A basic Standard American convention card (the ACBL "Fat Free Convention Card") that is very suitable for newer players may be viewed here. This card is a great starting point for newer players venturing into their first club duplicate games.
Most of the card has been completed for you. You should review it to be sure that the agreements listed there match what you and your partner play, and then make any appropriate changes. (Unless you have a lot of changes, you will probably find it easier to make the changes on this card rather than to start by completing a blank convention card.)
There are a few places on the card where you and your partner will need to discuss what you are going to play and where you will need to enter your selections.
After 2♦ , 2♥ and 2♠ , if you are playing 2NT as an artificial force, you will want to decide what the opening bidder is expected to do next. One popular, simple and effective approach is for opener to show a "feature," typically understood to be an Ace or a King in a side suit *if* also holding a good hand overall. If you decide to do this, you'll want to write "Asks Feature" in the blank space above "2NT Force."
Under "Special Doubles," you will need to enter a check mark if you play Negative Doubles and also indicate the level of bidding through which you play them. Most new players do not play negative doubles and will be leaving this blank, but Negative Doubles will be one of the first conventions you may want to add. I'll have more material coming this summer on first conventions to add to a Standard American System.
Under "Notrump Overcalls," you will need to check the appropriate box if you and your partner have agreed that a jump to 2NT shows a hand with two long suits. Most people who play this play that it shows the two lowest unbid suits.
Under "Simple Overcall," I recommend that you raise the minimum high card point (HCP) requirement to at least 8 HCP, and even 10 HCP may be better as you are first learning.
Under "Over Opp's T/O Double," you should talk with your partner about what a jump shift (a *jump* bid in a higher ranking suit) means. There are lots of different ways to play this. Unless you and your partner have a particular way that you want to play it, you can just cross out the Jump Shift line and not use those bids for now.
Unver "VS Opening Preempts Double Is," you'll want to talk about what it means if the opponents open with a preemptive bid (such as a weak 2♦ , 2♥ , 2♠ bid or a bid of 3 of a suit) and you double. If you play that as a "takeout" double, suggesting a good hand and support for all of the other suits, then enter the level through which you would play that. Some people might do it just after a 2-level preempt. Others might do it through 3♠ or even higher. If you don't play takeout doubles against preempts, you'll need to uncheck the takeout box and check the box for "Penalty" if that's what double would mean for you.
Under "Defensive Carding," you'll want to review the definitions of "Standard" for count and attitude and to check those boxes for your play vs suit and notrump contracts unless you play something different.
If you and your partner play any things that can't readily be entered onto this simple card, you will need to start with a blank card or with some other pre-filled card that includes or leaves space for what you play.
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