void suit (therefore of limited value), or if it's a more important Ace (like the Ace of the suit that they bid)! Similarly is one of the kings your partner holds, the king of your void suit, or a more valuable king? Showing voids safely makes Finch Clinch the ultimate addition to FINCH CINCH (see separate documentation). All you have to do, if you have a void suit, and think a slam might be on, is bid 4 of your void suit (except if ♣s, then bid 4NT), and your partner will show his Keycards, excluding your void suit Ace, and likewise also omit your void suit King if next you ask about his Kings! Example 1♦ – 3♦ - 4♥, says, (OK ♦s are Trumps), but I have a void in ♥s, so please tell me your KeyCard count EXCLUDING ♥s (my void suit), using the normal step system (4♠=0or3, 4NT=1or4, 5♣=2-Q♦, 5♦=0Kings, 5♥=K♣, 5♠=K♠ and 5NT=K♣+K♠), and if a King 'ask' is subsequently instigated, now also EXCLUDING the K♥ (0, lower, higher or both – as there are only 2 Kings left). An even more unexpected example, 1NT - 2♣ - 2♥ - 4♠, (says ♥s are trumps) and I have ♠ void, so please tell me your Ace count EXCLUDING ♠s (my void suit), using the normal step system (4NT=0or3, 5♣=1or4, 5♦=2-Q♥, 5♥=0Kings, 5♠=K♣, 5NT=K♦ and 6♣=K♣+K♦), and if a King 'ask' is subsequently instigated, now also EXCLUDING the K♠ (0, lower, higher or both). 1♠ – 4♥, means love your ♠s, have a void in ♥s, and if your KeyCards include the A♠ we could be in 7♠!

FINCH CINCH - A PROGRESSIVE SLAM\GAME SYSTEM Replacing Gerber, (Roman) Keycard and Blackwood by using progressive bids. There are ALWAYS 5 Keycards involved, the 4 Aces, PLUS the KING of the ‘agreed’ trump suit, which if not already established or implied becomes the LAST NATURAL partnership bid suit, otherwise “Trumps” automatically default to ♣s. RESPONSES TO 4♣ BID BY INITIATOR and Further Bids/Responses. 4♦ = 0 (or 3) Keycards; 4♥ = 1 (or 4) Keycards; 4♠ = 2 (or 5) Keycards without Trump QUEEN; but with the Trump QUEEN bid as per King Bidding below (‘Next Bid up’ being 4NT). After a 4♦, 4♥ or 4♠ reply, the initiator can now “sign-off” in game in “trumps”, or, bid the NEXT ”Non-Trump” bid up, and responder bids as per King Bidding below. After a 4♦ or 4♥ response only (the 2 replies that don’t include the Trump Queen), the 2nd “Non-Trump” bid up, is used to ask about the trump QUEEN, and, without the trump QUEEN, responder calls the NEXT bid up, but, with the trump Queen, bids as per King Bidding below (‘Next Bid up’ now being the ‘Next Next Bid up’). If the trump QUEEN is not held, the initiator can now “sign-off”, or seeking a SLAM bid the NEXT “Non-Trump” bid up, and responder bids as per King Bidding below. After a 4♦ reply and with ♣s or ♦s as trumps, the initiator can bid GAME in 4NT. King Bidding:- ‘Next Bid up’ with 0 (or 3) of the other 3 Kings (“trump” King already accounted for); 2 bids up with either the Lowest, OR (the Middle and Highest of the other 3 Kings); 3 bids up with either the Middle, OR (the Lowest and Highest of the other 3 Kings); 4 bids up with either the Highest, OR (the Lowest and Middle of the other 3 Kings). “Kings” can be shown in 3 ways; replying to a “Kings” NEXT ”Non-Trump” bid up; with 2 Keycards + Queen of Trumps, or, affirming possession of the Trump Queen. The beauty is, if for example ♥s are trumps, and your partner replies showing they have either the highest King (K♠) only, OR, they have both the lowest and the middle 2 Kings (K♣ and K♦) of the 3 remaining (K♥ excluded); then if you have the K♠ then they must have both the K♣ and K♦, OR, if you’ve either the K♣ or K♦, then they've got the K♠ only (neither K♣ nor K♦). What SUIT should be considered “Trumps” in any Keycard system? Last genuine (non-artificial) SUIT bid if any, (the suit before, if No Trumps was last). However if one suit has been bid twice – by the same or both players – that should be “Trumps” (and if 2 suits bid twice then the later bid suit takes precedence), unless the opener opened STRONG then “Trumps” are their REAL suit. If no REAL suit has yet been bid, e.g an artificial strong 2 opening, 2♣ - 4♣, then ♣s are “Trumps”, or 1NT - 2♦ (transfer) - 4 ♣, then, ♥s are the inferred “Trumps”. When a 2-suiter 5/5 overcall has been made and the” trumps” have not been decided, assume the higher suit (usually a major) to be trumps when using Finch Cinch.

PROGRESSIVE VOID GERBER Any totally unexpected, weird, “non-system” bid made higher than 4♣s, is Progressive Void Gerber. How often have you had a problem including/showing a void suit when considering a slam, and have to settle for game, and very often making 6 or even 7? The reason for this is, so often you don't know if one of your partner's Aces is the ace of your void suit (therefore of limited value), or if it's a more important Ace (like the Ace of the suit that they bid)! Similarly is one of the kings your partner holds, the king of your void suit, or a more valuable king? Showing voids safely makes Progressive Void Gerber the ultimate addition to Progressive Gerber. All you have to do, if you have a void suit, and think a slam might be on, is bid 4 of your void suit (except if ♣s, then bid 4NT), and your partner will show his Ace count, excluding your void suit Ace, and likewise also omit your void suit King if next you ask about his Kings! Example 1♦ – 3♦ - 4♥, says, (OK ♦s are Trumps), but I have a void in ♥s, so please tell me your Ace count EXCLUDING ♥s (my void suit), using the normal step system (4♠=0, 4NT=1, 5♣=2 & 5♦=3), and if a King 'ask' is subsequently instigated, now also EXCLUDING the K♥ (0, 1, 2 or 3). An even more unexpected example, 1NT – 2♣ – 2♥ - 4♠, (says ♥s are trumps) and I have ♠ void, so please tell me your Ace count EXCLUDING ♠s (my void suit), using the normal step system (4NT=0, 5♣=1 & 5♦=2, 5♥=3), and subsequently if requested, EXCLUDING the K♠ (0, 1, 2 or 3). 1♠ – 4♥, means love your ♠s, have a void in ♥s, if your Aces include the A♠ we could be in 7♠!

I am certain it must have been brought many times before, but seeing the bids remain on the screen during the game is bad and doesn't help when playing club duplicate and you haven't remembered them!

BINGO BRIDGE Invoking pure strategy and skill - a change from normal Social Rubber, Chicago or Duplicate, and a real FUN game for Bridge Parties and Charity Drives. Any line of 5, horizontal, vertical or diagonal wins, but not the 4 corners! The rules are, bid and make the contract on the card (4♥+1 = 4♥ only, NOT 5♥). If you defeat your opponents’ contract, say 5♦-3, then 5♦ is marked on YOUR card. If you already have 5♦, then you will be awarded by your OPPONENTS, a 3, -level contract of their choice that you still need, otherwise any vacant 2-level square, etc. The PASS square is for a passed out game (both sides are rewarded). All Bingo Cards are identical and must be visible at all times. Please ask the opposition to eliminate your appropriate square with a BIG signature! Players must not chat during the bidding about which contract to bid for, but everybody is fully entitled to consult both theirs and the opponents’ bingo cards. Prizes are awarded to the first line of 5, and at the end, for the most completed squares (with a tie, the highest contract made\next highest\etc.). There’s no scoring, no vulnerability and no point in doubling for penalties (however, doubling say 4♦ would undoubtedly convey some message to your partner!? The purpose of the game is just to have fun and enjoy and don’t take it too seriously! STRATEGIES Go for a contract that you need, and your opponents have already got! Having made the highest contract(s) on the card could be vital at the end of the day! Like all forms of Bridge one must sacrifice a lot in order to be successful, and conversely, let them play in say 4♥ (which you’ve NOT got but would like to have, rather than you bid a risky 5♣, that they’ve NOT got, and would like very much)! NOTES Duplicate movements can be employed, and with a half table, when they actually sit-out, the organizer signs one square of their choice (except if it completes a line). Perhaps a booby prize for the least complete (tie, least highest\next least highest\) In a Rubber/Chicago environment, an alternative/additional prize can be given for the person dealt the worst hand during the session (highest card ♦10 is worse than ♥10). Alternative GAMES For quicker games, making say 2♦+2, this would count as 2♦, 3♦ OR even 4♦, depending on which one you needed! An even shorter version is if for example if you make 4♠, this would entitle you to mark 2♠, 3♠ AND 4♠ as made! When the game is played with multiple partners, a whole new world of compromise opens up. Each player now has their own individual (identical) Bingo Card. Your new partner won’t be willing to bid say 5♣, if that would complete a line for you, but might play in 5♦, if neither of you have achieved it yet, and your opponents have! This makes completing a line very difficult, and the first prize now might go to the person with most lines of 4 (in a tie, the highest contract made\next highest\). BINGO CARD 1♥ 2♦ 4♠ 2NT 5♠ 2♣ 5♥ 3♣ 1♠ 3NT 3♠ 4♣ PASS 3♦ 4♥ 4NT 2♠ 2♥ 5♣ 1♦ 4♦ 1NT 5♦ 3♥ 1♣

Please, please, please let me know the links to 2 or 3 of these relay methods.

FINCH AKQ – GAME/SLAM SYSTEM - for the better CLUB player! FINCH AKQ Game/Slam System was devised to transform results such as 4♠+2 to 6♠/6NT; 4♥+3 to 6/7♥ or 6/7NT; 3NT+3 to 6NT; 6♦+1 to 7♦; and also 6♣-1 to 5♣; 5♥-1 to 4♥ and 6NT-1 to 5NT. It has 4 levels, Basic, Intermediate, Advanced & Professional Extended. It REPLACES ALL forms of Gerber, Keycard and Blackwood, by using not too complex, logical bid/response patterns, which can provide the partnership with their EXACT holdings of EACH INDIVIDUAL Ace, King and Queen. RESPONSES TO 4♣ BID BY INITIATOR and Further Bids/Responses If a trump suit has been established/implied (or LAST genuine partnership bid suit) - there are now 5 Key Cards involved, the 4 Aces, PLUS the KING of the ‘agreed’ trump suit. When no “trumps” have been ‘agreed’, then ♣s are treated as “trumps”. Responses to initiator’s 4♣ are as follows:- 4♦ = 1 or 4 key cards; 4♥ = 0 or 3 key cards; 4♠ = 2 or 5 key cards. Following a 4♦, 4♥ or 4♠ response, the originator, is able to ‘sign off’ in Game, 5NT or any Slam, OR can bid 4NT, to which partner replies as per The other 3 KINGS below. The other 3 KINGS (EXCLUDING the King of "Trumps") 5♣ = 0 Kings OR ALL 3 other Kings 5♦ = lowest King only of 3 OR MUST have highest 2 Kings 5♥ = middle King only of 3 OR MUST have outer 2 Kings 5♠ = highest King only of 3 OR MUST have lowest 2 Kings. INTERMEDIATE VERSION 4♣/4♠ = 2 or 5 key cards without Trump QUEEN, but WITH Trump QUEEN jump bid using The other 3 KINGS above. ADVANCED VERSION Following a 4♣/4♦ or a 4♣/4♥ bid/response sequence, the next NON-TRUMP bid up asks partner if they have the trump Queen, and, without the trump Queen, partner bids the NEXT bid up, but, with the trump Queen, uses The other 3 KINGS bids above. PROFESSIONAL EXTENDED VERSION 5NT bid after The other 3 KINGS MAY be for The other 3 QUEENS. 6♣ = 0 Queens OR ALL 3 other Queens 6♦ = lowest Queen only of 3 OR has highest 2 Queens 6♥ = middle Queen only of 3 OR has outer 2 Queens 6♠ = highest Queen only of 3 OR has lowest 2 Queens. NOTES Yes it takes away the 4♣ Cue Bid and the rare 4♣ Splinter and Texas Transfer bids. Either 1 or 2 of the 3 remaining Kings (or sometimes Queens) explained! The beauty is, if for example ♥s are trumps, and your partner replies with his “Kings” (in any one of the 3 possible ways, e.g. replying to 4NT/2+Q♥/confirming has Q♥), and his bid is say 5♠, then he has either the K♠ only (the highest King of ♣, ♦ or ♠), OR, he has both the lowest 2 Kings ♣ and ♦). If you have the K♠ (highest) then he must have both the K♣ and the K♦ (lowest 2), otherwise if you have either the K♣ or K♦, then he’s got the K♠ only (i.e. neither K♣ nor K♦). The responder can NOT PASS during a Bid/Response sequence, except when the initiator ‘SIGNS-OFF’ in game, and is not inquiring about the “trump” queen. An opening bid of 4NT and/or a response of 4NT after a FINCH AKQ 4♣ initiation can be reserved for a special partnership agreement. The only bid/responses in the Basic version are, 4♣ / 4♦4♥4♠ then PASS/Sign-Off in “trump suit” OR game OR 4NT/5♣-5♠ (Other 3 “Kings” responses). The Intermediate option introduces 2 KeyCards + the Queen of Trumps/bid “Kings” , the Advanced version adds a Next Non-Trump Bid up / Next Bid-up or bid “Kings”, and the PROFESSIONAL EXTENDED version incorporates the Other 3 QUEENS. The reason for the 1 or 4 and 0 or 3 (rather than 0314/3041), is because if the answer is one Ace (4♦), there is more bidding space for a Trump Queen query in the advanced+ versions, before going past a 4♠ game. Whereas if the answer was 0 aces (4♥), it's less likely that the initiator would want to enquire about the Queen of trumps, because a negative response would mean a bid of at least 4NT, which of course now means bidding a major game at the 5 level - something the system attempts to avoid! Experts may wish to switch between 1403 and 3041 depending on whether the strong or the weak hand is asking! When ♠s are trumps, the sequence 4♣/4♥(0or3)/4NT is for The other 3 Kings and unfortunately is not asking about the ♠Q. Most interference bids made after a FINCHAKQ 4♣ initiation can be combated by using the X (double) or XX (re-double) to indicate my reply was going to be 1 Keycard; PASS to show 0 and a bid of the next suit up meaning I have 2 Keycards, (advanced version – bid The other 3 Kings as normal with the Queen of trumps). Both sequences are permissible - 4♣/4♦(1or4)/PASS when ♦s are trumps, and 4♣/4♦(1or4); 4♥(?QofT)/4♠(No); 4NT/”Kings”, when ♣, ♦ or ♠s are trumps.