Bridge convention
Encyclopedia
A bridge convention is a system of calls made during the auction phase of a contract bridge
game which conveys a coded meaning about the players' card holdings. The calls may be "natural" (that is, show a feature of the named denomination, such as the length of a suit) or "artificial" (show a feature unrelated to the named denomination).
Contract bridge is a trick-taking card game played by four players in two competing partnerships in which a sequence of bidding, also known as the auction, precedes the play of the cards. The purpose of this bidding is for players to inform their partners of the content of their hand and to arrive at a suitable contract at which to play the hand. Although bidding is often "natural" (i.e., it describes a hand by simple reference to possession, shape, and strength of the named suit), players may also bid using conventions, which impart very specific information to certain bids, particularly at the more advanced levels of competitive play. Bill Root defines convention as: "A specific agreement between partners to give an unusual meaning to a bid".
Conventions are named after their ostensive author (e.g., the Drury convention
), their promulgator (e.g., the Stayman convention
), or something about the methodology itself (e.g., the Strong two clubs
convention).
The term conventional is also used to describe certain opening lead
s, discards and signals
that have specific agreed meanings.
Conventions to be played must be agreed by partners before play begins and must be disclosed to their opponents, either in advance by the use of convention cards or by alerts, announcements, and answers to questions about one's partner's bids once bidding has begun. Generally, this disclosure also must include negative implications of choosing the bid over another alternative. Failure to reveal fully the existence and meaning of a convention generally constitutes an illegal communication of information between partners.
Perhaps the most widely known and used conventions are Blackwood
, which imparts information about the number of aces and kings held, Stayman convention
, used to discover a 4-4 fit in a major suit following a no trump bid, Jacoby transfers, used to find a 5-3 fit in a major suit, and strong two clubs
to show a very strong hand (usually at least 22 HCP). It could be argued that takeout double
s are conventional but their usage is so widespread that it is considered a natural bid.
(ACBL) and the English Bridge Union
(EBU), zonal organizations, and the World Bridge Federation
(WBF)), certain conventions are alertable, the partner of the player making the conventional call must say "alert" (or show an alert card from the bidding box) before the right-hand opponent calls. The right-hand opponent may ask the alerter about the meaning of the convention, or may proceed as usual. If the right-hand opponent does not ask about the convention, their partner may do so when it is their turn. Under ACBL and EBU rules, some conventions are also announced, for example Jacoby transfers. When a player makes a transfer bid, his or her partner must say, "transfer" (or, under EBU rules, state the suit in question).
Sponsoring organizations can require players at all or some levels of competition to have a convention card which is a form
completed by the partnership, containing general notes of the system, together with the definition of conventional bids, leads, discards and signals. In ACBL-sanctioned games, all pairs are obliged to have such a card, which must be identical for both members of the partnership. On the ACBL convention card, alertable conventions are shown in red and announceable ones in blue.
Sponsoring organizations may also ban the usage of certain conventions or restrict their use to certain levels of competition; examples are the use of "ambiguous" suits to disrupt opponent's bidding. WBF classifies most "strong pass" and "either-or" methods into so-called HUM (highly unusual method
s) and brown sticker
conventions, and restricts their usage on WBF-sponsored events. Other zonal and national organizations often do the same. In general, ACBL tends to be more restrictive in allowed usage of conventions than European organizations.
Contract bridge
Contract bridge, usually known simply as bridge, is a trick-taking card game using a standard deck of 52 playing cards played by four players in two competing partnerships with partners sitting opposite each other around a small table...
game which conveys a coded meaning about the players' card holdings. The calls may be "natural" (that is, show a feature of the named denomination, such as the length of a suit) or "artificial" (show a feature unrelated to the named denomination).
Contract bridge is a trick-taking card game played by four players in two competing partnerships in which a sequence of bidding, also known as the auction, precedes the play of the cards. The purpose of this bidding is for players to inform their partners of the content of their hand and to arrive at a suitable contract at which to play the hand. Although bidding is often "natural" (i.e., it describes a hand by simple reference to possession, shape, and strength of the named suit), players may also bid using conventions, which impart very specific information to certain bids, particularly at the more advanced levels of competitive play. Bill Root defines convention as: "A specific agreement between partners to give an unusual meaning to a bid".
Conventions are named after their ostensive author (e.g., the Drury convention
Drury convention
The Drury convention is a bridge convention, used to show a game-invitational major suit raise by a passed hand. In its simplest form, a response of 2, by a passed hand, to a 1 or a 1 opening, is artificial and, assuming a system like Standard American where only 5-card majors are opened, shows 3...
), their promulgator (e.g., the Stayman convention
Stayman convention
In the card game contract bridge, Stayman is a convention used to find a 4-4 trump fit in a major suit after the 1NT opening bid, and it has been adapted for use after an opening 2NT, a 1NT overcall, and many other natural notrump bids...
), or something about the methodology itself (e.g., the Strong two clubs
Strong two clubs
In most natural bridge bidding systems, the opening bid of 2 is used exclusively for hands too strong for an opening bid at the one-level. Systems that incorporate a strong 2-club opening bid include modern Standard American, standard Acol, 2/1 game forcing and many others...
convention).
The term conventional is also used to describe certain opening lead
Opening lead
The opening lead is the first card played in the playing phase of a contract bridge deal. The defender sitting to the left of the declarer is the one who makes the opening lead. Since it is the only card played while dummy's cards are still concealed, it can be critical for the outcome of the deal...
s, discards and signals
Signal (bridge)
In the card game of contract bridge, partners defending against a contract may play particular cards in a manner which gives a signal or coded meaning to guide their subsequent card play; also referred to as carding.-Standard signals:...
that have specific agreed meanings.
Conventions to be played must be agreed by partners before play begins and must be disclosed to their opponents, either in advance by the use of convention cards or by alerts, announcements, and answers to questions about one's partner's bids once bidding has begun. Generally, this disclosure also must include negative implications of choosing the bid over another alternative. Failure to reveal fully the existence and meaning of a convention generally constitutes an illegal communication of information between partners.
Perhaps the most widely known and used conventions are Blackwood
Blackwood convention
In the partnership card game contract bridge, the Blackwood convention is a popular bidding convention that was developed by Easley Blackwood. It is used to explore the partnership's possession of aces, kings and in some variants, the queen of trumps, to judge more precisely whether slam is likely...
, which imparts information about the number of aces and kings held, Stayman convention
Stayman convention
In the card game contract bridge, Stayman is a convention used to find a 4-4 trump fit in a major suit after the 1NT opening bid, and it has been adapted for use after an opening 2NT, a 1NT overcall, and many other natural notrump bids...
, used to discover a 4-4 fit in a major suit following a no trump bid, Jacoby transfers, used to find a 5-3 fit in a major suit, and strong two clubs
Strong two clubs
In most natural bridge bidding systems, the opening bid of 2 is used exclusively for hands too strong for an opening bid at the one-level. Systems that incorporate a strong 2-club opening bid include modern Standard American, standard Acol, 2/1 game forcing and many others...
to show a very strong hand (usually at least 22 HCP). It could be argued that takeout double
Takeout double
In the card game bridge, a takeout double is any call of "double" that shows a desire to compete for the contract by further bidding. Many takeout doubles nearly require partner to bid; partner should pass for penalty with an appropriate hand, but that is uncommon...
s are conventional but their usage is so widespread that it is considered a natural bid.
Classification
Bridge conventions can be classified according to their purpose:- Opening bid conventions
- Strong opening bids are used for hands stronger than the "normal" opening bid range (12-20 points in natural systems, 12-15/17 points in artificial systems)
- Strong two clubsStrong two clubsIn most natural bridge bidding systems, the opening bid of 2 is used exclusively for hands too strong for an opening bid at the one-level. Systems that incorporate a strong 2-club opening bid include modern Standard American, standard Acol, 2/1 game forcing and many others...
in natural systems denote hands of 22+ high card points - Strong one club in strong club systemStrong club systemThe Strong Club System is a set of bidding conventions in the game of contract bridge. It is classified as an artificial type of bidding system since the bids are highly codified.-Explanation:...
s denotes hands of 16-17+ points
- Strong two clubs
- Weak opening bids are used for hands weaker than the normal opening bid range, but with preemptive value:
- Standard Preemptive BidsPreemptPreempt is a bid in contract bridge whose primary objectives are to thwart opponents ability to bid to their best contract, with some safety, and to fully describe one's hand to one's partner in a single bid. A preemptive bid is usually made by jumping, i.e. skipping one or more bidding levels...
, including "Weak Two" BidsWeak two bidThe Weak two bid is a common treatment used in the game of contract bridge, where a jump bid of two of a suit signifies a weak hand with a long suit. It is a form of preemptive bid... - Kamikaze 1NTKamikaze 1NTKamikaze 1NT is a preemptive 1NT opening in the game of contract bridge and in common practice shows a balanced hand with 10-12 high-card points...
- EkrenEkren conventionIn the game of bridge Ekren refers to a preemptive opening of 2 defined as 4-4, 4-5, 5-4 or 5-5 in the majors and 3-10 hcp. This conventional preempt was designed by Bjørn Olav Ekren from Norway...
- Muiderberg
- Standard Preemptive Bids
- Other opening bid conventions:
- FlanneryFlanneryFlannery is a bridge convention using an 2 opening bid to show a hand of minimal opening bid strength with exactly four spades and five hearts. It was invented by American player William L. Flannery....
- Multi 2 diamondsMulti 2 diamondsMulti or Multi 2 diamonds is contract bridge convention whereby the opening bid of 2 shows multiple types of hands, which always includes a weak two bid in either major suit, while the additional meaning may be a strong balanced hand , or a 20-22 three suiter...
- NamyatsNamyatsIn the cardgame bridge Namyats denotes the conventional agreement to open hands with a long major suit that are too strong for a direct preemptive opening with a 'two-under' transfer bid. The method was originally named 'Four Club and Four Diamond Opening Transfers', and is also referred to as...
- Flannery
- Strong opening bids are used for hands stronger than the "normal" opening bid range (12-20 points in natural systems, 12-15/17 points in artificial systems)
- Fit-seeking conventions are used in constructive bidding, in order to find a fit—a suit suitable for trumps
- BaronBaron conventionBaron is a set of conventions in the game of contract bridge. There are three common variations of the Baron convention used in the game.-Baron Three Clubs:...
- Checkback Stayman
- Forcing notrumpForcing notrumpThe forcing notrump is a bidding convention in the card game of bridge.In standard bidding, the response of 1NT to an opening bid of 1 or 1 shows 6 to 9 high card points and is non-forcing...
- Jacoby transfers
- New minor forcingNew minor forcingNew Minor Forcing , is a bridge convention in which responder's bid of a previously unbid minor over a no trump rebid by opener is artificial and used primarily when looking for three card support for a five card major...
- StaymanStayman conventionIn the card game contract bridge, Stayman is a convention used to find a 4-4 trump fit in a major suit after the 1NT opening bid, and it has been adapted for use after an opening 2NT, a 1NT overcall, and many other natural notrump bids...
- Baron
- Slam-seeking conventionsSlam-seeking conventionsSlam-seeking conventions are codified artificial bids used in the card game contract bridge. Bidding and making a small slam or grand slam yields high bonuses ranging from 500 to 1500 points. However, the risk is also high as failure to fulfill the slam contract also means failure to score the...
are used in constructive bidding so that a partnership can investigate possibility of making a slam (Main article: Slam seeking conventions)- Asking bids
- BlackwoodBlackwood conventionIn the partnership card game contract bridge, the Blackwood convention is a popular bidding convention that was developed by Easley Blackwood. It is used to explore the partnership's possession of aces, kings and in some variants, the queen of trumps, to judge more precisely whether slam is likely...
- Cue bidCue bidIn contract bridge, a cue bid is a term that applies to two types of bid:*A bid of a suit that has already been bid by opponents.*A slam-investigating bid made during an auction's later rounds that shows control of a suit...
s - GerberGerber conventionGerber is a contract bridge convention devised by Dr. William Konigsberger and Win Nye from Switzerland who published it in 1936; John Gerber of Texas introduced it to North America in 1938 where it was named after him...
- Grand slam forceGrand slam forceThe Grand Slam Force is a bidding convention in contract bridge that was developed by Ely Culbertson in 1936. It is intended to be used in cases where the combined hands of a partnership are so strong that a slam is a near-certainty and a grand slam is a possibility...
- Jacoby 2NTJacoby 2NTNamed for its inventor, Oswald Jacoby, Jacoby 2NT is a bridge convention in which a bid of 2NT over partner's opening bid of 1 or 1 shows a hand with both* opening strength and...
- Last TrainLast TrainLast train refers to a bid just below game level in the agreed suit. A Last Train bid is typically made in a bidding sequence in which one of the partners has already indicated slam interest....
- Quantitative notrump bids
- Relay bidRelay bidIn contract bridge, relay is a term for a conventional bid that usually has little or no descriptive meaning but asks partner to describe some feature of his hand. A relay is often the cheapest bid available but need not be. Stayman and Blackwood are common examples of relay bids.The rationale...
s - Splinter bidSplinter bidIn contract bridge, a splinter bid is a convention whereby a jump bid in a side-suit indicates a trump fit and a singleton or void in the suit bid. For example, a 4 clubs response to a 1 heart opening establishes hearts as trump suit and indicates a singleton or void in clubs. Most experts agree...
; Ingberman Convention: In this case, Monroe Ingberman uses a Three No Trump Response to force a Major Raise. Monroe Ingberman uses a conventional splinter or fragment bid. - Serious 3NTSerious 3NT-Serious Three No Trump:A Contract Bridge bidding convention. Used in a Game Forcing auction where aMajor suit is agreed.1–2 if using 2/1 Game Forcing2–3 The next bid indicates suitability for slam:* 3NT: strong...
- Defensive conventions or interventions are used to show a specific type of hand after opponents have opened a bidding
- Takeout doubleTakeout doubleIn the card game bridge, a takeout double is any call of "double" that shows a desire to compete for the contract by further bidding. Many takeout doubles nearly require partner to bid; partner should pass for penalty with an appropriate hand, but that is uncommon...
- Defenses over 1 NT, like
- CappellettiCappellettiCappelletti is a contract bridge bidding convention used to intervene over opponent's 1NT opening. Its invention is usually attributed to Michael Cappelletti and his longtime partner Edwin Lewis, but origin of the concept is also claimed by Fred Hamilton, John Pottage and Gerald Helms.Cappelletti...
- CoCaComfy CanapéIn the card game bridge, CoCa or Comfy Canapé is a conventional defense against opposing 1NT openings. When playing CoCa, over a 1NT opening of the opponents, both a double as well as a 2 overcall are conventional and establish spades and hearts, respectively as anchor suits...
- CRASHCrash conventionIn the game of contract bridge, CRASH is a defense against a strong 1 or a 1NT opening that first appeared in an article by Kit Woolsey in The Bridge World...
- DONTDONTDONT is a conventional overcall against an opposing 1NT opening bid. DONT, an acronym for Disturb Opponents' Notrump, was designed by Marty A. Bergen, and is therefore also referred to as 'Bergen over Notrump'. Although the method is often criticized for being too nebulous, it remains fairly popular...
- HamiltonCappellettiCappelletti is a contract bridge bidding convention used to intervene over opponent's 1NT opening. Its invention is usually attributed to Michael Cappelletti and his longtime partner Edwin Lewis, but origin of the concept is also claimed by Fred Hamilton, John Pottage and Gerald Helms.Cappelletti...
- LandyLandyLandy is the first bridge conventional defense against over opponent's 1NT opening and one of the first conventions ever introduced. It was invented by Alvin Landy. Over 1NT, the overcall of 2 shows both major suits, while all other bids are natural...
- LionelLionel conventionLionel is a contract bridge bidding convention used in defense against an opposing 1NT openings. Utilising Lionel, over a 1NT opening of the opponents:* a double is conventional and denotes spades and a lower suit ,...
- MeckwellMeckwell conventionMeckwell is a method for intervening against an opposing 1NT opening bid. It features the following calls:*Double – shows a single minor or both majors; advancer bids 2, after which intervenor corrects to his actual suit if a minor, or hearts if holding both majors*2, 2; – shows the...
- Multi-Defense
- Multi-LandyLandyLandy is the first bridge conventional defense against over opponent's 1NT opening and one of the first conventions ever introduced. It was invented by Alvin Landy. Over 1NT, the overcall of 2 shows both major suits, while all other bids are natural...
- SuctionSuction conventionSuction is a contract bridge bidding convention used to intervene over an opponent's 1NT opening. Using the suction convention, a suit overcall of a 1NT opening is conventional and denies the suit actually bid...
- Cappelletti
- Two-suited overcalls, like
- Copenhagen conventionCopenhagen convention (bridge)The Copenhagen convention is a conventional overcall which shows a two-suited hand. It was first devised by Mr. John Trelde and Mr. Gert Lenk, both of Copenhagen, Denmark...
- GhestemGhestemIn the game of bridge, Ghestem is a conventional overcall structure, utilising 2NT, 3, and the cuebid over an opposing opening at the one level to denote two-suited hands in two of the remaining three suits....
- Leaping MichaelsLeaping MichaelsIn the game of bridge, Leaping Michaels is a conventional overcall in 4 or 4 made in defense to opposing 2-level or 3-level preemptive openings. Leaping Michaels shows a strong two-suited hand that is less suitable for a takeout double and is game forcing...
- Michaels cuebidMichaels cuebidThe Michaels cuebid is a conventional bid used in the card game contract bridge. First devised by Mike Michaels of Miami Beach, it is an overcaller's cuebid in opponent's opening suit and is normally used to show a two-suited hand with at least five cards in each suit and eight or more points.After...
- Raptor conventionRaptor conventionThe Raptor 1NT overcall over an opposing major suit opening is a contract bridge convention that indicates a two-suited hand with exactly four cards in the unbid major and a longer suit in an unbid minor....
- Roman two-suiters
- Unusual notrumpUnusual notrumpIn the card game of bridge, the unusual notrump is a conventional bid showing two lower unbid suits.When the right-hand opponent opens 1 or 1, the immediate overcall of 2 NT shows at least 5-5 in the minor suits and, presumably, a weakish hand...
- Copenhagen convention
- Takeout double
- Counter-interventions present a countermeasure after opponents' conventional and natural interventions:
- LebensohlLebensohlLebensohl is a contract bridge convention used by responder after an opponent's overcall of a one notrump opening bid in order to compete further in the auction without necessarily committing the partnership to game...
- Negative doubleNegative doubleThe negative double is a form of take-out double in bridge. It is made by the responder after his right-hand opponent overcalls on the first round of bidding, and is used to show both support for the unbid suits as well as some values. It is treated as forcing, but not unconditionally so...
- Negative free bidNegative free bidNegative free bid is a contract bridge treatment whereby a free bid by responder over an opponent's overcall shows a long suit in a weak hand and is not forcing. This is in contrast with standard treatment, where a free bid can show unlimited values and is unconditionally forcing...
- RubensohlRubensohlRubensohl is a bridge convention that can be used to counter an opponent's intervention over a 1NT opening bid...
- Unusual vs. unusualUnusual vs. unusualUnusual vs. Unusual is a competitive bidding convention used in contract bridge by the opening side after a defensive bidder has made an overcall showing two suits...
- Lebensohl
- Other:
- Game trial bidsGame tryA game try in the card game of bridge is a bid that shows interest in bidding a game and asks partner to help in making the decision....
- Lightner doubleLightner doubleLightner double is conventional double in bridge used for directing the opening lead against slam contracts. It was devised by Theodore Lightner....
- Game trial bids
Regulations
Under the rules of the sponsoring organization (for example national federations such as American Contract Bridge LeagueAmerican Contract Bridge League
The American Contract Bridge League is the largest contract bridge organization in North America. It promotes the game of bridge in the United States, Mexico, Bermuda, and Canada, and is a member of the World Bridge Federation...
(ACBL) and the English Bridge Union
English Bridge Union
The English Bridge Union or EBU is a player-funded organisation that promotes and organises the card game of duplicate bridge in England. It has an office in Aylesbury with a staff of more than twenty people...
(EBU), zonal organizations, and the World Bridge Federation
World Bridge Federation
The World Bridge Federation is the world governing body of contract bridge. The WBF is responsible for world championship competition, most of which is conducted at a few multi-event meets on a four-year cycle...
(WBF)), certain conventions are alertable, the partner of the player making the conventional call must say "alert" (or show an alert card from the bidding box) before the right-hand opponent calls. The right-hand opponent may ask the alerter about the meaning of the convention, or may proceed as usual. If the right-hand opponent does not ask about the convention, their partner may do so when it is their turn. Under ACBL and EBU rules, some conventions are also announced, for example Jacoby transfers. When a player makes a transfer bid, his or her partner must say, "transfer" (or, under EBU rules, state the suit in question).
Sponsoring organizations can require players at all or some levels of competition to have a convention card which is a form
Form (document)
A form is a document with spaces in which to write or select, for a series of documents with similar contents. The documents usually have the printed parts in common, possibly except for a serial number...
completed by the partnership, containing general notes of the system, together with the definition of conventional bids, leads, discards and signals. In ACBL-sanctioned games, all pairs are obliged to have such a card, which must be identical for both members of the partnership. On the ACBL convention card, alertable conventions are shown in red and announceable ones in blue.
Sponsoring organizations may also ban the usage of certain conventions or restrict their use to certain levels of competition; examples are the use of "ambiguous" suits to disrupt opponent's bidding. WBF classifies most "strong pass" and "either-or" methods into so-called HUM (highly unusual method
Highly unusual method
Highly unusual methods is a class of contract bridge bidding systems defined by the World Bridge Federation. Usually these are artificial systems that require advance preparation to contend with, and are restricted to the highest levels of tournament play in most locations...
s) and brown sticker
Brown sticker
Brown sticker is a category of contract bridge conventional agreements defined by the World Bridge Federation .Brown sticker conventions are considered, by some, to be difficult to defend against, and thus are only permitted at the highest levels of tournament play in most locations...
conventions, and restricts their usage on WBF-sponsored events. Other zonal and national organizations often do the same. In general, ACBL tends to be more restrictive in allowed usage of conventions than European organizations.