Conventions

CONVENTIONS

A convention is an artificial bid that has an understood meaning.

Common examples are:

• • Stayman (2C in response to a 1NT opening bid – promising a 4-card major and asking opener if they have a 4-card major)

  • Blackwood (4NT ace-asking) and Gerber (4C ace-asking). Ace asking is asking partner how many aces they have if you are looking for slam. There are also other conventions for this.

Most conventions need to be alerted, but very common ones (which are universally understood) don’t. For example, the following DON’T need to be alerted:

• • Stayman (but transfers must be alerted. Also a genuine 2C bid in response to a 1NT opening bid must be alerted)

  • 2C opener promising 23+ points and 2D negative reply

  • 2H and 2S whether weak or strong (opp should ask)

  • Pre-empts (7 of a suit, 6-10 points)

  • Bids at 4 level and above, e.g. ace-asking

  • Doubles (opp need to ask).

The above are just a few conventions players can use. It is a good idea to start introducing them one at a time when you have mastered the basics. If you do decide to use one or more conventions, both players in the partnership must use them and be able to explain them if asked during the game.