Release 2.19q
0 0 0 0 0 0
Pages viewed in 2024
Bulletin

Please note that the members decided on 5th Dec 2019 that access to the options listed below would be restricted to
MEMBERS ONLY
RESULTS *
PERSONAL ANALYSIS
COMPETITIONS
CALENDAR

* this item is no longer restricted (AGM 26th Jan 2023)

BBO competitions are not restricted

Alerting & Announcing
To all bridge players
(Mr Bridge)
CONVENTIONAL BIDS
     In all forms of bridge, you are entitled to know the meaning of an opponent's call and you are allowed to ask the partner of the person making such a call what their agreement of its meaning is.  The enquiry may only be made:
   a) when it is your turn to call, or
   b) before you make the opening lead, or
   c) if you are the partner of the defender making the opening lead, after the lead, but before it is faced, or
   d) during the play, when it is your turn to play
THE ANNOUNCEMENT
     In England and Wales only, some of the simpler positions are covered by Announcements.   This is a method of shortcutting the question and answer process: after certain simple bids are made, partner immediately makes a simple description.
     If you open a natural 1NT, partner will immediately give the range, eg "12 to 14".   If he opens 1NT, then, if you bid 2 (Stayman), he will say "Stayman": if you bid 2 or 2 (Transfer) he will say "Hearts" or "Spades".   If you open a natural 2-bid, he will immediately tell the opponents the strength: "Weak", "Intermediate", "Strong, not forcing" or "Strong, forcing".   These are the only bids announced: if your partner responds 2 to 1NT and you play something else artificial that is not Stayman then you just alert.
THE ALERT
     The requirement to alert your opponents that a bid made by your partner is either conventional or carries a meaning that may be known to your side, but not to the opponents, is not in the laws of rubber bridge, although it gets a mention as an optional extra which a group can use if they wish.  However, in duplicate, alerting is required.  Be clearly aware that it is the partner of the person making the call who alerts.
THE STOP BID
     A player who makes any bid which misses out one or more levels of bidding (ie a jump bid) must show the Stop card before the bid, and leave it on the table for about ten seconds after making the bid.   The reason is to allow time for the player next to the call to reflect after what may be an unexpected development.   This next player is required to pause for about ten seconds (and may not call until the Stop card is removed) before making a call and this imposed pause is to avoid any inference that the partner of the overcaller might make from a natural hesitation.   If bidding boxes are not in use, a player should say 'Stop' before a jump bid.

ALERTING & ANNOUNCING (SIMPLIFIED)
General
In principle any bid that is not natural should be alerted or announced.
Nothing above 3NT should be alerted or announced except on the first round of bidding.
 
No Trump Openings
 
 1NT  Announce point count range (12-14)
 2NT  Announce point count range (20-22)
 
Responses to No Trump Openings
 
  Opening   Opening  
 1NT  2NT  
 2  3 If natural do nothing
If Stayman announce "Stayman"
If anything else Alert
 2  3 If natural do nothing
If transfer to Hearts announce "Hearts"
If anything else Alert
 2  3 If natural do nothing
If transfer to Spades announce "Spades"
If anything else Alert
 2  3 If natural do nothing
If anything else Alert
 
Two of a suit openings
 
Two openings that show the suit opened Announce the strength of the opening:
"Weak","Intermediate","Strong"
 Acol 2  Alert.   Also alert the 2 negative
 Benji 2 or 2  Alert.   Also alert the 2 and 2 relay
 
Responses to weak two openings
The 2NT asking bid should be alerted and most (all if playing Ougust) of the replies to that bid should also be alerted.
 
Doubles
Doubles of suits that are not for takeout should be alerted.
Doubles of NT that are not for penalties should be alerted.