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There is one compulsory convention after ace asking bid that you must choose. You can use any ace asking bid: Gerber (4), Blackwood(4NT), Minorwood, Redwood, etc. But you need to choose either ROPE/DOPE or ROPI/DOPI as “compulsory accompanying convention”.

Both of these conventions are defensive bidding against opponent’s high-level overcall. And, they will allow you to still get the information you want as low as possible (in term of the bidding space). Let us take a look.

ROPE/DOPE convention

ROPE = Redouble = Odd (1,3, or 5), Pass = Even (0,2,4)
DOPE = Double = Odd (1,3, or 5) Pass = Even (0,2,4)

After you bid to seek information about how many Ace or Key-card that your partner has, sometimes opponent try to disrupt you. So, they can do either overcall or double. When it happens, ROPE/DOPE provides you with a way to keep in track,i.e: getting the answer that you need (how many Ace/key card you have) with the lowest bid possible.

Examples ROPE/DOPE convention after ace asking bid

Let see an example. Your partner opens 1 to show 5 cards Heart with 12-19 range. You have a strong hand, and the bidding goes like the following:

LHO Your Partner RHO You
Pass 1 3 4NT*
5 ??    
*4NT = Blackwood RKCB Ace Asking

So, if using the ROPE/DOPE convention, your partner will bid:

  • Double = to show 0, 2, or 4 key cards
  • Pass = to show 1, 3 or 5 key cards

Now, let us do another example for the “ROPE” part:

LHO Your Partner RHO You
Pass 1NT Pass 4*
DBL ??    
*4=Gerber Ace Asking

Now, your partner’s bid as per “ROPE/DOPE” convention” would be:

  • Redouble = to show 0, 2, or 4 Aces
  • Pass = to show 1 or 3 Aces

(Remember, if you use Roman Key Card Bid, there are 5 key cards: 4 Aces + the King of Trump, but standard Ace Asking like Gerber will not include the King of Trump. Because first, there is no Trump suit set, second, in No Trump all Kings are equally important, you can repeat 5C – Gerber or 5NT (Blackwood) for King asking)

ROPI/DOPI convention

ROP! = Redouble zero, Pass is one then next bid=two, etc.
DOPI = Double is zero, Pass is one , then next bid=two, etc.

This convention works exactly like ROPE/DOPE. The only difference is the counting sequence that is implied by the name.

If opponent doubles, Bid Redouble is to show zero Ace or key card. Or, bid Pass will show that you have 1 Ace/key card. If you have 2 or more, bid up the line the next bidding space available.

And, if opponent overcalls, bid Double to show one Ace/key card. Pass to show one and sequentially up the line to the next bid available.

Example ROPI/DOPI convention after ace asking bid

Let us see this convention in action using the same situation as above:

LHO Your Partner RHO You
Pass 1 3 4NT*
5 ??    
*4NT = Blackwood RKCB Ace Asking

So, using the ROPI/DOPI convention, your partner’s bid would be:

  • Double = 0 Ace/key-card
  • Pass = 1 Ace/ key-cards
  • 5NT = 2 Aces/key-cards
  • 6 = 3 Aces/key-cards
  • 6 = 4 Aces/key-cards
  • 6 = 5 Aces/key-cards

Please note that if you using the above, and when just happen that your suit is a Club and opponent’s bid is in Spade you may overrun/overbid your intended slam.

LHO Your Partner RHO You
Pass 2 2 DBL
3 4 Pass 4NT*
5 6** Pass ??
*4NT = Blackwood RKCB Ace Asking
**6= 4 key-cards

In the above situation, you cannot bid 6 anymore and force to bid 7 with one key-card with the opponent. So, not good.

Hence, alternatively, you can use the same answer as you use it without an opponent’s interference:

  • Double = 1 or 4 Ace/key-card
  • Pass = 3 or 0 Ace/ key-cards
  • 5NT = 2 or 5 Aces/key-cards without the Queen of trump
  • 6 = 2 or 5 Aces/key-cards with the Queen of trump

For the second examples:

LHO Your Partner RHO You
Pass 1NT Pass 4*
DBL ??    
*4=Gerber Ace Asking

And your partner’s bid would be:

  • Double = 0 Ace/key-card
  • Pass = 1 Ace/ key-cards
  • 5NT = 2 Aces/key-cards
  • 6 = 3 Aces/key-cards
  • 6 = 4 Aces/key-cards
  • 6 = 5 Aces/key-cards

So, as mention before, alternatively, you can use the same answer as you use it without an opponent’s interference:

  • Redouble = 1 or 4 Ace/key-card
  • Pass = 3 or 0 Ace/ key-cards
  • 5NT = 2 or 5 Aces/key-cards without the Queen of trump
  • 6 = 2 or 5 Aces/key-cards with the Queen of trump

Recommendation

I would strongly recommend using both conventions with the following arrangement:

  • Use ROPE/DOPE for any interference in level-6 and level-7
  • Use ROPI/DOPI for interference in level-5. And use the same answer/step as the original (1430 or 0314) instead of 0,1,2,3…

So, if you adopt the recommendation above, you are guaranteed not to overbid your Slam or Grand Slam.
Happy Slam Bidding, then!

Convention After Ace Asking: Even Ali do a ROPE a DOPE in Rumble in The Jungle,  1974
Convention After Ace Asking: Even Ali did a ROPE a DOPE in Rumble in The Jungle, 1974