====Asking Bids====
  
We use only two <del>three</del> of the asking bids; Alpha, Gamma <del>and a control ask</del>. 
  

|Alpha:|Where the 1\C bidder makes the asking bid introduces a new suit; his partner's response is tied to his holding in this suit and also on his controls.|
|Gamma:|Where the 1\C bidder supports his partner's suit and asks for details of partner's holding in the suit. We only treat 2\H, 2\S, 3\C, and 3\D as Gamma bids. |
|Control ask:|When responder can show his suit at the 1-level, a 1N rebid by opener asks for controls.|
  
===The Alpha bid===
  
Whenever the 1\C opener bids a suit of his own after a positive response, he asks about partner's holding in this suit; at the same time partner gives information about his controls. 

Suppose the bidding begins 1\C - 1\H - 1\S; 1\S is Alpha and asks for responses as follows: 

|1st step (1N)|no positive support for \ss (less than \sHxx or \sxxxx) and not more than 3 controls |
|2nd step (2\C)|no positive support for \ss, but upwards of 4 controls|
|3rd step (2\D)|positive support (\sHxx, \sxxxx, or better), but not more than 3 controls|
|4th step (2\H)|positive support, upwards of 4 controls|
|5th step (2\S)| 4-card positive support (\sHxxx or better) upwards of 4 controls|
   

The 6th and higher steps are defined in one of two ways:  

  - If responder has shown a balanced hand of 7 to 12 or 15 up, then the 6th step shows no fit with 15+ HCP and the 7th shows a fit with 15+ HCP. Neither response promises or denies a specific number of controls. 
  - If responder has shown a suit, then the 6th and higher steps are natural, deny as many as 4 controls and show a singleton or void in opener's suit. The 5\+-5\+ responding hand will have 6\+ losers if a jump is made.  With 5 losers or fewer, bid the first step (no fit, 3 controls or fewer).  Agreed   --- //[[John@Kinn.Org|John Kinn]] 2017/05/18 15:46//
  

In general after receiving a response showing positive support, opener will either bid a new suit (presumably a natural slam try), or bids responder's suit to show a fit. In the case of bidding responder's suit, the bid acts as a Gamma bid (see Gamma asking bid ) if and only if the bid is 2\H, 2\S, 3\C or 3\D. 


However after receiving a response showing positive support for a minor when responder has shown a 7-12 HCP balanced hand, we change our approach. In order to "switch suits" into a possible major suit fit, bids of 3 major are an attempt to find a 4-4 fit in that major. In order to initiate N or slam tries with the minor suit agreed, it is necessary for opener to bid 3 minor. If he bids 3 of the agreed minor, he doesn't show or deny anything in particular about his suit, but there are negative inferences to be drawn about his holding in the other minor.  

Examples:

|\SAKxx|\Sxx|
|\hAQ|\HKxxx|
|\DQx|\DAJxx|
|\CQJ10xx|\CAxx | 
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------||
|1\C|1\S|  
|2\C|2N (fit with 4+ controls)|
|3\S (\s suit)|3N (no \S fit) | 
|?|
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------||
|\SAKx|\Sxx|
|\hAQx|\HKxxx|
|\DQx|\DAJxx|
|\CQJ10xx|\CAxx|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------||
|1\C|1\S|  
|2\C|2N (fit with 4+ controls)|
|3\C (probably no control of \d)|3\D|  
|3N|4\H| 
|4\S|? |


===The Gamma bid===
  

This asking bid occurs when opener supports his partner's suit. This initiates inquiry about the suit, to which responder answers as follows: 

|1st step|no top honors (an honor is the A, K, or Q)|
|2nd step|5-card suit headed by one honor|
|3rd step|5-card suit headed by two honors|
|4th step|6-card suit headed by one honor|
|5th step|6-card suit headed by two honors|
|6th step|three top honors|

===The control ask===

We no longer play control ask, 1NT is natural in the sequences below, and so are responses to it.

** OBSOLETE - BEGIN **

In forcing auctions that begin with opener bidding 1N as his first natural bid after a positive natural bid by responder, the 1N bid asks for controls: 

^Responder's Bid^Controls shown^
|2\C| 0 - 2 |
|2\D| 3  |
|2\H| 4  |
|2\S| 5  |
|2N|6 or more|

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
 
Higher responses by responder are natural and show 5-5 or better. It is not clear how many controls he has.  


  

The auctions where 1N is a control ask are: 

^Opener^Enemy^Responder  ^
|1\C|(1\D)|1\H/\S|  
|1N|||
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------||| 
|1\C|(1\H)|1\S|  
|1N|||  
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|||
|1\C|(pass)|1\H|
|1N|||
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|||
|1\C|(Double)|1\D/\H/\S|  
|1N|||

** OBSOLETE - END **