PLAY BRIDGE
out you have zero aces, he might
instead decide to take his chances
in 4NT redoubled! He could, after
all, have the ace of their suit or the
protected king or even a tenace such
as the ace–queen. The opponents
might run to 5 which gives you
the opportunity to double. Either
way, you may well score better
trying to nail the opposition.
The same is true if you pass to
DOPI, ROPI and DEPO show one ace/key card (‘PI’). At
matchpoints especially, you might
W
hile they may sound With one ace/key card you pass, decide to go for the top in 4NT (by
like the names of some which is what the ‘PI’ part refers your side) doubled or 5 (by them)
of the Seven Dwarves, to. To show more aces, bid the next doubled.
DOPI, ROPI and DEPO are actually suit available. 5, therefore, would What if their suit is higher than
conventional treatments designed to show two aces if playing regular yours? Say the auction is this, with
combat interference with Blackwood Blackwood or two aces without the your side vulnerable:
sequences. Q if you’re playing RKCB. You LHO Partner RHO
DOPI and ROPI are better when In this example, both sides are 1 2 4NT 5
the opponents’ suit is lower-ranking vulnerable: ?
than yours, while DEPO is better You LHO Partner RHO Since their suit is higher-ranking,
when their suit is higher-ranking. 1 3 4NT Dbl DEPO is better. Double shows an
Some examples will help. Say the ? even number of aces (‘DE’), pass
auction goes like this, with your This is similar to the first auction, shows an odd number (‘PO’). If you
side vulnerable: but here right-hand opponent didn’t play DEPO, you would either
You LHO Partner RHO doubles 4NT instead of bidding 5. be forced to guess whether to bid
1 3 (1) 4NT (2) 5 Some pairs play this way to tell a slam which might not make or to
? their partners they want to sacrifice double them when slam is cold. By
(1) Preemptive. or that they want partner to lead doubling or passing, you get to stay
(2) Blackwood or Roman Key Card his suit (clubs) without actually on the five level, tell your partner
Blackwood. bidding it — usually because they’re how many aces you have and
The opponents are being pests, vulnerable and they’re scared of preserve the option of either bidding
sacrificing in clubs or just trying being doubled. a slam or smacking the opponents.
to screw up your auction. How do Since you might just ignore Although the opportunity to use
you combat this? Since their suit this double and give the regular these treatments is rare, checking
(clubs) is lower-ranking than your Blackwood response, it doesn’t cost these boxes on your convention
suit (spades), DOPI is in effect. This them anything to play this way. You card may dissuade your opponents
means you double with zero aces can try to stick it to them, however, from interfering in your ace-asking
(playing regular Blackwood) or zero by using ROPI. Redouble shows auctions.
key cards (playing RKCB) — that’s zero aces (‘RO’); if partner decides
what the ‘DO’ part of DOPI means. not to bid a slam after finding
What if we play 1430?
Alertable? Some pairs prefer a variation
of Roman Key Card Blackwood
Do not Alert DOPI, ROPI or DEPO calls during the auction. In fact, in which the 5 response shows
most conventional calls in an ace-asking sequence are not Alertable. one or four key cards and the 5
The reason is that it can pass unauthorized information to the Alerting response shows zero or three. Pairs
side, “waking up” a player who has forgotten that they have agreed who play this way may prefer to
to play DOPI, ROPI or DEPO. play DIPO (double with one ace,
After the auction is over, you should explain the meanings of your pass with zero) and RIPO instead
calls to the opponents before the opening lead is made IF (big if!) your of DOPI and ROPI in order to keep
side declares just as you would for any ace-asking sequence. their responses consistent.
44 Bridge Bulletin
