How to Use Intermediate Bridge Conventions (Lesson 15)

At higher levels of competition, some systems are so intricate and complicated, that it becomes necessary to "alert" or inform the opponents. (A special "Convention Card" is used at all tournaments.) There is not sufficent space on this site to demonstrate and analyze all of the Conventions. Many good bidding books are available which will help to improve your understanding.



Many of the great Bridge pioneers and masters created several popular Conventions which bear their names. Players of all levels use many of these Conventions as part of their repertoire. If you are a Novice/Intermediate Bridge player, you should consider learning these systems in order to improve your game and have a better partnership rapport.



In this article I will move on from Basic Bridge Conventions (Lesson 14) to cover Conventions at the Intermediate level.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A well-lighted and ventilated room
• A card-sized table
• 2 decks of Bridge-sized or standard playing cards
• Pens/pencils and paper for keeping Score
• 4 enthusiastic players!

1. 
   The Knave of Hearts

   CUE BIDS AND CUE BID RAISES
   
   
   
   When your partner opens the bidding and the right-hand opponent overcalls, a cue bid of the RHO's bid shows a limit raise or better. A cue bid at a higher level is often used to show a void or singleton of the opponent's preferred suit.

2. 
   Queen of Clubs

   JACOBY 2 NT (MAJOR SUIT FORCING RAISE)
   
   
   
   In the "good old days" of Bridge, the jump raise of your partner's opening Major suit showed 13 to 15 HCP and a desire for game. Borderline response hands (10 to 12 HCP) were a real problem. The answer was the Jacoby 2 NT response. This is the same as the old double raise and allows partner more flexibility. If you use Jacoby 2 NT, you must have four-card support (or three high honors) and opening hand values.

3. 
   King of Diamonds

   BALANCING
   
   
   
   This is a very generalized term describing the sitution which occurs when your partner passes an opening bid in second seat and your RHO also passes. You must take some action rather than sell out to the opponent at the one level. An overcall requires a five-card suit. You may have 1 NT (with less than the normal NT values). Your partner must understand that you are protecting him. He will then bid accordingly.

4. 
   Queen of Hearts

   UNUSUAL NO TRUMP
   
   
   
   If you have distributional hand with at least 5-5 or 6-5 shape, and the opponent has opened with a suit bid on the 1 level, your overcall of 2 NT over a Major shows both minor suits. If you overcall 2 NT over a Minor suit opponent's bid, you show Hearts and the other Minor. The unusual NT is intended to interfere with the opponent's, and also shows a weak hand. I would advise you to study up on Michaels Cue-Bid, which allows for additional revelation on distributional hands.

5. 
   King of Spades

   RKCB (ROMAN KEY CARD BLACKWOOD)
   
   
   
   Eddie Kantar, the great Bridge teacher and player, created this variation of the traditional Blackwood system. A lot of Slam hands depend on more than just the quantitative count of Aces or Kings for that measure. In RKCB there are five KEY cards: the four Aces and the King of Trump. Blackwood responses still apply with this difference:
   5 C = 1 or 4 key cards; 5 D = 0 or 3 Key cards; 5 H = 2 or 5 key cards and no Queen of Trump; 5 S = 2 or 5 key cards with the Queen of Trump--pretty heady stuff! 5 NT by the RKC bidder asks about the three non-trump Kings.
   
   
   
   WARNING: Do not attempt RKBC unless you are experienced!

6. 
   Queen of Diamonds

   SPLINTER BIDS
   
   
   
   If your partner opens with a Major suit and you hold 13 to 15 HCP, four-card trump support and a singleton or void of another suit, your bid of 4 of that singleton or void (side) suit shows a desire for Slam. The opening hand can also make a splinter bid after your partner makes a low level response. Splinter bids should not be made with singleton off suit Aces or Kings. A double jump in a new suit by the opener shows strong support for the responder's suit and 17 to 19 HCP. As is the case with many of the systems, be sure you have perfect partnership understanding!

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure that you understand the prerequisites for any Conventional bid.
• Take the time to research all of the related information for any Convention.
• Practice on the Internet (at a Bridge site) to help improve your game.
• Always check the opponent's Convention card when playing in local or higher level tournaments.
• Do not use a Convention with a new partner without reviewing it in advance.
• Do not veer away from the basic structure of a Convention.
• Be sure to ask the opponents if they are using any unusual bidding systems.
• Do not attempt any Convention application without practice and preparation!