Vermont Bridge Association - Convention Cards


To get a program to fill out your card click Here

How to Fill Out The New ACBL Convention Card

(Courtesy acbl.org)


The ACBL Convention Card is designed to be easier
for players to use by making available pertinent information to opponents (a
comprehensive overview of your system). It should provide players with a good
idea of the methods they have chosen to play and make them more aware of calls
that require an Alert (in red) or Announcement (in blue).


If what you play is a modified version of
something on the card, check the appropriate box and add a note (in the same
place) that clarifies what is modified. If what you play is not similar, don't
check any box, make a separate note about it in the same section. If you see
something that is unfamiliar to you, you probably do not play it so skip it.


NOTE: It is your responsibility to make sure your methods
are legal for the event. Check the appropriate convention chart, usually the
ACBL General Convention Chart, occasionally the ACBL Mid-Chart or SuperChart. If
there is any doubt, check with the tournament director.




ACBL CONVENTION CARD REGULATIONS


First a few miscellaneous things about the use of ACBL
Convention Cards in ACBL tournaments.


NAMES: On this line you enter the first and last names
of each member of the partnership (ACBL regulation for sectional and
higher-rated tournaments). The writing on this line, as well as all other lines
on the card must be legible.


TWO IDENTICAL COPIES: Each player is required to have a
Convention Card legibly filled out and on the table throughout the session. Both
cards of a partnership must be identical.


COMPLETE CARD: If a director determines that neither
player has a substantially completed card, the partnership may only play
conventions listed on the ACBL Limited Conventions chart and may only
play standard carding. This restriction may be lifted by the director at the
beginning of the next round once two completed cards have been approved by the
director. Beginning with the second round after being notified about
inadequately filled-out cards, the director will impose penalties. If only one
substantially completed Convention Card is produced by a partnership, the
director may give warnings or penalties at his/her discretion.

 

 








Index to Sections of the Convention Card



FRONT OF CARD
BACK OF CARD                           


General Approach
Special Doubles
Over Opp's T/O Double


Notrump Opening Bids
Notrump Overcalls
Direct Cuebid


Major Opening
Simple Overcall
vs Opening Preempts Double is


Minor Opening
Defense vs Notrump
Slam Conventions


Two-Level Openings
Jump Overcall
Leads


Other Conv. Calls
Opening Preempts
Defensive
Carding




GENERAL APPROACH


In this section, you explain your general systemic approach. Several common
systems can be specified just by checking a box. If your system cannot be easily
explained by checking boxes, write it in on the line under "General Approach".
If you play some version of Standard American, you can can write that on the
line.


TWO OVER ONE:

 


Game Forcing: Check this box if 2/1 is always game forcing
except perhaps over an opponent's 1NT overcall or takeout double.


Game Forcing Except When Suit Rebid: Check this box if
responder's rebid of the 2/1 suit is non-forcing. Check the box if 1S -2C; 2S -3C is invitational. If it
is forcing, do not check this box. If there are exceptions to your general 2/1
style, check the appropriate box and write in the exceptions.



    If you play two over one (e.g., 1S-Pass-2C is a 2/1 response) game
    forcing or nearly so, you must check the appropriate box:


VERY LIGHT:

 


Openings: If you routinely open hands with fewer than 11 high-card
points (HCP) that are not especially shapely, check this box.


3rd Hand: If you frequently open flat hands with 10 HCP or fewer with
one of a suit, but only in the third position, then check this box.


Overcalls: If you routinely overcall on hands with fewer than 8
high-card points, check this box.


Preempts: If your preempts are undisciplined, frequent five-card suits
for weak two-bids and six-card suits for three-bids, then check this box.


If close, judge whether you would open a hand such as



S Q 6     H
Q 9 5 4 3 2     D
J 8 5     C 9 3

with
2H, or a hand such
as



S 7 3     H
J 8 4     D 7 4     C Q J 9 5 4 2

with
3C non-vulnerable
versus vulnerable. If so, check the "Preempts" box.

 


FORCING OPENING:


Other: If something else is forcing for you (1D for example), check this box
and write that forcing opening on the red line to the right. If you play NAMYATS
(a four level opening of 4C to show a stronger than normal 4H opening and 4D to show a similar 4S opening), do not list 4C and 4D here, list them in the OPENING PREEMPTS section of the card.



    This section lists the strong bid(s) in your system. When you make this bid,
    partner is forced to respond with any hand. Check the one that applies to you:
    1C,     2 C, Natural 2 Bids. If you have no forcing opening,
    write "none" on the red line to the right.

 




 


NOTRUMP OPENING BIDS


Things are arranged differently on the new convention card - in three
columns. The first two columns are concerned with 1NT openings. The third
column is where you describe your conventions and treatments after 2NT
and 3NT openings.


1NT:

2NT

3NT


    Fill-in the range as appropriate. Use the additional line to describe any
    conventional responses to a 3NT opening.

Conventional NT
Openings:


    If you play conventional openings such as 2NT showing a minimum 5-4 or 5-5
    in the minors or Gambling 3NT, describe them here. If there is a point range,
    you can make use of the above point range areas with a distinct arrow pointing
    to the conventional description.

 




 

MAJOR OPENING



Expected Min. Length

The boxes about four-card and five-card majors clarify the minimum length
that partner expects when you open one of a major.


Checking the 4 box for both 1st/2nd and 3rd/4th means
you play four-card majors. If you only open 1H with a four-card suit, put
"1H" over "4" and
check "5" box for 1S.


Checking the 5 box for both 1st/2nd and 3rd/4th means
you play five-card majors at all times. Your partner always expects you to have
five cards in the major suit you open.


Checking the 5 box for 1st/2nd and the 4 box for
3rd/4th indicates that you relax the five-card major openings in 3rd and
4th seat to the extent that your partner only expects four cards in the major
you have opened when in that position.

 




 


RESPONSES to One of a Major


Double Raise:

Check the box that applies:


Force

If playing strong raises

Inv.

If playing invitational (limit) raises

If playing preemptive raises

Weak

After Overcall:

List here what a double raise is after an intervening overcall. Fill this in
if a double raise is different after a competitive bid by an opponent. See Over Opp's T/O Double if the intervening call is a double.

Conv. raise: (Conventional)

Check any box that applies.


2NT:

If you play that a 2NT response to a one of a major opening bid shows
support for opener's major, check this box. If the 2NT bid also asks for a short
suit in opener's hand (Jacoby 2NT), check the 2NT box and alert opener's
response.

3NT:

If three notrump shows an opening hand with support for opener's major,
check this box. If 3NT shows a splinter with 10-12 HCP and an unspecified short
suit, or if 3NT shows 4-3-3-3 with three-card support, write this on the
Other line and draw a line to the 3NT box.

Check this box if a suit bid at the four-level shows support for opener's
major suit and shortness in the bid suit and values for game. If you play a
different style of splinter bid (invitational strength), check the box and
explain your agreement on the "Other" line near the "Splinter" box.

Splinter:

Other:

There is a line here to clarify your support-showing responses or to
describe any other treatments/conventions that show support for opener's major.

1NT:



Forcing

Check this box if a 1NT response to one of a major is forcing, asking opener
to clarify distribution. If you play 1NT forcing only by an unpassed hand, check
the Forcing box and write "UPH" by the box.

If you play 1NT semi-forcing (opener can pass with a balanced minimum),
check this box.

Semi-forcing

2NT:

If you play your 2NT response as natural (a notrump hand), either check
Forcing or Inv. (invitational) as appropriate. When invitational
is checked, you must indicate the HCP range.

3NT:

If 3NT is natural, indicate the HCP range.

Drury:

means you use an artificial 2C response to a third- or fourth-seat 1H or 1S opening to ask for the hand
strength. If the weak response is to rebid the opened major, check
Drury and the Reverse box. If the weak
response is 2D, check
Drury only. If both the 2C and 2D response are used to check
hand strength, check 2-Way. If you play that using Drury shows
at least a 3-card fit with partner's major, check Fit.

This is a line to put in other agreements in response to major
openings.

Other:

 





MINOR OPENINGS



Expected Min. Length

Mark the expected minimum length for one-level minor openings. It is good to
make helpful notes if you have specific understandings, such as:


  • 1C is opened with
    4-4-3-2 distribution (exactly).

  • If your 1D
    opening is part of a big club system and promises 0+ or 1+ diamonds.


If you open 1C
with 3-3 in the minors, opening 1D with a three-card suit only if the distribution is 4-4-3-2
exactly, check the 3 box but write an arrow pointing to 4 for the 1D opening, noting that 1D normally shows 4+
diamonds.


If you play that 1C or 1D
shows 5+ in the suit, check the other box and write "5+" or whatever applies
adjacent to the box.

 




 


RESPONSES to One of a Minor


Double Raise:

Check the box that applies:


Force

If playing strong raises

Inv.

If playing invitational (limit) raises

If playing preemptive jump raises

Weak

After Overcall:

List here what a double raise is after an intervening overcall. Fill this in
if a double raise is different after a competitive bid by an opponent. See Over Opp's T/O Double if the intervening call is a double.

Forcing Raise:

If a forcing raise is something other than a double raise, check the
appropriate box:


J/S in the other minor (Jump Shift)

Check this box if you use Jump/Shift in the other minor (1C-2D or 1D-3C) to show strong support
for opener's minor. If you have an agreement about the minimum length that this
bid would show, write that on the same line, next to the box.

Single Raise

Check this box if playing inverted minor raises so that 1C-2C or 1D-2D shows a strong raise of
opener's minor. Again, indicate any agreements as to minimum expected length.

On this line write any other special agreements you have for showing support
for opener's minor opening.

Other:

Frequently bypass 4+D

If your style is to bid suits up the line, do not check this box. If you may
systemically bypass a diamond suit to bid a four-card major, check the box and
be prepared to answer questions about your specific tendencies in this area, if
you have any agreement. If 1C-1D is
something special, write in the line to the right of Other at
the bottom of this section.

1NT/1C:

Put in the applicable HCP range.

2NT:



Forcing

Check this box if a 2NT response to one of a minor is natural and
game-forcing

Check this box if 2NT is invitational and also fill in the point
range.

Inv.

3NT:

For a natural 3NT response, indicate the point range.

Use this line for any other conventions or treatments that you use in
response to a one-of-a-minor opening bid.

Other:

 





TWO-LEVEL SUIT OPENINGS


For each opening, put the HCP range on the line to the right of the suit
symbol for each two-bid. Then, describe what hand types make the opening in the
DESCRIBE section. Put any response and follow-up information in
the RESPONSES/REBIDS section. There are also boxes to check
below the HCP range in each two-bid box to describe the meaning of the two-level
opening.

 




2 C
 


Strong - Check this box if 2C is strong for you, either
strong and artificial or strong and natural.
Other - Check
this box if 2C is not
strong (Precision 2C,
weak 2C, three-suited
2C, etc). Be sure to
clarify the meaning on the line under the DESCRIBE heading.

If you play a response of 2D to a 2Copening as Negative (bad hand) or Waiting (for partner to describe
their hand), check the appropriate box.


2D Resp:

For these openings check Natural if four or more cards are
shown in the bid suit;
check Conv. if four or more cards are
NOT promised in the bid suit. If weak two-bids can frequently be bid on
five-card suits, note this under DESCRIBE. Also, note any
suit-quality requirements or other notables.


Under RESPONSES/REBIDS note any conventional responses to
the opening 2-bid, or conventional rebids by opener. Also check any appropriate
box:



2NT Force

Check this box if a response of 2NT is forcing and asks for a further
description of opener's hand.

Check this box if a response of a new suit is natural but not forcing.

New Suit NF

2D, 2H, and 2S

 





OTHER CONVENTIONAL CALLS


Since new minor forcing , weak jump shifts, and 4th suit forcing are so
common, there are boxes to check and lines to the right of the box to add a
further description of the method. For new minor and 4th suit, make notes if
some auctions are game-forcing and some aren't.


There are several other lines to put special understandings, such as defenses
to Michaels cuebids or unusual notrump.



New Minor Forcing:

Check this box if after opener's 1NT rebid you play that a rebid by
responder of 2 of a new minor is artificial and forcing and asks for
clarification about opener's support for responder's major. (e.g., 1C-1H; 1NT-2D.) After checking the
box, write "Inv" on the line next to the box if you play New Minor Forcing as an
invitational call, or "G.F." if you play it Game Forcing.

2-Way NMF:

If you play that both 2C and 2D are
artificial and forcing, check this box instead and explain the differences
between the two bids on the available line.

Weak Jump Shifts:

If you play that a jump shift by responder shows a long suit with a weak
hand, check this box and write your agreement ("Over Minors", "In Competition")
on the line to the right of the box.

If you play that in an uncontested auction, a bid of the fourth suit by
responder is artificial and forcing, check the box to indicate if the bid is a
1 Round force or a Game force.

4th Suit Forcing:


NOTE: It is your responsibility to make sure your methods
are legal for the event. Consult the appropriate convention chart, usually the
ACBL General Convention Chart, occasionally the ACBL Mid-Chart or SuperChart. If
there is any doubt, consult with the tournament director.

 





SPECIAL DOUBLES



Negative:

If you use Negative Doubles, check the box and write in after
thru the level up to 4H through which you use them - show highest overcall that a
double of which would be negative, i.e., "thru 3S" implies a double of a
4 C overcall would be
penalty (or "cards" if you make note of that somewhere in the Special Doubles
section). If you use them over bids of 4S or higher, check the "4S+" box and note any
higher level through which negative doubles are used. (Remember that negative
doubles over bids of 4S or higher require an Alert.)

Responsive:

Check and write in after thru as for negative doubles, if
applicable.

Maximal:

Double used artificially to show game interest in a bid-and-raised suit.
Applies when opponents bid the maximal suit (the one just under three of agreed
suit), i.e. 1S
- Dbl - 2S - 3H - Dbl is an
artificial game try in spades. Check the Maximal if applicable.


Support Dbl:

Double by opener at 2nd turn shows 3-card support for responder's major,
i.e., 1C - Pass
- 1H - 1S - Dbl shows 3-card
support. Indicate if you use support doubles and the level thru which you use
them.

Redbl:

If you also use the support redouble indicate this by checking this box.

Card-showing:

Checking this box means that you frequently make doubles that show values at
low levels in situations where the unAlerted meaning of the double is penalty.

Min. Offshape T/O:

Check this box if, by agreement, you make takeout doubles with minimum hands
which do not show support for the unbid suits. For example, if your T/O of an
opening 1S bid with S
KJx, H xx, D AQxx, C Kxxx would not be
unexpected to partner.

On the blank line at the bottom of the Special Doubles
section, write anything else about special doubles that doesn't fit elsewhere.

Other:

 




 

NOTRUMP OVERCALLS



Direct:

Indicate the HCP range when you overcall RHO's opening bid with 1NT.

Systems On:

Check if you play the same responses to a 1NT overcall as to a 1NT opening
bid.

Conv.:

Check this box and add a description the conventional meaning of a notrump
overcall. For example, you may play a "Sandwich NT" where 1D - Pass - 1S - 1NT shows a weak hand
with clubs and hearts.

Balancing:

Show range of a balancing 1NT overcall in this type of auction:

1H - Pass -
Pass - 1NT: 15-17? 11-15? 9-11?

Jump to 2NT:


Conv.:
 

Check this box and add a description the conventional meaning of a Jump to
2NT after RHO's opening bid. If you play any other conventional meanings of
Notrump Overcalls, you may list them on this line.

Jump to 2NT:


Conv.:

 




 

SIMPLE OVERCALL



1 level:

Show the expected, basic agreed HCP range for a one-level overcall.

often 4 cards:

Check this box if you frequently overcall at the one level with a 4-card
suit.

very light style:

Check this box if, for example, you overcall aggressively with AQTx and
nothing else.


Responses to a Simple Overcall


New suit:

Check the box that best describes your agreements if partner bids a new suit
in response to your simple overcall.




Forcing:
Check if new suit is forcing in response to an overcall. If sometimes
forcing, sometimes not (other than by passed hand), do not check the box but be
ready to answer questions.


NFConst:
Check if the response is constructive but not forcing.


NF:
Check this box if the response is non-forcing and also is not constructive.
For example, check this box if you are likely to bid 2H with KT9xxx on an auction of
1C - 1S - Pass -
You.

Jump Raise:

Check whichever box describes your agreement.




Forcing:
Check this box if a jump raise in the overcalled suit is forcing to
game.


Inv.:
Check this box if a jump raise in the overcalled suit is invitational to
game.


Weak:
Check this box if a jump raise in the overcalled suit is preemptive, and
just shows length in your suit. Remember that this treatment only requires an
alert when rho passes in noncompetitive situations .

On the blank line at the bottom of the Simple Overcall
section, list any other conventions/treatments that you play in response to a
simple overcall.

Other:

 





DEFENSE VS NOTRUMP


This area is designed to be as flexible as possible. There are two basic
columns. The first line is noted only as vs:. On this line you
may label each column to indicate a NT range ( weak - strong ) or use one column
for direct and the other for balance or some combination. Write the meaning of
the bids in that column on the first line.


If you play each two-level call as natural, you can just circle the suit
symbols. Otherwise you write alongside what that call indicates. For example,
opposite 2C you could
write "At least 5-4 majors" or "Unspecified one suiter".


Dbl: On this line specify the meaning of a double in your
defense to a 1NT opening.


Other: Use these 2 lines to note other defenses which were
not described above. For example, negative doubles over 3-level
interference.




JUMP OVERCALLS


Check appropriately. If you have different treatments for different
situations (position, vulnerability), write them above the box that applies to
that situation.

 





Weak:
Means less-than-opening strength is normally expected.


Intermediate:
Means opening strength is expected;


Strong:
Means at least a King better than a minimum opening bid is expected. Check
more than one box if vulnerability or level or some other factor causes the
agreement to change.


For anything relevant about jump overcalls not indicated above use the blank
line at the bottom of this section (i.e., "some jump overcalls show
two-suiters").

 





OPENING PREEMPTS



3/4-bids:






Sound:
Three and four-level preempts are roughly in accordance with the rule of 500
- you expect to take seven tricks vulnerable, six tricks non-vulnerable out of
your own hand.


Light:
Preempts are frequently below "sound" ones but better than "very light".
Note if it varies with seat or vulnerability.


Very Light:
Preempts at the 3-level would be made on


S 7 3    H J 8 4    D 7 4    C Q J 9 5 4
2

For any special conventional preemptive openings like NAMYATS (a four level
opening of 4C to show
a stronger than normal 4H opening and 4D to show a similar 4S opening), responses to partner's opening preempt or other pertinent
details use the bottom two lines of this section.

 


Conv./Resp.:




OVER OPP'S T/O DOUBLE

 





New Suit Forcing:
Indicate at what level(s) you play this treatment.
If a new
suit bid at the 1-level is forcing (e.g., 1C - Double - 1S) check this box. If a
new suit bid at the 2-level is forcing, (e.g., 1S - Double - 2 C) check this
box.


Jump Shift:
Check any boxes that apply.




Forcing:
Check this box if a jump shift after the opponent's takeout double is strong
and game forcing.


Inv.:
Check this box if a jump shift after the opponent's takeout double is
invitational to game.


Weak:
Check this box if a jump shift after the opponent's takeout double is
preemptive.


Redouble implies no fit:
Check here if you tend to raise directly with a fit and reserve
redouble for non-fitting hands.


2NT Over:
Define 2NT over an opponent's takeout double - do so by checking
the appropriate box opposite the opening bid under the following categories:
Limit+ (limit raise or better), Limit(limit
raise), Weak.


Other:
Any other treatments.

 





DIRECT CUEBID


In this section indicate the meaning of a bid of the suit opened by your RHO
(right hand opponent). Check the appropriate box or boxes opposite
Natural, Strong T/O (takeout) andMichaels
under the headings Minor, Major and Artif. Bid
(artificial bid).

 





Natural:
Check this box in the appropriate column if you play that a bid of the same
suit bid by your RHO shows a desire to play in that suit. Note that this
agreement is alertable for both Majors and Minors.


Strong T/O:
If a cuebid shows a big hand short in the bid suit, check the box in the
column for which this agreement applies.


Michaels
Check the appropriate boxes and give details on the line below if you play
Michaels (A cuebid of RHO's minor suit shows both majors, and a cuebid of RHO's
major suit opening shows the other major and an unspecified minor suit. Usually
this bid shows no more than a minimum opening hand, but some pairs play good-bad
Michaels showing either a weak hand or a very strong one.) Other cuebids such as
"top and bottom" (showing both the highest and lowest unbids suits) should be
described on the blank line at the bottom of this
section.


If 1C -
2C shows a
club suit even if the 1C is a natural opening (also for 1D - 2D), check the
Natural box under Minor. If you play this bid
as natural only over artificial openings of 1C and 1D, check the Artif. Bid
box.


Other cuebids such as "top and bottom" should be described on the blank line
at the bottom of this section. You may also use this line to indicate if you
have agreements for cuebids in the balancing position.




VS OPENING PREEMPTS DOUBLE IS


Check Takeout and note the level of preempt through which
the double is takeout if applicable. If a double of a preempt is for penalty,
mark the Penalty box. If you play takeout through a certain
level but penalty above that level (for example, takeout through 4H and penalty above), you should
check the takeout box and write in 4H after thru, and then check the penalty box
and write 4S+ by the
side.


Conv. Takeout: If you play penalty or optional doubles, you
normally would use some suit overcall as a takeout bid. If so, indicate here.
"Cheaper minor" would describe one such convention.


Lebensohl 2NT Response: Check here if a 2NT response to a
double of an opening two-bid is Lebensohl, requesting a 3C reply.


Other: On this line, add any other details such as two-suit
overcalls over preempts.




SLAM CONVENTIONS



Gerber:

If you ever use 4C to ask for aces, check this box. Since only unusual ace-asking
conventions on the first round of bidding are Alertable, it is important to
indicate when 4C is
used as ace-asking.

4NT:

Indicate the type of 4NT slam try that you use. Mark the appropriate box
even if you frequently use a bid other than 4NT to ask for aces/key cards.

 




Blackwood:

Check this box if you use regular Blackwood with standard responses (5C shows 0 or 4 aces, 5D shows 1 ace, 5H shows 2 aces, and 5S shows 3 aces).

RKC:

Check this box if you use Roman Key Card Blackwood with the king of trump
counting as an extra "ace". 5C shows 0 or 3 aces, 5D shows 1 or 4 aces, 5H shows 2 or 5 aces without the queen of trump, and 5S shows 2 or 5 aces with the
queen of trump. Remember to not alert this bid, but to explain it after the
face-down opening lead.

Check this box if you invert the first two responses to Roman Key Card
Blackwood with 5C
showing 1 or 4 aces and, 5D showing 0 or 3 aces.

1430:


If you use Roman Blackwood (shows only aces, and shows which two of four aces
are held), or declarative-interrogative (where 4NT is a general slam try), or
Culbertson or any other use of 4NT, describe the 4NT variation on one of the
blank lines in this section.


Also use these lines to indicate special ace-asking bids used: "Kickback"
means that four of the suit over your trump suit is used as Roman Key Card
(4S when hearts are
trump, 4D when clubs
are trump, etc). "Redwood" means that 4H or 4S can be used as Roman Key Card, the suit not in focus as a trump suit.
If a raise to four of a minor is used as RKCB or for other understandings,
indicate it here. There should be sufficient room to write an explanation of
what you are playing rather than just "Kickback" or "Redwood".


Check the appropriate box if you have any special ace-showing responses over
interference over 4C
or 4NT.

 




DOPI

means that double shows zero aces/keycards, and pass shows 1 ace/keycard,
etc.

DEPO
 

is used over a double and means that redouble shows zero, pass shows 1
ace/keycard, etc.

ROPI

Level:


On this line indicate the level at which you play DOPI and DEPO. For
example: "DOPI@5 lvl, DEPO@6 lvl".

DEPO
 

is used over a double and means that redouble shows zero, pass shows 1
ace/keycard, etc.

ROPI

vs Interference:




CARDING


LEADS: Circle card led from various holdings in each section
- versus Suits and versus Notrump. No card
circled announces standard leads (the card shown in bold type) - King from
A-K-x, top card from an interior sequence (jack from K-J-10, 10
from K-10-9, etc). Circle any exceptions to standard leads.


LENGTH LEADS:



4th Best

If you lead the fourth best card from suits like Q-8-6-2 (lead the 2) or
K-J-8-6-2 (lead the 6), then check the appropriate box(es). It is understood
that you lead third best from three cards, and lead the appropriate honor from
sequences or interior sequences when you choose to do so. Your leads from
small-cards-only should be circled under previous section.


vs SUITS:

If you lead fourth-best against suit contracts, check this box.

If you lead fourth-best against notrump contracts, check this box.

vs NT:

3rd/5th Best

These boxes indicate that you lead third best from suits with an even number
of cards and lowest from suits with an odd number of cards. e.g. lead the 6 from
Q-8-6-2, lead the 3 from K-J-8-6-3, lead the 2 from Q-9-7-6-5-3-2.


vs SUITS:

If you lead 3rd/5th against suit contracts, check this box.

If you lead 3rd/5th against notrump contracts, check this box.

vs NT:

Check this box if you lead lower from stronger holdings and higher from
weaker ones against notrump contracts.

Attitude vs. NT


If you have other agreements, put them on the line at the bottom of this
section.


Primary signal to partner's leads:


While many pairs may vary their primary signal to partner's opening lead
depending upon dummy's particular holding and the auction, there is usually an
agreed meaning except for special circumstances. Check your primary or normal
agreement.



Attitude

Check this box if the card you play to partner's opening lead shows your
attitude towards the suit lead (whether you play standard or upside-down
signals).

Count

Check this box if the card you play to the first trick shows your count in
the suit that partner lead, whether your signal is standard (high from an even
number, low from an odd number) or upside-down (low from an even number, high
from an odd numner).

If the card that you play to the first trick shows suit preference to the
other two suits (other than trump and the suit partner lead) then check this
box. If you only make this signal when there is a singleton or void in dummy in
the suit partner lead, then do not check the box.

Suit preference

 





DEFENSIVE CARDING:


There are boxes to check for follow-suit signals (signals you give when you
must follow suit.) You should check the combination of boxes that describe your
defensive signalling against suit and notrump contracts. It may be necessary to
write some clarification in addition to check the appropriate boxes.

 




Standard:



Count:

High-low shows an even number of cards in that suit, while low-high shows an
odd number of cards.

Attitude:

A high card shows interest in that suit, low-high shows disinterest.

Playing a low card shows preference for the lower-ranking offsuit (not trump
and not the suit led); playing a high card shows preference for the
higher-ranking offsuit.

Suit preference:


If these definitions describe your agreement, check the boxes under
vs SUITS and/or vs NT. If you have some
exceptions, check the Except box and write them in the lines
provided.


Upside-Down:

If your agreement is the opposite of standard, then you are playing
upside-down. While it is permissible to play any combination of standard and
upside-down signals against suits and notrump, you must mark your card correctly
and CLEARLY. Check the appropriate boxes to indicate when you play these
discards. Either note the upside-down portions as exceptions or draw a line from
the Except box to the appropriately checked boxes under
Upside-Down:.

 


FIRST DISCARD:

On these lines, describe your discards. If you check nothing, you are
announcing standard discards, with the emphasis on attitude.


Lavinthal

Check this box if you tend to discard suits you don't like while giving suit
preference for other suits.

Check this box if you discard odd-ranked cards to encourage in that suit and
even-ranked cards to discourage in that suit and possibly give suit
preference.

Odd/Even
Whatever it is you are playing, either check the
appropriate boxes or write it on the line and check whether it applies
vs SUITS and/or vs NT.

 


In this section, list other defensive signals that you play.


Smith Echo

This is a method to indicate encouragement (by either partner) for the suit
initially led by echoing on declarer's run of a long suit in dummy or his hand.
Lack of an echo implies a desire for a switch, check the appropriate box(es) to
indicate if you play this signal vs SUITS and/or vs
NT.

Trump Suit Pref. (Preference)

Check this box if you discard with three trumps to indicate a preference for
one of the other suits.

Check this box if your agreement is that partner of the opening leader
follows suit with his second highest card when he cannot beat dummy's card or
the card that was led.

Foster Echo

OTHER CARDING:


SPECIAL CARDING PLEASE ASK: Check this box if you have
agreements that are unusual and/or cannot be clearly noted on the card. As
Declarer it is always a good idea to check a defender's card and ask questions
when you see that this box has been checked.


Always check the Convention Chart for permissible carding methods as
some are not permitted.

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