| Blue Book Changes regarding Strong Bid |
David's Notes on Definition and examples of strong bids in Acol: EBU Blue book 2023
Many of our members play a version of Benji Acol where 2♣ or 2♦ opening bid is “strong” and some examples may help clarify hands permitted and those not permitted under the EBU permitted understandings.
“Strong” is defined as a hand of 16 or more HCP or a hand of 13+HCP in two suits of at least 10 cards
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Example #1 |
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Example #2 |
| ♠ |
Void |
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♠ |
x |
| ♥ |
xxx |
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♥ |
AKQJTxxxx |
| ♦ |
Kx |
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♦ |
x |
| ♣ |
AKQJxxxx |
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♣ |
xx |
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#1 has 13HCP and 10 cards in 2 suits
Can open say 2♦ strong in a single suit
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#2 has 10HCP and 11 cards in 2 suits
Not permitted to open a strong 2♥ (or 2♦ )
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Example #3 |
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Example #4 |
| ♠ |
x |
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♠ |
AJTxxx |
| ♥ |
x |
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♥ |
void |
| ♦ |
KQJTxxxx |
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♦ |
AKTxxxx |
| ♣ |
KQx |
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♣ |
void |
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Both hands #3 and #4 do not now qualify as “strong” #3 has 11HCP in 11 cards and #4 has 12HCP in 13 cards
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Example #5 |
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| ♠ |
AKQJTx |
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| ♥ |
KQT |
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| ♦ |
void |
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| ♣ |
AJTx |
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#5 Can open 2♣ as a “strong” hand it has 13+ HCP in 10 cards
Any hand of 23+ HCP is deemed “strong”
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I appreciate these examples are certainly extreme and we should all be very tolerant in any ruling and I would prefer just a simply reminder to any “offender” that previous understandings have now been significantly modified.
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