Brown sticker
Encyclopedia
Brown sticker is a category of contract bridge
conventional agreements defined by the World Bridge Federation
(WBF).
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. Only highly unusual method
s (HUMs) have a higher classification.
The official definition can be found on the WBF website.
A short summary would be that a convention qualifies for a brown sticker if it fulfills any of the following criteria:
Notable exceptions are the Multi 2 diamonds
(due to its popularity), a natural 1NT overcall, and cue bid
s on strong hands to force partner.
The bottom line is, that if a bid is weak (or potentially weak having multiple options) and does not promise 4 cards in a defined suit (when weak) then it is likely to have a brown sticker.
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...
conventional agreements defined by 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).
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. Only 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 (HUMs) have a higher classification.
The official definition can be found on the WBF website.
A short summary would be that a convention qualifies for a brown sticker if it fulfills any of the following criteria:
- An opening bid of 2♣ through 3♠ may be weak and does not promise a known suit.
- An overcall of a natural opening at the one level does not promise 4 cards in a known suit.
- A weak two-suited bid where one of the suits by definition may be only 3 cards or shorter.
- It is used for protection of psychic bidPsychic bidPsychic bid is a bid in contract bridge that grossly misstates the power and/or suit lengths of one's hand. It is used deliberately to deceive the opponents. Normally, the psychic bid is made with a weak hand, overstating its overall strength, the length and strength in a particular suit, or both...
s, or systemically required psyches.
Notable exceptions are the Multi 2 diamonds
Multi 2 diamonds
Multi 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...
(due to its popularity), a natural 1NT overcall, and cue bid
Cue bid
In 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 on strong hands to force partner.
The bottom line is, that if a bid is weak (or potentially weak having multiple options) and does not promise 4 cards in a defined suit (when weak) then it is likely to have a brown sticker.