RKC (Roman Key Card) Asking Bids increases the information that can be conveyed by the ANSWERING Partner. Instead of just showing Aces the ANSWER adds the K and Q of trumps in the information that is conveyed. 5 Key Cards are defined in a Trump Contract which are the 4 Aces and the K of Trumps; the ASKER can subsequently ask for the Q of trumps if required. RKC 14/30 ANSWERS are:

• 1 Step shows 1 or 4 Key Cards
• 2 Steps show 0, 3  or 5 Key Cards
• 3 Steps show 2 Key Cards WITHOUT the Q of Trumps
• 4 Steps show 2 Key Cards WITH the Q of Trumps
• 5NT shows an EVEN no. of K Cards with a Void
• 6 Level bid Below Trump Suit shows a Void and Odd No. of Key Cards.
• 6 of Trump Suit may show Odd No. of Key Cards with a Void above the Trump Suit

When the ANSWERS are 1st or 2nd Steps and ASKER wants to find out about the Q of trumps, ASKER bids the next suit up bypassing the Trump Suit if necessary. ANSWERS are:

• Return to Trump Suit at lowest level: NO QUEEN
• Suit Bid above 5 of Trump Suit shows Q and (1st) Outside K
• 6 of Trump Suit Shows Q with No Outside K below Trump Suit.

RKC ASKING BIDS MAY BE ANY OF FOLLOWING:

1. RKC BLACKWOOD. 4NT most generally used once a suit is agreed. If there is no agreement, direct or inferred, the "Trump" suit is assumed to be the last bid suit.
2. RKC GERBER. 4 Used when the first or last (no prior suit agreement) bid is NT. In particular if the Opening Bid is 1NT or 2NT a 4 bid is RKC Gerber while 4NT is generally Quantitative
3. RKC REDWOOD:
   • 4 when the agreed suit is Clubs.
   • 4 when the agreed suit is Diamonds. These are very useful when approaching Game in a Minor to investigate Slam "on the way". They allow enough space to avoid the ANSWERS exceeding 5 of the minor when One needs to stop short of Slam.

RKC ANSWERS MAY BE USED AFTER INTERFERENCE USING DOPI ROPI PRINCIPLES:

1. DOPI:  1st Step is Double (1 or 4); 2nd Step is PASS (0 or 3); 3rd Step is next suit up and so on.
2. ROPI: 1st Step is RE-Double (1 or 4); 2nd Step is PASS (0 or 3) etc.

ASKER ALWAYS AND ONLY ASKS FOR KINGS WHEN PARTNERSHIP HAS ALL THE KEYCARDS AND THE Q OF TRUMPS AS FOLLOWS:

ALWAYS 5 OF THE ORIGINAL ASKING BID, therefore 5NT in RKC Blackwood; 5in RKC Gerber and 5/5 as required in RKC Redwood. Partnerships must decide whether to answer SPECIFIC K or NO OF KINGS in Steps the ANSWER never being above 6 of the Trump suit unless ANSWERER is forcing to GRAND SLAM.