Bidding System Help

Good to know: we will be adding more systems and convention cards in response to Members' requests, so feel free to Contact Us.

This page is for information about systems and conventions. To start with we are including a file that has two systems:

• a basic Acol system

• and a slightly more advanced Bernard Acol system

By having them here, I hope it might make singles more able to agree a system which suits their needs. It also sets the framework of the ‘natural bidding’ of the site. As we discuss conventions on the site, I might add some more files to deal with them.

Bernard Magee Convention Cards

BASIC ACOL

12-14 1NT Four-card majors Stayman, Red suit Transfers (2S for a weak minor) Negative Doubles Fourth suit forcing Bids of opponents’ suit = strong BLACKWOOD: either normal or Basic Key-Card Normal overcalls CARDING: 4th highest from an honour; 2nd highest from a bad suit Natural signalling HI – Yes; LO - No

BENJAMINIZED ACOL (BENJI)

12-14 1NT Four-card majors Stayman, Red suit Transfers (2S for a weak minor) BENJI style WEAK TWOS in HEARTS & SPADES (Ogust responses) 2C = 8 playing tricks in a suit (17-22) 2D = 23+ or Game-forcing 2H/S = 6-10 six card suit 2NT = 20-22 balanced or semi-balanced Negative Doubles Fourth suit forcing Unassuming cuebids BLACKWOOD: Key-Card Weak jump overcalls Splinters, cuebids Landy defence to 1NT (2C shows majors) Two-suited overcalls (Michaels, Unusual) [EXCLUDING artificial 3C] CARDING: 4th highest from an honour; 2nd highest from a bad suit Natural signalling HI – Yes; LO – No (with McKenney overtones) Standard Count: Hi-lo for even number OPTIONAL: Jacoby 2NT (response to 1-of-a-major); inverted minors