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This document is provided
courtesy of the
American Contract Bridge League
2990 Airways Blvd.
S
Memphis TN 38116–3847
901–332–5586
S
Fax 901–398–7754
NOTE: to view the latest revision of the
handbook,
download the latest version of
ACBLScore
Rev.(2/21/02) ALERTS.033 (PAGE 1)
___________________
ACBL ALERT
PROCEDURE
INTRODUCTION
The objective of
the Alert system is for both pairs at the table to
have equal
access to all information contained in any auction. In
order to meet
this goal, it is necessary that all players understand
and practice the
principles of Full Disclosure and Active Ethics.
Ethical bridge
players will recognize the obligation to give complete
explanations.
They will accept the fact that any such information is
entirely for the
benefit of the opponents, and may not be used to
assist their own
partnership.
This procedure
uses the admittedly "fuzzy" terminology of "highly
unusual and
unexpected" as the best practical solution to simplifying
the Alert
Procedure. "Highly unusual and unexpected" should be
determined in
light of historical usage rather than local geographical
usage. To ensure
full disclosure, however, at the end of the auction
and before the
opening lead declarers are encouraged to volunteer to
explain the
auction (including available inferences).
According to the
Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge:
Law 40.B.
Concealed Partnership Understandings Prohibited
A player may not
make a call or play based on a special partnership
understanding
unless an opposing pair may reasonably be expected to
understand its
meaning or unless his side discloses the use of such
call or play in
accordance with the regulations of the sponsoring
organization.
BRIDGE IS NOT A
GAME OF SECRET MESSAGES; THE AUCTION BELONGS TO
EVERYONE AT THE
TABLE.
Remember that
the opponents are entitled to know the agreed meaning of
all calls.
THE BIDDING SIDE
HAS AN OBLIGATION TO DISCLOSE ITS AGREEMENTS
ACCORDING TO THE
PROCEDURES ESTABLISHED BY ACBL.
When asked, the
bidding side must give a full explanation of the
agreement.
Stating the common or popular name of the convention is not
sufficient. THE
OPPONENTS NEED NOT ASK EXACTLY THE "RIGHT" QUESTION.
Any request for
information should be the trigger. Opponents need only
indicate the
desire for information - all relevant disclosure should
be given
automatically.
THE PROPER WAY
TO ASK FOR INFORMATION IS "PLEASE EXPLAIN."
Players who
remember that a call requires an Alert but cannot remember
the meaning must
still Alert.
IN ALL ALERT
SITUATIONS, TOURNAMENT DIRECTORS SHOULD RULE WITH THE
SPIRIT OF THE
ALERT PROCEDURE IN MIND AND NOT SIMPLY BY THE LETTER OF
THE LAW.
Players who, by
experience or expertise, recognize that their
opponents have
neglected to Alert a special agreement will be expected
to protect
themselves.
ALERTS.033 (PAGE 2)
___________________
ADJUSTMENTS FOR
VIOLATIONS ARE NOT AUTOMATIC.
There must have
been misinformation.
An adjustment
will be made only when the misinformation was a direct
cause of the
damage.
Note also that
an opponent who actually knows or suspects what is
happening, even
though not properly informed, may not be entitled to
redress if he or
she chooses to proceed without clarifying the
situation.
When an Alert is
given, ASK, do not ASSUME.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
An announcement
is one word or a short phrase which tells the
opponents
directly the meaning of partner's call.
When bidding
boxes are used, the "Alert" strip is tapped also.
Announcements
are required in the following instances:
1. After a
natural one notrump opening bid.
EXAMPLE: A 15-17
1NT opening bid is made. The partner of the bidder
will say aloud,
"fifteen to seventeen."
2. After a
diamond or heart transfer response at any level to any level
natural notrump
opening, overcall or rebid.
An Announcement
also is used for those methods that initially treat
the bid as a
transfer even though rarely the bidder will have a strong
hand without the
next higher suit. When the message is sent that the
transfer was not
a transfer, just the first step in showing another
type of
game-going hand, the call that sends that message must be
Alerted.
EXAMPLES:
1NT-P-2D and 1D-1NT-2D-4H
The 1NT bidder
will say aloud, "Transfer."
3. After a 1NT
forcing or semi-forcing response to a 1heart or 1spade
opening bid with
no interference.
EXAMPLE:
1H-P-1NT
The opening
bidder will say aloud, "Forcing" or "Semi-forcing," if
there was no
other meaning attached to the agreement (such as showing
four or more
spades).
4. After a
non-forcing opening 1C or 1D for which the opener could have
fewer than three
cards in the suit opened.
After the
opening bid, the opening bidder's partner says, "May be
short."
HOW TO ALERT
Using spoken
bidding, the partner of the player making an Alertable
call says
"Alert."
ALERTS.033 (PAGE 3)
___________________
Using bidding
boxes, an Alert is made by tapping an Alert card on the
table or by
tapping the Alert strip on the side of the bid box. In
addition, the
Alerter must say "Alert."
Using screens,
ALL Alerts are immediate - there are no delayed Alerts.
All
Announcements become Alerts.
HOW TO ANNOUNCE
When Bid Boxes
are not in use, the partner says aloud the required
spoken
statement. When Bid Boxes are being used, the Alert strip is
tapped and the
appropriate spoken statement is made.
IT IS THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ALERTER OR ANNOUNCER TO ENSURE THAT
THE OPPONENTS
ARE AWARE THAT AN ALERT HAS BEEN MADE.
WHEN IN DOUBT
WHETHER TO ALERT OR NOT, ALERT!
FAILURE TO ALERT
OR ANNOUNCE
If partner fails
to Alert or Announce, a player may not make any
indication
during the auction. Showing surprise or discomfort may
awaken partner
to the error and would be a violation of Law. In
addition, a
player may not make allowances for partner's error. The
auction must
continue as if partner had acted properly.
When the auction
is over, the declaring side MUST reveal to the
defenders, after
first calling the Tournament Director, any errors of
explanation
(including Alerts or Announcements that were omitted)
before the
opening lead is faced. A defender MUST reveal any of his
partner's errors
but may NOT do so until after the play has been
completed. A
defender (or any other player) who becomes aware of his
own error or
omission should correct it immediately. Again, in either
case the
Tournament Director should be called first.
TYPES OF ALERTS
PRE-ALERTS
Pre-Alerts are
given before the auction period begins on the first
board of a
round. Pre-Alerts are designed to act as an early warning
of any unusual
methods for which the opponents may need to prepare.
(See Part III.)
Additionally, a pre-Alert is required when playing
methods
permitted by the ACBL Mid-Chart or SuperChart in an event
conducted using
that chart. Pre-Alerts are given aloud by saying what
the systems or
methods are.
IMMEDIATE ALERTS
Immediate Alerts
are given at the time partner makes a call which
requires an
Alert. These Alerts are given in the form described under
How to Alert
above.
DELAYED ALERTS
Alerts given
after the auction is completed for Alertable calls above
the level of 3NT
starting with the opening bidder's second turn to
call. The dummy
or declarer Alerts the defenders before the opening
lead. The
defenders Alert after the opening lead has been made but
before it is
faced. (See Part X.)
ALERTS.033 (PAGE 4)
___________________
PART I: NATURAL
CALLS
Most natural
calls do not require Alerts. If the call promises about
the expected
strength and shape, no Alert is necessary. Treatments
that show
unusual strength or shape should be Alerted.
As to length,
ACBL accepts as NATURAL any offer to play in a suit for
the first time
that shows:
(1) Three or
more cards in a minor suit.
(2) Four or more
cards in a major suit.
(3) Four or more
cards for an overcall in a suit at the one level.
(4) Five or more
cards for a weak two-bid.
(5) Six or more
cards for a three-level preempt.
NOTE:
Partnerships whose systems include extremely aggressive methods,
such as frequent
use of four-card overcalls at the two level or
higher, weak
two-bids with bad five-card suits, or three-level
preempts with
bad six-card and/or most five-card suits must pre-Alert
the opponents
before the round begins.
A treatment is a
natural call that carries a specific message about
the suit bid or
the general strength of the hand. Agreeing to open
five-card majors
is a treatment - when you open 1H, partner "knows"
you have five or
more. This is indeed a message but not an unexpected
one, so no Alert
is required. Weak jump shifts, on the other hand, are
unexpected and
therefore Alertable.
EXAMPLE: 1C-P-2S
If the 2S bid
promises a spade suit of five or more cards, it is a
natural call.
The treatment involves the strength that the bid
promises. If the
call is forcing to game, no Alert is required. If it
is weak or
invitational, then it must be Alerted.
Natural bids
that convey an unexpected meaning must be Alerted. This
includes strong
bids that sound weak, weak bids that sound strong, and
all other bids
that, by agreement, convey meanings different from, or
in addition to,
the expected meaning ascribed to them.
EXAMPLE: 1S-P-2C
If 2C is natural
and forcing, promising three or more clubs and 10 or
more HCP
(including those that are forcing to game), it requires no
Alert. This is
the expected strength and shape of such a bid. If 2C is
non-forcing, it
must be Alerted.
In general, when
the use of conventions leads to unexpected
understandings
about suit length by negative inference, a natural call
becomes
Alertable. Some such agreements have become expected and are
fairly common,
therefore no Alert is required.
ALERTS.033 (PAGE 5)
___________________
EXAMPLES:
1H-P-1S
If 1S promises a
five-card suit (when playing an opening 2D bid as
five hearts and
four spades), no Alert is required.
1C, 1D, or
1H-P-1NT
If the 1NT
bidder could or could not have four cards in one or both
majors, again no
Alert.
1C-P-1H or 1S
If the
major-suit bidder could be passing up a four-card or longer
diamond suit, no
Alert is required.
If, however,
your 1NT response on an auction of, 1C, 1D, or 1H-P-1NT,
shows a hand of
10-12 HCP, for example, an Alert is required.
PART II:
CONVENTIONS
A convention is
defined as any call which, by partnership agreement,
conveys a
meaning not necessarily related to the denomination named
or, in the case
of a pass, double or redouble, the last denomination
named.
Examples of
calls deemed to be conventional are: showing support for a
previously bid
suit and shortness in the bid suit (such as a splinter
bid) and bidding
your worst suit for takeout.
ALMOST ALL
CONVENTIONS MUST BE ALERTED.
In general,
conventional calls require an Alert. In ACBL-sponsored
events, however,
there are some common conventions that do not require
an Alert during
the auction: Stayman, ace-asking bids, most meanings
of cue-bids,
strong artificial 2C openings and most doubles, redoubles
and passes. Some
Alerts are delayed until the auction is completed.
(SEE PART X:
DELAYED ALERTS.)
1) STAYMAN
No Alert is
required for any bid of 2C over partner's 1NT opening or
3C over a 2NT
opening if it requests opener to bid a four-card major,
regardless of
whether the Stayman bidder promises a four-card major.
Likewise, a 2D
response to Stayman (or a 3D response after 2NT-P-3C)
is not Alterable
if it denies a four-card major.
EXAMPLE:
1NT-P-2C and 2NT-P-3C
Partnerships do
not need to Alert their Stayman bids in order to
differentiate
between those that promise a four-card major and those
that don't.
Opponents may assume that an immediate bid of clubs over a
natural notrump
opening is conventional, asking opener to bid a
four-card major,
with no guarantee that responder has a four-card
major suit.
However, when it
becomes evident that the two-club bidder either does
not have or
tends not to have a four-card major, an Alert is required
at that time.
EXAMPLE:
1NT-P-2C-P-2(x)-P-2NT
If the 2NT is or
is most likely a raise in notrump without a four-card
major, an Alert
is required at the time of the 2NT bid.
ALERTS.033 (PAGE 6)
___________________
NOTE: A 2NT
rebid after a response to a strong 2C opening is deemed to
be a strong
notrump opening for the purposes of this regulation, as is
a 1NT or 2NT
rebid after a strong, artificial 1C opening and response.
EXAMPLE:
2C-P-2D-P-2NT-P-3C
3C is not
Alertable if it asks opener to show a four-card major. If,
however, 2 or 3
ask opener to bid a five-card major (commonly referred
to as "Puppet"
Stayman) an Alert is required.
Alerts are still
necessary when the bid is not obviously asking for a
major, such as a
"checkback" auction where the club bid may be
mistaken for one
showing a club holding.
EXAMPLE:
1C-P-1D-P- 1NT-P-2C
If the 2C call
is artificial such as asking partner to show a
four-card major,
it requires an Alert.
2) STRONG,
ARTIFICIAL TWO CLUBS
Forcing 2C
opening bids, either natural or artificial, do not require
an Alert.
Intermediate 2C openings, such as those used in Precision
systems, must be
Alerted.
After a strong,
artificial 2C opening, an artificial 2D response which
is either
negative or waiting is not Alertable. Those who play a
"semi-automatic"
2D bid do not need to Alert. If 2D guarantees the
values for game,
or has any meaning other than negative or waiting, it
must be Alerted.
3) ACE ASKING
BIDS
4NT Blackwood
(any variety over suits) and 4C Gerber (any variety over
notrump) and
expected responses thereto do not require an Alert of any
kind. All other
ace-asking bids and responses require an Alert, but
some of these
Alerts must be "delayed."
Ace-asking bids
at the level of 3NT or below and usages on the first
round (other
than Blackwood and Gerber as described above), require an
immediate Alert.
Unusual ace-asking bids above the level of 3NT
starting with
opener's second turn to call require a delayed Alert.
EXAMPLES:
1S-P-4H-P-4S
If you have
agreed to play 4S as an ace-asking bid, make a delayed
Alert!
Furthermore, the responses to 4S and to subsequent asking bids
require a
delayed Alert.
1C-P-4C
If this is
Gerber, the 1 opener should say "Alert" immediately after
the 4C bid.
1H-P-4NT
If this 4NT is
Blackwood, no Alert or delayed Alert is required.
Normal responses
to any variety Blackwood do not require an Alert.
REMEMBER! THE
DEFENDERS ALSO HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE DELAYED
ALERTS.
ALERTS.033 (PAGE 7)
___________________
4) CUEBIDS
Most cuebids are
not Alertable. However, any cuebid which conveys a
very unusual or
unexpected meaning still requires an Alert.
EXAMPLE:
1S-2H-P-2S
If the 2S bid is
a heart raise with values or some constructive hand,
no Alert is
required. If the 2S bid is a transfer to clubs, an Alert
is required.
EXAMPLE: 1D-2D
If the 2D bid
shows the majors (Michaels), clubs and spades
(top/bottom) or
some other two-suiter (not including diamonds, no
Alert is
required.
PART III:
PRE-ALERTS
Pre-Alerts are
designed to act as an early warning system of any
unusual methods
for which the opponents may need to prepare.
Pre-Alerts must
be given before the auction period begins on the first
board of a round
or match.
1) "TWO-SYSTEM"
METHODS
Some pairs vary
their system by position, by vulnerability, or a
combination of
the two. While this is legal, it is also something the
opponents may
need to know ahead of time. One example of this is
agreeing to play
a forcing-club system not vulnerable and "two over
one" vulnerable.
Minor variations
such as varying notrump range or jump overcall
strength by
vulnerability do not require a pre-Alert. These methods
still require
normal Announcements (notrump ranges; transfers) or
Alerts (forcing
Stayman over some notrump ranges) when appropriate.
As an aside,
please note that it is not legal to vary your system
during a session
for subjective reasons, such as the skill level of
the opponents
which you happen to be playing at the time or which
member of the
partnership is making the call. You may, of course,
alter your
defenses in response to the opponents' methods.
2) SYSTEMS BASED
ON VERY LIGHT OPENINGS OR OTHER HIGHLY AGGRESSIVE
METHODS
If it is your
partnership style to routinely open hands with fewer
than 11 HCP,
preempt with very weak (frequently worse than Qxxxxx)
suits, and/or
overcalls with fewer than 6 HCP at the one level, the
opponents must
be pre-Alerted.
3) SYSTEMS THAT
MAY BE FUNDAMENTALLY UNFAMILIAR TO THE OPPONENTS
Players are
expected to be prepared for the vast majority of systems
that they may
encounter at the bridge table. Common methods include
either strong or
weak notrumps with or without five-card majors. The
forcing opening
bid will most often be an artificial forcing opening
of 1C or 2C.
ALERTS.033 (PAGE 8)
___________________
When you play a
system structured along different agreements than
these, you
should draw the opponents attention to your convention card
before the round
begins. In short, if you play a system that most
players would
not immediately recognize (such as a canap system) or
one the
opponents may wish to discuss before the auction begins (a
10-12 1NT range
with distributional requirements for minor-suit
openings, for
example), you are required to pre-Alert the opponents.
PART IV:
DOUBLES, REDOUBLES AND PASSES
Except for those
doubles with highly unusual or unexpected meanings,
doubles do not
require an Alert.
1S-P-4C
(splinter bid)-Dbl
If this double
asks for the lead of any suit other than clubs, an
Alert is
required.
1H-Dbl or
1D-P-1S-Dbl
If either double
is penalty or lead directing only, an Alert is
required.
3H-Dbl or
3H-P-P-Dbl
If either double
is penalty, an Alert is required.
Passes or
redoubles with highly unusual or unexpected meanings require
an Alert.
1C-P-1S-Dbl-
Rdbl
If redouble
shows three-card spade support rather than a good hand, an
Alert is
required.
1S-P-2C-2S- P
If the second
Pass says, "I do not want a spade lead on defense," an
Alert is
required.
PART V: NOTRUMP
OPENINGS, RESPONSES AND REBIDS
Conventional
notrump openings and overcalls require an Alert.
Systemically
unbalanced or conventional 1NT openings or overcalls by
an unpassed
hand, when permitted, and openings at the two level or
higher with an
unusual range or conventional meaning require an Alert.
EXAMPLE:
1C-P-1S-1NT
If this shows
the other two suits, an Alert is required.
However, after
P-1C-P-1S-1NT no Alert is required.
Natural 1NT
opening bids require an Announcement.
EXAMPLE:
1NT (showing
12-14 HCP)
Partner says
immediately, "twelve to fourteen."
or
EXAMPLE:
1NT (showing
15-17 HCP)
Partner says
immediately, "fifteen to seventeen."
ALERTS.033 (PAGE 9)
___________________
EXAMPLE:
1NT (showing 14
HCP with a five-card suit to 17- without a five-card
suit)
Partner says
immediately, "fourteen plus to seventeen minus."
Natural 1NT
overcalls in the range of 14 to 19 HCP require neither an
Alert nor an
Announcement. If the top or bottom limit of the natural
notrump overcall
is out of that range or conventional by an unpassed
hand, an Alert
is required.
RESPONSES TO ONE
NOTRUMP OPENINGS
1) 2C:
If it requires
partner to bid a four-card major it is not Alertable;
all other uses
must be Alerted.
2) 2D:
If natural and
non-invitational, it is not Alertable. A transfer to
hearts is
Announced. All other uses must be Alerted.
3) 2H:
If natural and
non-invitational, it is not Alertable. A transfer to
spades is
Announced. All other uses must be Alerted.
4) 2S:
If natural and
non-invitational, it is not Alertable. All other uses
must be Alerted.
5) 2NT:
If invitational
to 3NT, it is not Alertable. All other uses must be
Alerted.
6) 3C,D,H,S:
If natural, they
are not Alertable. All other uses must be Alerted, or
7) 3D,H and
4D,H:
If transfers to
hearts and spades, respectively, must be Announced.
PART VI: OPENING
SUIT BIDS, RESPONSES AND REBIDS
1) 1C:
Not Alertable if
natural (three or more cards in minor) and
non-forcing.
Announceable if fewer than three cards is the only
unnatural
meaning. Any other meaning must be Alerted (e.g., a
Precision
opening 1C).
2) 1D:
Not Alertable if
natural (three or more cards in minor) and
non-forcing.
Announceable if fewer than three cards is the only
unnatural
meaning. Any other meaning must be Alerted.
3) 1H,1S:
Not Alertable if
natural (four or more cards in major) and
non-forcing.
(Note that canap systems must be pre-Alerted and canap
bids must also
be Alerted during the auction.) All other meanings are
Alertable.
4) 2C:
Not Alertable if
strong and forcing, whether natural or artificial.
All other
meanings are Alertable (e.g., natural and weak or
intermediate).
5) 2D,2H,2S:
Weak, natural,
non-conventional uses do not require an Alert. All
other natural or
conventional meanings are Alertable.
ALERTS.033 (PAGE 10)
____________________
RESPONSES TO
SUIT BIDS
1C-P-1D:
Not Alertable if
natural, forcing one round, and does not deny a four-
(or five)-card
major. All other uses must be Alerted.
1C-P-1H or
1C-P-1S:
Not Alertable if
it shows four or more cards in the suit bid and is
forcing for one
round. Note that the fact that you might bypass a
longer diamond
suit is NOT Alertable.
1C-P-1NT or
1D-P-1NT:
Not Alertable if
it shows a limited (maximum 11 HCP), balanced hand.
1D-P-1H or
1D-P-1S:
Not Alertable if
it is natural (four or more cards in the suit) and
forcing one
round.
1H-P-1S:
Not Alertable if
it is natural and forcing one round. Alertable if it
is conventional.
1H-P-1NT:
Not Alertable if
natural and non-forcing. Announceable if it is
forcing or
semi-forcing. Alert if it: 1) promises spades or 2) has
some other
conventional meaning.
(Note:
Semi-forcing in this case means that opener may pass with a
minimum and
5-3-3-2 distribution but otherwise will treat it as a
forcing notrump.
Passed-hand 1NT responses, unless they cannot be
passed, do not
require an Announcement.
1S-P-1NT:
Not Alertable if
natural and non-forcing. Announceable if it is
forcing or
semi-forcing. Other conventional agreements require an
Alert.
2C-P-2D OR a 2NT
response to a natural, strong two bid:
Not Alertable if
negative or temporizing (waiting).
2D,H,S-P-2NT:
Not Alertable if
it asks for further clarification. Natural,
non-forcing 2NT
responses to opening two bids must be Alerted.
NOTE: A
non-forcing suit response to a weak two-bid requires an Alert.
A simple raise
(2H-P-3H, for example) of a weak two-bid that is
invitational or
better requires an Alert.
Game-forcing
natural jump shifts are not Alertable. Other jump shifts
(either
conventional or natural and weak or intermediate) not in
competition must
be Alerted. A natural jump shift in competition does
not require an
Alert regardless of strength.
A natural 2NT
response which is invitational or better does not
require an
Alert.
ALERTS.033 (PAGE 11)
____________________
Two-over-one
bids are not Alertable if they are natural and forcing
for at least one
round. Note that natural two-over-one game-forcing
bids are not
Alertable.
In general,
responses by a passed hand are considered non-forcing and
do not require
an Alert or Announcement.
OPENER'S REBIDS
A 1NT rebid if
strong (may have 16 or more HCP) requires an Alert.
A rebid in a
suit that tends to be longer than the opening bid suit
(canape)
requires an Alert.
Opener's rebid
of two of a minor over partner's forcing or
semi-forcing
notrump response to a major does not require an Alert if
it shows three
or more of the suit bid (4-5-2-2 does not require an
Alert as long as
responder expects three or more cards in the minor).
PART VII:
HIGH-LEVEL OPENING BIDS
3C,3D,3H,3S:
Natural and
preemptive (weak) opening suit bids at the three level are
not Alertable.
If you commonly preempt at this level with very weak
suits (worse
than Qxxxxx) or suits of fewer than six cards you must
pre-Alert your
methods. Intermediate, strong or conventional usage
must be Alerted.
3NT:
A 3NT opening
that promises a strong, balanced hand is not Alertable.
Gambling 3NT
openings and all other conventional uses must be Alerted.
Natural opening
bids at the three level or higher which convey an
unusual message
regarding HCP range or any other information which
might be
unexpected to the opponents must be Alerted.
EXAMPLE:
4H,4S openings
which are natural but are weaker than might be expected
because the
partnership has some other method (an example is the
Namyats
convention) for showing a good 4, opening.
EXAMPLE:
1H-P-4H when
playing a forcing club where the 4H call may have, by
agreement,
values for game but not slam.
EXAMPLE:
A natural 3C
opening which is stronger than expected since the
partnership has
agreed to open 2S (a Mid-Chart agreement so the
Mid-Chart has to
be in effect) with weak minor-suit preempts.
REMEMBER! Below
game, non-forcing natural suit responses to preemptive
openings require
an Alert.
PART VIII: OTHER
CONSTRUCTIVE CALLS
Natural jump
raises in competition are not Alertable regardless of
strength. In the
same vein, natural jump shifts in competition do not
require an Alert
regardless of strength.
ALERTS.033 (PAGE 12)
____________________
PART IX:
DEFENSIVE AND COMPETITIVE CALLS
A jump to 2NT to
show the minors or the lower unbid suits is not
Alertable. A bid
of 3NT as unusual must be Alerted. A bid of 4NT is
not Alertable as
long as the prior bid was by an opponent. Non-jump
unusual notrump
bids below 4NT, except those made by a passed hand,
must be Alerted.
Natural jump
overcalls that are weak do not require an Alert. All
other natural
and conventional meanings are Alertable. Unusual
overcalls,
including the tendency to overcall at the two level
frequently with
a suit of fewer than five cards or with less than
two-over-one
values (approximately 10 HCP), must be Alerted.
PART X: DELAYED
(or POST) ALERTS
ALERTABLE CALLS
ABOVE THE LEVEL OF 3NT STARTING WITH OPENER'S
SECOND TURN TO CALL
Once the auction
has progressed to the point that the opening bidder
has had the
opportunity to make a second call, conventional calls at
the four level
or higher are not Alerted until the auction is over.
These DELAYED
ALERTS are REQUIRED to be made by the DECLARING side
before the
opening lead. The DEFENDERS are REQUIRED to Alert declarer
AFTER the
OPENING LEAD but BEFORE declarer makes a play from dummy
(Alerting before
the lead is turned face-up and the dummy is spread is
best).
The declaring
side must make their Delayed Alerts before the opening
lead. Defenders
wait until they have made the opening lead before they
explain calls
requiring a Delayed Alert. As with normal Alerts, the
partner of the
person making the Alertable call is the person who
makes the
Delayed Alert and explains the agreement.
EXAMPLES:
1H-P-1S-P-4D (splinter)
There is no
Alert at the time for the 4 bid. After the auction, the 1S
bidder must
Alert and explain as required the meaning of the call.
1C-P-1H-P- 2H-P:
4C,4D or 4S
If there was a
conventional meaning attached to any of these calls
ace-asking,
splinter or something else the Alert takes place after the
auction.
UNUSUAL CARDING
AGREEMENTS
Except for
leading low from a doubleton which requires a pre-Alert,
carding
agreements do not require an Alert of any kind. However, the
box on the card
in the middle of SPECIAL CARDING [ ] PLEASE ASK must
be checked when
playing a completely unexpected method or one that is
not easily or
clearly described by simply checking a box.
EXAMPLES:
Leading low from
a doubleton (also requires pre-Alert)
Carding which
changes during the hand
Obvious switch
agreements
DECLARER IS
EXPECTED TO EXAMINE AN OPPONENT'S CONVENTION CARD
WITHOUT PROMPTING IN
ORDER TO ASCERTAIN THEIR DEFENSIVE METHODS.
(Rev.NABC021) ALERTS.033 (PAGE 13)
____________________
ALERT CHART
The new Alert
procedure includes a number of definitions whose purpose
is to clarify
important concepts and create a standard terminology.
This procedure
uses the admittedly "fuzzy" terminology of "highly
unusual and
unexpected" as the best practical solution to simplifying
the Alert
Procedure. The "highly unusual and unexpected" should be
determined in
light of historical usage rather than local geographical
usage. To
ensure full disclosure, however, at the end of the auction
and before the
opening lead declarers are encouraged to volunteer to
explain the
auction (including available inferences).
DEFINITION OF EXPECTED LENGTH FOR NATURAL BIDS FOR THE
ALERT PROCEDURE ARE:
SUIT BIDS:
1. 3+ in a minor
and 4+ in a major for opening bids, rebids and
responses.
2. 4+ for an
overcall at the one level, 5+ for higher levels.
3. 5+ for a weak
two-bid.
4. 6+ for a weak
three-bid.
NOTRUMP OPENINGS
AND OVERCALLS:
A notrump
opening or overcall if not unbalanced (generally, no
singleton or
void and only one or two doubletons) is considered
natural.
DEFINITIONS:
ALERT: A manner
specified by the sponsoring organization by which
opponents are
notified of your pair's special agreements. These may
be given aloud,
in writing and/or by using an Alert card or strip.
CONVENTION: A
bid which, by partnership agreement, conveys a meaning
not necessarily
related to the denomination named or, in the case of a
pass, double or
redouble, the last denomination named. In addition, a
pass which
promises more than a specified amount of strength, or
artificially
promises or denies values other than in the last suit
named.
TRANSFER: A bid
of a suit to show another specific suit (e.g., a
diamond bid
showing hearts).
CUE-BID: A bid
in a suit which an opponent has either bid naturally or
in which he has
shown four or more cards.
CONTROL-BID: A
bid, not intended as a place to play, which denotes a
control (usually
first or second round). The control need not be in
the denomination
named. These bids are usually used to investigate
slam.
ALERTS.033 (PAGE 14)
____________________
DOUBLES (in
increasing order of penalty orientation):
TAKEOUT: Partner
is requested to bid.
COMPETITIVE:
Shows a desire to compete further; partner normally bids.
OPTIONAL: Shows
extra high-card values; offers partner a choice
between bidding
or passing.
PENALTY-ORIENTED: Partner normally passes but occasionally bids.
PENALTY: Partner
is requested to pass.
OTHER USEFUL
DEFINITIONS:
TREATMENT: A
natural call which, by partnership agreement, carries a
specific message
about the suit bid or the general strength or shape
of the hand.
RELAY: A bid
which does not guarantee any specific suit; partner is
requested to
make the next-step bid (usually) or make another
descriptive bid
if appropriate (e.g., a diamond bid which usually
shows hearts but
may not have hearts in some cases).
PUPPET: A bid
which requires partner to make a specific bid (e.g., a
2NT bid which
requires partner to bid 3clubs).
ALERTS: Many
previously Alertable calls no longer require an Alert.
However, when in
doubt Alert (there is no penalty for Alerting
unnecessarily
but there may be one for failing to Alert when one is
required).
PRE-ALERTS
(Alerts before hands are removed from the first board of a
round or match
segment):
1. Two-system
methods (e.g., strong club when equal or favorable
vulnerability; a
natural two-over-one when not).
2. Systems based
on very light openings or other highly aggressive
methods or
preempts.
3. Systems which
may be unfamiliar to opponents, such as canape.
4. SuperChart
and Mid-Chart methods.
5. Leading low
from a doubleton.
DELAYED ALERTS:
Beginning with and including opener's second call, an
Alertable bid
above the level of 3NT bid is a delayed Alert.
PASSES, DOUBLES
AND REDOUBLES REQUIRING AN ALERT MUST ALWAYS BE
ALERTED
IMMEDIATELY.
A Delayed Alert
is made as follows:
DECLARING SIDE:
The partner or the person making the Alertable call
Alerts after the
auction is completed and prior to the opening lead.
DEFENDING SIDE:
The partner of the player making the Alertable call
Alerts after the
opening lead is made face-down and before the dummy
is tabled.
ALERTS.033 (PAGE 15)
____________________
NATURAL BIDS NOT
SPECIFICALLY NOTED:
NO ALERT About
expected strength and shape
ALERT Highly
unusual strength, shape, etc.
CONVENTIONAL/ARTIFICIAL CALLS:
NO ALERT 1.
Stayman (next higher level of clubs
2.
Blackwood(4NT) and expected responses
3.
Gerber(4clubs)/
4.
Conventional 2NT response to an opening two-level suit
bid
5.
2diamond response to strong artificial 2club opening
which is waiting or negative
ALERT All
other conventional and/or artificial bids (SEE DELAYED
ALERTS ABOVE FOR
WHEN TO ALERT)
NOTRUMP
OPENINGS:
ALERT
Conventional
ANNOUNCE State
range, if natural for all 1NT openings.
NOTRUMP
OVERCALLS
NO ALERT 1.
Convention overcalls by a passed hand.
2.
Jumps to 2NT or any four-level or higher notrump bid that
is
unusual.
ALERT 1.
Jump to 3NT that is unusual.
2.
Other conventional notrump overcalls.
3. A
natural notrump overcall with an expected lower limit
of
less than 14 HCP and/or upper limit of more than
19HCP.
4.
Natural jumps to 2NT, except in balancing seat.
RESPONSES TO
NOTRUMP OPENING BIDS AND OVERCALLS:
NO ALERT 1.
Stayman (next higher level of clubs) asking for four card
major. (Also, Stayman after the NT opening has been
doubled.)
2.
Natural signoffs at the next higher level in diamonds,
hearts and spades.
3.
Three-level natural responses whether a jump response or
not.
ALERT 1.
Stayman (next higher level of clubs) if other than asking
for
four card major and rebids.
2.
Transfers, except for those which are announced, and other
artificial responses above next higher level of clubs.
ANNOUNCE 1.
State transfer anytime a diamond response to a natural
notrump bid at any level is a transfer to hearts.
2.
State transfer anytime a heart response to a natural
notrump bid at any level is a transfer to spades.
ALERTS.033 (PAGE 16)
____________________
If the
transferer may occasionally hold a Game Forcing hand without
the next higher
suit, state Transfer and Alert the subsequent bid
which cancels
the transfer meaning.
NOTE:
ANNOUNCEMENTS OF TRANSFERS AS ABOVE APPLY AFTER A NATURAL NT
REBID BY OPENER.
OPENING SUIT
BIDS AT THE ONE LEVEL:
NO ALERT
Natural non-forcing openings with an agreed range of
somewhere between 10-21+ HCP.
ALERT 1.
Convention and/or artificial openings which do not
require an Announcement such as a strong/artificial
forcing club.
2.
Frequent very light openings (fewer than 10 HCP by
agreement). ALSO, PRE-ALERT ANNOUNCE State "may be
short" for non-forcing 1club and 1diamond calls which may
be
shorter than three cards.
RESPONSES TO ONE
LEVEL OPENING BIDS IN A SUIT:
NO ALERT 1.
Non-forcing 1NT response whether four-majors are bypassed
or
not.
2.
Forcing natural 2NT response that may bypass four-card
majors.
3. A
one-level major- suit response to 1club that may bypass
longer diamonds.
4. 2/1
which shows at least game invitational values.
5. All
jump raises in or out of competition except a weak jump
raise after a pass by RHO (no competition).
ALERT 1.
Conventional 1NT response which is not announced.
2.
Non-Forcing suit bids by UPH.
3. A
weak jump raise after a pass by RHO(no competition).
4. A
natural, non-forcing jump shift after a pass by RHO (no
competition).
5. All
conventional responses not listed under no alert.
ANNOUNCE 1.
State "Forcing" if a 1NT response to a major is simply
forcing
2.
State "Semi-forcing" if a 1NT response is forcing except
when opener has a balanced minimum.
OPENER'S AND
RESPONDERS REBIDS:
NO ALERT 1. Two
of a minor after a forcing NT or semi-forcing 1NT
response.
2. A
1NT or 2NT rebid that implies a balanced hand (may
contain one or two four-card majors).
ALERT
Opener's 1NT rebid, if strong.
Responder's artificial third- or fourth-suit hands.
Responder's "checkback" bids (of 2 or 3 clubs or diamonds).
ALERTS.033 (PAGE 17)
____________________
OPENING
TWO-LEVEL BIDS IN A SUIT AND RESPONSES:
NO ALERT 1.
2clubs strong, artificial, and forcing.
2.
Weak, natural 2diamonds, 2hearts, or 2spades.
3.
Conventional and/or forcing 2NT responses.
4.
Natural, forcing responses in a suit.
ALERT 1.
Other conventional and/or artificial bids.
2.
Natural 2diamonds, 2hearts or 2spades, if intermediate or
better
3.
Natural weak or intermediate 2clubs.
4.
Natural and non-forcing 2NT responses.
5.
Natural, non-forcing responses in a suit.
DOUBLES AND
REDOUBLES:
NO ALERT Most
doubles and redoubles *SEE ALERTABLE DOUBLES*
ALERT
Doubles and redoubles with highly unusual or unexpected
meanings.
CUE-BIDS
NO ALERT Most
cue-bids *SEE ALERTABLE CUE-BIDS*
ALERT Direct
cue-bid of natural opening bid played as natural.
PASSES
ALERT Passes
with highly unusual or unexpected meanings.
OTHER
CONSTRUCTIVE CALLS:
NO ALERT Over
suits, 4NT ace-asking and responses.
Over
NT, 4clubs ace-asking and responses.
ALERT
Ace-asking calls and responses at or below the level of 3NT
or any
opening ace-asking call and response.
DELAYED ALERTS
Ace-asking calls
and responses above the level of 3NT beginning with
opener's second
call except for those listed under not Alertable.
DEFENSIVE BIDS:
NO ALERT 1.
Weak jump overcalls (two or three level).
2. All
constructive or better jump-shift advances.
3. All
natural jump raises of an overcall.
ALERT 1.
Very light overcalls (fewer than 6 HCP) ALSO PRE-ALERT.
2.
Intermediate or better jump overcalls (two or three
level).
3.
Weak Jump shifts after partner's overcall.
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