The following is a brief summary of the most common bids that need announcing (i.e. the ones most likely to affect Kendal players).

1NT opening and responses
An opening bid of 1NT is announced (e.g. by saying “12-14”)
As a response to an opening bid of 1NT, Stayman and transfers are also announced. For example:
2NT – 3C is announced “Stayman”
2NT – 3D is announced “Hearts”

2NT opening and responses
An opening bid of 2NT is announced (e.g. by saying “20-22”)
As a response to an opening bid of 2NT, simple Stayman and transfers are also announced. For example:
2NT – 3C is announced “Stayman”
2NT – 3D is announced “Hearts”
(Note: 5-card Stayman must be alerted)

Alerting
The only real change is that now some calls above 3NT are alerted.
The one most likely to affect Kendal players is that:
artificial suit bids above 3NT made on the first round of the auction are alerted.
(The first round of the auction is defined as the first bid and the next three calls).
e.g. 1S pass 4C (splinter) or pass pass 1S pass 4C (splinter). In both cases 4C is alerted.

There are 3 other situations where you must alert above 3NT but they won’t come up very often. You must alert:

• Lead-directing passes
• Doubles or redoubles that are lead-directing but ask for the lead of a suit other than the suit doubled (or redoubled)
• Doubles and redoubles of no trump contracts that call for a specific suit to be led.

More information
Click here to go to the EBU website where you can download two useful documents:

• Easy guide to announcing and alerting
• The new Blue Book (Handbook of EBU Permitted Understandings) – this replaces the Orange Book