The Kokish Relay

How to bid 6S with following hand?  ♠ AKJ2 ♥ A105 ♦AKQ2    ♣AK with pardner hand ♠ Q876 ♥ Q2 ♦3 ♣ 1096432

	Open 3NT with a big hand? – don't be silly.
	What is 3NT in the sequence 2♣ - 2♦ - 3NT? Answer – a very silly bid!
	You hold one of these hands and partner opens 3NT (25+) . Or else it goes 2♣ - 2♦ - 3NT to show 25+.
	Hand A Hand B Should you pass or bid Stayman with Hand A? Should you pass or transfer with Hand B? ♠ 8632 ♠ 86532 Obviously it's a complete lottery and most players past the beginner's stage play have some way to show the big balanced hand below the level of 3NT (Benjamin twos, Multi 2♦ or Kokish). ♥ 4 ♥ 74 ♦ J872 ♦ J872 ♣ 843 ♣ 843
	Traditionally 3NT here (and/or an opening of 3NT) are used to show very big balanced hands, 25+ points. But there is absolutely no doubt that this is very silly as it inhibits the use of transfers/Stayman/Baron whatever by a very weak responder. One solution is to also play 2♦ as also a strong bid (or else Multi with a strong balanced hand included) so that the sequence 2♦ - 2♥ - 2NT shows 25+. However, many players, especially from America , are not enlightened enough to play two strong artificial bids. But if you play 2♣ as your only strong bid then one North American player has actually come up with a scheme to solve the problem: –
	The Kokish relay : -
	After a strong 2♣ and 2♦ response (negative or waiting – however you play it) Then 2♥ = either natural with a ♥ suit or 25+ balanced. Responder then always bids 2♠ (the Kokish relay which says nothing at all) and – Opener then defines his hand: 2NT = 25+ balanced Any other bid = strong ♥ opener.
	Note that the Kokish relay works fine with 2♦ waiting/2♥ negative when responder bids 2♦ but when responder bids 2♥ (totally bust) then there is a problem. But at least the Kokish relay solves the problem most of the time. If you want to solve it completely then play Benjamin twos or the Multi 2♦ or play 2♦ negative to 2♣.
	For details of Benjamin twos or the Multi 2♦, refer to the link.
	And what should a 3NT opening mean? Have a look at the Gambling 3NT.