Odds and Ends

Scoring Laws Famous Names

Conventions

Any bid which does not express the wish to play in the stated suit is referred to as 'conventional'. Conventions are used to ask a question, or to describe a particular type or shape of hand. It is important that the conventional bid does not supplant a bid that would have frequent use within the system as a suit-showing bid eg the ace-asking bid of 4 NT ( Blackwood ) is not a bid that players would normally use, since 3 NT is game.

Most experienced players only use three or four conventions although many younger players derive much enjoyment through using a barrage of conventional bids. Sometimes, in these cases, the auction would be at the three or four level before either partner knew anything about the others suit. I should avoid playing with these if you can.

It is important that opponents are made aware of any conventional bids that a partnership is using. This is effected by the partner of the hand making a conventional bid, alerting the opposition to this fact, by tapping the table, or ( if using bidding boxes ), waving an alert card. Opponents can then question this partner as to the meaning of the conventional bid, when it is their turn to bid.

(C1) Stayman

(C2) Blackwood

(C3) Gerber