This page provides hints as to how best to explain various common calls. If a partiular call is not listed it may be similar to one which is. More detail is given in the EBU's Blue Book.
You must explain your partnership's agreements about what your call means, not what you have in your hand.
For example, if your agreement is that a 1NT opening is 12-14 and may contain a singleton, then you announce "12-14, may contain a singleton" every time, even if that hand does not have a singleton.
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1NT Opening |
You must give the range of your 1NT opening and if it may contain a singleton you must say that as well.
If you play a NT which varies with vulnerability or position, you must explain the strength of a 1NT opening bid in this seat at this vulnerability.
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Stayman |
Announce as "Stayman" if it is just asking about 4-card majors. If asking about something else (e.g. 5-card majors) you should explain what it is, e.g. "5-card Puppet Stayman", "5-card Stayman", etc.
It does not matter whether you are promising a 4-card major or not, the enquiry is the same, so just describe it as normal.
Responses to normal Stayman are implied by the original announcement. All responses to other versions of Stayman should be explained.
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Transfers |
Red Suit Transfers (diamonds to hearts and hearts to spades) should be explained as "Hearts" or "Spades" as appropriate. Completing a Red Suit transfer needs no explanation unless it has an extra unexpected meaning (e.g. if you always jump a level with 4-card support, then a non-jump transfer completion tells partner that you do not have 4-card support and this must be explained to your opponents).
Other transfers should be explained as "Transfer to xxxx" as long as they promise at least 5 cards in the target suit.
A 2♠ response to 1NT is sometimes used as a way of escaping into a minor. This is not a transfer, as you are not promising a holding in a specified suit. This could be explained as "Relay to 3♣ for pass or correct." or "Please bid 3♣ for pass or correct."
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2NT Opening |
You must give the range of your 2NT opening bid. The shape restrictions on 2NT are less stringent than for 1NT, so possible singletons do not to be mentioned.
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Weak 2s |
These are explained as "weak" as long as they are as commonly played (6 or more cards and about 5 to 10 high card points).
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Strong 2s |
These should be explained as "Strong, Forcing" or "Strong, non-forcing" as appropriate.
Strong in this context means Natural (showing the suit bid) with 16+ high card points or 12+ points and at least 5 controls (an Ace is 2 controls and a King is 1 control).
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Conventional 2s |
An Acol 2♣ or a Benji 2♣ or 2♦ shows a strong hand but nothing about the suit bid, so must not be explained as just "Strong".
Suitable explanations, depending on your agreements, might include "23+ or any game forcing hand", "19-20 balanced or 8 playing tricks in any suit" or similar.
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Short Club |
A short 1♣ (for example when playing 5-card majors) should be explained as "may be as short as 2 cards" (or 1 if that is your agreement).
An opening suit bid which always promises at least 3 cards is regarded as natural.
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Strong Club |
A strong 1♣ opening should be described as "16+" (or similar).
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Splinters |
Splinters (at any level) should be explained as "Splinter".
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Blackwood |
Blackwood should be explained on BBO, even though it is above 3NT. Never assume that the opponents are playing (or understand) the type of blackwood that you play.
- Normal Blackwood should be explained as "Blackwood"
- Roman Key Card Blackwood should be explained as "RKCB 0314" or "RKCB 1430" (whichever you play). If the opponents as about this may need to explain what Roman Key Card Blackwood is.
- Key Card Blackwood should be explained as "Key Card Blackwood"
Responses
- Responses to a blackwood enquiry should be explained. For example a 5♥ response when playing Roman Key Card Blackwood would be explained as "2 of 5 cards without the Q trumps"
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Multi 2 Diamonds |
A Multi 2♦ should be explained as "Multi" only if you play that it could be any of (a) a weak hand with hearts, (b) a weak hand with spades or (c) a strong hand.
If it does not include all three options, it should be clarified (for example "weak only multi")
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