When using a convention in FULL UNIFORMITY with the description in this file, you need only name the convention on your convention card. When using a convention included in this file, but in a differing version, you may EITHER describe how your version differs or give your own description....

In areas where practice varies, we have taken the view that it is better to leave players themselves to add details. Thus, a pair might enlarge the entry for `Swiss' like this: Swiss: 4C = 2 Aces + singleton, 4D = strong trumps.

In other cases, such as Michaels Cue Bid, what needs to be added may be the range of strength. For example: Michaels cue-bid: NV 5-9, V unlimited.

It follows that you should always consider whether, in order fully to disclose your methods, you need to add to the file description. Naming--without describing--a convention included in the booklet is equivalent to stating that you are using it precisely as described in the booklet, and with no additional understandings....

Conventions (in alphabetical order)

Anti-Flannery two diamonds, Two Hearts or Two Spades: An opening bid of 2D (or 2H or 2S) shows an opening hand with at least five spades and at least four hearts. A response in a major suit--whether at the two, three or four level--is a natural limit bid.

Aspro over 1NT: Over 1NT, the bid of a minor by second or fourth hand has these meanings: 2C shows hearts and another suit - 2D shows spades and a minor suit

Astro over 1NT: Over 1NT, the bid of a minor by second or fourth hand has these meanings: 2C shows hearts and a minor suit - 2D shows spades and another suit. The Astro overcall suggests at least nine cards in the two suits.

Baron over 2NT: In response to an opening bid of 2NT, a bid of 3C asks Opener to show his lowest-ranking four-card or longer suit. The partners may continue to show suits in ascending order.

Bergen raises: After an opening bid of 1H or 1S, responses are as follows: A raise to two of the major shows a weak raise with three trumps 3C shows a weak raise with four trumps 3D shows an invitational raise with four trumps A raise to three of the major shows a weak hand with four trumps.

Blackwood: A bid of 4NT asks partner to show his total number of aces by the `step' system: 5C shows no ace or four - 5D shows one ace - 5H shows two aces - 5S shows three aces. (Players may add to the convention card a description of further sequences. For example: "Blackwood--5NT for kings".) Over interference, the responder has the option of passing or of showing aces, starting by steps from the opponent's bid, thus: South West North East 1S Pass 3S 4D 4NT 5D ? - If North bids 5H, this shows one ace. 5S would show two aces, and so on. A pass means either no aces or no desire to show aces. A double is for penalties. Other ways of showing aces over interference are described under the headings DEPO, DOPE, and D0P1.

4NT non-conventional: Players are not required to specify on the convention card those sequences where the Blackwood Convention is inoperative and a bid of 4NT is not conventional.

Blackwood--Keycard ("Keycard Blackwood"): The king of trumps is counted as an ace, making five aces, and the conventional responses to 4NT are as follows: 5C shows no ace or four - 5D shows one ace or five - 5H shows two aces - 5S shows three aces - A bid of 5NT now announces that all four aces and the king of trumps are held and invites the responder to bid a grand slam if he has a suitable hand.

Blackwood--Roman ("Roman Blackwood"): A bid of 4NT asks partner to respond according to the following schedule: 5C no ace or three aces - 5D one ace or four aces - 5H two aces of the same color - 5S two aces of the same rank (both majors or both minors) - 5N two aces of the `odd' combinations

Blackwood--Roman Keycard ("Roman Key-Card Blackwood"): The king of trumps is counted as an ace, making five aces, and the conventional responses to 4NT are as follows: 5C no aces or three - 5D one ace or four - 5H two aces or five, no queen of trumps - 5S two aces of five, plus queen of trumps

Brozel: Against a 1NT opening, the overcaller indicates one of the following three types: (i) an unspecified long suit - (ii) a particular two-suiter - (iii) a particular three-suiter

(i) A double of 1NT, whether in second position or fourth, indicates a normal one-suited overcall. If partner does not pass for penalty, he bids 2C and the doubler indicates his suit.

(ii) A two-level overcall shows the following:

2C shows clubs and hearts - 2D shows diamonds and hearts - 2H shows hearts and spades - 2S shows spades and a minor - 2NT shows the minors

(iii) A three-level overcall shows a 5440 or 4441 pattern with shortage in the suit named.

Canape style opening bids: This is a method by which the shorter of two suits is opened first, so that the second suit in which the rebid is made is, in principle, the longer suit. The method may occasionally require an opening bid on a three card suit in order to rebid into a suit of five or more cards.

Comic no-trump overcall: A 1NT overcall by second hand shows either -- a normal strong no-trump hand; or -- a weak hand with an escape suit, normally at least six cards.

The responder may: -- pass if he would pass a strong 1NT overcall; -- sign off in a long suit if he would do so over a strong 1NT overcall; or -- bid 2C, if he would take constructive action over a strong 1NT overcall.

Now the no-trump bidder, if weak, bids his suit. If genuine, he bids either the opener's suit or, with a maximum, 2NT.

Competitive double: One that conveys the message, `I am unwilling to pass, but have no satisfactory descriptive bid'. Players using this definition should state the sequences to which it applies. See also, `Maximal Overcall Double'.

DEPO: When a Blackwood bid of 4NT is overcalled by the next hand, a pass or double by the partner of the 4NT bidder has the following meaning: Double An odd number of aces (One or Three) - Pass: An even number of aces (Zero, Two or Four)

D0P1: When a Blackwood bid of 4NT is overcalled by next hand, calls by the partner of the 4NT bidder have the following meanings: Double No aces D0 - Pass One ace P1 - Cheapest suit Two aces - Second cheapest suit Three aces - Third cheapest suit Four aces

D0P1--Roman ("Roman D0P1"): When a Roman Blackwood bid of 4NT is overcalled by next hand, calls by the partner of the 4NT bidder have the following meanings: Double: Zero or three aces - Pass: One or four aces - Cheapest suit: Two aces without the king or queen of trumps - Second Cheapest suit: Two aces with king or queen of trumps

Doubles: Entries are included for the following types of double: Competitive double, Maximal Overcall double, Negative double, Optional double, Penalty double, Responsive double and Takeout double.

Drury: A bid of 2C by a passed hand, in response to an opening one of a major, is conventional, asking opener to clarify his range. Opener rebids 2D if minimum or subminimum. Any other call shows that he is no under strength.

Drury Fit: In an alternate version of the Drury convention, 2C by a passed hand, in response to an opening one of a major, promises a fit in opener's suit. Now a simple rebid by opener of his suit is a signoff.

Flannery two diamonds: An opening bid of 2D shows an opening hand with five hearts and four spades. A response in a major suit--whether at the two, three or four level--is a natural, `limit' bid. A response of 2NT is a forcing bid which asks for a fuller description of the opener's hand.

Flannery two hearts: An opening bid of 2H shows five hearts and four spades. In all other respects the convention, and the responses, are the same as the Flannery two diamonds.

Forcing 1NT response to one heart or one spade opening: A response of 1NT to an opening bid if one of a major is forcing. It does not necessarily show a balanced hand and it does not have to be strong. Opener clarifies his hand and may bid a three card minor with certain hand types.

Fragment: A bid, on the second round, of one more than a jump shift, shows support for partner's suit and a shortage in the unbid suit.

South North

1C 1H

3S = suggests two or three cards in spades and guarantees a singleton or void in diamonds.

Gerber: 4C, as an immediate response to 1NT or 2NT, asks opener to show his aces in accordance with the `step' system. 4D shows no ace or four, 4H one ace, and so on. 4C has the same meaning after a conventional opening followed by opener's natural rebid of 1NT or 2NT. A bid of either 5C or 5NT following the response to 4C, asks for kings.

Jacoby transfers: After a natural opening bid of 1NT or 2NT and a pass by next hand: A minimum bid in diamonds--promises length in hearts; A minimum bid in hearts--promises length in spades. The convention is inoperative when second hand overcalls or doubles the notrump opening.

Landy convention: Over a 1NT opening, 2C by second or fourth hand shows at least four cards in each major suit.

Lebensohl: A scheme of responses to a 1NT opening where there has been an overcall by second hand at the two level. A two level bid in a suit is competitive. 2NT asks opener to bid 3C. Responder can pass or make a minimum bid in a suit,non-forcing. Other continuations later for four card majors and stops (or lack of them) in the enemy suit. A double shows at least the values for a natural raise to 2NT, but may be stronger.

Maximal overcall double: A double by opener on the second round when both sides have found a fit and there is no room for any other game try. The double shows a hand strong enough to invite game.

South West North East

1S 2H 2S 3H

Dble

It follows that a bid of 3S by South would suggest simply a desire to contest the part score. In this example, if the defending side's suit were diamonds or clubs, a double would have its ordinary penalty meaning.

Michaels Cue Bid: A cue bid by second hand in opener's minor suit shows a limited hand with length in the major suits, at least 5-4. A cue bid over opener's major shows the unbid major suit and an unspecified minor suit.

Multi 2D: An opening 2D shows one of three types: (i) Weak two in a major suit - (ii) A strong balanced hand of a defined range - (iii) Strong three-suited hand. Responses to 2D. The first response assumes that Opener has a weak two in a major. 2H: Willingness to play here or in at least 2S; 2S: Willingness to play here or in at least 3H; 2N: Forcing, asking opener to clarify his hand. Opener's rebids. With type (i): Over 2H: pass or bid 2S; Over 2S: pass or bid 3H; Over 2N: bid 3C to show hearts, upper range; 3D to show spades, upper range; 3H or 3S with lower range. With type (ii) hand: rebid in notrumps at the minimum level. Other rebids show type (iii) and should be specified on the convention card.

Negative double: A double by third hand after a suit opening and overcall is for takeout and suggests length in an unbid major suit. Range of strength should be stated whenever this may differ from the responding values normal to the methods played. Thus if a double of a two level overcall may be made with less than is needed for a normal two-over-one response, the range should be mentioned.

Optional double: A double made with the conventional understanding that partner will pass only when his hand is suited to defense.

Penalty double: A double made with the expectation that partner will pass.

Responsive double: A `return takeout double' made by fourth hand when second hand has doubled for takeout and third hand has raised opener's suit.

South West North East

1S Dble 1S Dble

The second double shows responding values and, by inference, a hand that offers no satisfactory descriptive bid. Any partnership understanding that goes beyond this definition should be noted on the convention card.

Ripstra over 1NT: Over a 1NT opening, the bid of a minor by second or fourth hand shows support for the major suits and shortage in the unbid minor.

Smith signal: At no-trumps, an echo in the first suit played by declarer conveys a special message. When made by the partner of the opening leader, the echo says, `Continue the suit originally led.' When by the opening leader himself, the message is, `Find a switch.'

Splinter bid: A double jump shift shows support for partner's suit and a singleton or void in the suit named

South North

1H 4D = shows a singleton or void diamond and suggests strong support for hearts.

Stayman: In response to a 1NT or 1NT opening, a minimum bid in clubs asks the no-trump opener to bid, at the minimum level: diamonds with no four card major, hearts with four hearts, spades with four spades.

Stayman--Puppet ("Puppet Stayman"): After a 1NT opening and Stayman response, the opener rebids as follows: --2H or 2S, with a five card suit; --otherwise, 2D. Now responder bids: --2H, with four spades; --2S, with four hearts; --2NT, with 4-4 in majors; --3NT, with 4-4 in majors, stronger.

Stayman--Two-Way ("Two-Way Stayman"): 2C in response to 1NT has the same meaning as in Stayman. 2D in response to 1NT is forcing to game: opener shows a four card major suit by bidding it, or denies one by bidding 2NT. Opener shows any five card suit by bidding it at the three level.

Swiss: In response to an opening bid of one of a major, direct bids of 4C and 4D show a dound raise to game with certain specific features. (Players using this description should proceed to describe on the convention card what these features are).

Takeout double: A double of a suit opening bid, or a double of a response to it when partner has passed, made in the expectation that partner will remove.

Unusual no-trump overcall: A jump by second hand to 2NT over and opening suit suit bid of one shows the two lowest unbid suits, i.e. 1D-2NT (shows hearts and clubs). In all other situations, a bid of notrumps which cannot logically be genuine shows length in the two lower unbid suits.