Definition

A 'strong' hand is defined by the EBU as one that has either 16 or more High Card Points or (12 or more High card points and at least 5 controls - Ace = 2, King = 1)

This hand came up (hand 2 (South) Evening Session 14 Nov 2017)

♠ - ♥ KQJ95 ♦ AKQT76 ♣ T5

This is a 3-loser hand (1 Heart and 2 Clubs) BUT a) it only has 15 High Card Points and b) It only has 4 controls. So is NOT 'strong' as defined.

Why do we need this?

The EBU feels that players should be made aware when a hand has the potential to take tricks BOTH as the declaring side AND when defending. A hand that can take tricks only when declaring, if it does not meet the criteria, cannot be described as 'strong' . In other words you cannot use the word 'strong' as a psychological attempt to disuade opponents from entering the auction - unless the hand qualifies.

The Benefits

The EBU Blue Book allows almost any call that describes any type of 'strong' hand. Calls that could describe a hand that is not 'strong' by definition are much more strictly regulated.

Implications

The most common problem is that many players use 2-level suit calls to show '8-playing-tricks' or 'game-forcing' and include hands in this category that are not 'strong'.

The rules say that if a 2-level call refers to a single suit then it can have any strength e.g. a weak-2 or an Acol-2. However if it refers to an unspecified suit or suits, then the suit called must NOT be one of the suits shown unless the hand is also 'Strong'.

As an example - let's take the Benji 2♣ - opening bid. This is commonly described as '8-playing tricks in an unspecified suit, or 21-22 balanced'

• Now the 21-22 balanced hand is, by definition, 'strong' - and is therefore allowed.
• 8-playing-tricks in Spades, Hearts or Diamonds is allowed (as the suit called is not the suit shown) but if the hand might not be 'strong' then you have to tell the opponents when asked what the bid means.
• BUT, if the suit is Clubs, then the hand MUST be 'Strong' - since Clubs is BOTH the suit called AND the suit shown

A second example - the Multi 2♦ - typically a weak 2 in a major, 'strong-2' in a minor or 22-23 balanced.

• The 22-23 balanced is by definition 'strong' and is therefore allowed.
• The weak 2 in an unspecified suit (Hearts OR Spades) is allowed as the suit shown (♥ or♠ ) is not the suit bid (♦ )
• The 'strong-2' in Clubs could be '8-playing tricks' - since ♣ <> ♦ But you have to state that the hand may not be 'strong' if that is the case.
• The 'strong-2' in Diamonds MUST show a 'strong' hand. '8-playing tricks in Diamonds' is not allowed unless the hand is also 'Strong'.

If you feel you have been misled by a hand description

Call the Director - he will try and ascertain whether there is a partnership agreement to open such hands, when they are not 'strong'. If so then they are playing an illegal agreement and normally the Director would award AV+, AV- (60%, 40%) in favour of the non-offending side. Note that an agreement is an undertaking to partner, not to opponents. A very occasional deviation would be allowed providing partner is no more aware of the possibility than the opponents. For this reason, the hand should be recorded - as possible future evidence of an illegal agreement. (Asking a hand to be recorded is not an accusation of cheating or unethical behaviour)