This page summarises terminology and notation used here and elsewhere.

Suits: S H D C are okay. ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ (or ♠ ♡ ♢ ♣ for black-and-white printing) are better. To type suit symbols:

Bids: 1♣, 1♦, 1♥, 1♠, 1NT, etc.
Cards: ♣A, ♣K, ♣Q, ♣J, ♣10, ♣9, etc. (“3♣” is a bid; “♣3” is a card). x = an unspecified small card
Pass, Double, Redouble: P, X, XX

Auction diagrams: West should be in the left column (so the first three columns line up with the hands in the deal diagram). For example:

In-line auctions: Start with the dealer, separate the calls in each round with en dashes or hyphens, and separate rounds with semi-colons. If one side does most or all of the bidding, omit the other side’s passes and put their other calls in parentheses. For example, the auction above can be written compactly in either of two ways:

• 1♥–1♠–2♠–P; 3♣–P–4♥
• 1♥–(1♠)–2♠; 3♣–4♥

Play diagrams: A column for each hand is generally easier to follow than a column for the lead, a column for the second-hand play, etc. Generally best to put West in the left column, as in auction diagrams. The card that won the trick is underlined. (The BridgeComposer setting for the column-for-each-hand arrangement is Format / Board Layout / Play / Play format / PBN. BridgeComposer puts the opening leader in the first column 🙁.)

Terminology:

• denomination or strain = a suit or nortrump
• positions in an auction:
  • dealer = the player who has the first opportunity to bid
  • opener = the player who makes the first bid (i.e., doesn’t pass). (The player who leads to the first trick is the “opening leader.”)
  • responder = opener’s partner
    • response = responder’s first call after an opening bid (for the answer to a question, such as Blackwood, use “reply”)
  • overcaller or doubler = opener’s opponent who first bids or doubles
    • intervenor = overcaller or doubler
  • advancer = intervenor’s partner
    • advance = advancer’s first call after an intervention
• cuebid = a bid in a suit shown by an opponent (naturally or artificially)
• control bid = a bid showing an ace, king, void, or singleton in a suit (best practice is to use “cuebid” only as defined above)
• relay, puppet, marionette = an artificial inquiry or request to make the cheapest bid. The relay, puppet, or marionette bid itself tells little; it asks a question or changes the meaning of the relayer’s next call. The Bridge World magazine defines these terms distinctly, but others use “relay” with any of these meanings or use “puppet” with either of the last two meanings.
  • relay = a bid (often the cheapest available) that asks a question (e.g., Stayman, Blackwood).
    • asker or relayer = the player making the relay bid
    • teller or replier = asker’s partner
    • reply = the answer (may be natural or artificial). (“Reply” is clearer than “response,” because “response” has a different specific meaning.)
  • puppet = a bid that asks partner to make the cheapest bid always (e.g., lebensohl after interference over partner’s 1NT opening). The puppet bidder’s next bid has a different meaning than if bid directly. Mnemonic: a puppet is tightly controled.
  • marionette = a bid that asks partner to make the cheapest bid usually, but to make a higher bid with certain holdings (e.g., “puppet Stayman” 🤔). Mnemonic: a marionette is loosely controled (by strings).

Abbreviations:

• LHO = left-hand opponent (“lefty”)
• RHO = right-hand opponent (“righty”)
• M = a major or the first-bid major
  • oM = the other major
• m = a minor or the first-bid minor
  • om = the other minor
• f1 = forcing for one round
• gf = forcing to game
• f2♠ (e.g.) = forcing through 2♠
• nf = not forcing
• ! after a bid = alerted
• ? after a bid or play = inferior
• ?? after a bid or play = bad

This page summarises terminology and notation used here and elsewhere. ..........