The English Bridge Union (EBU) changed the rules on alerting, and introduced the concept of "announcing",
in
Was it really nearly five years ago? Despite the fact that the announcing rules have been in effect for several years, there still seems to be a modicum of confusion. Hopefully this article will throw some light on the subject. Please note that the definitive (if slightly legalistic) description of the rules is in the EBU "Orange Book". At the time of writing, the revised Orange Book was available at http://blakjak.com/download.htm
Announcing means making a short specific statement about the meaning of partner's bid. The rules require you to announce in the following circumstances:
| Partner bids | You announce | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1NT opener | The agreed point range, for example by saying "12-14". In addition, if your partnership methods allow you to open 1NT with a singleton you must add the qualification "possible singleton". | ||
| Stayman | Just say "Stayman". Note that this only applies opposite a 1NT opener, when Stayman is used in the traditional manner (asking partner to bid a 4 card major), and only if there has been no intervention. In all other circumstances, Stayman should be alerted. When Stayman has been announced, a subsequent 2¨ from opener should not alerted. Note also that if the Stayman bidder subsquently bids 3§ for a weak takeout into clubs then this is part of standard Stayman and need not be alerted. If you play any other extensions to Stayman, such as Stayman-in-doubt, Extended Stayman etc. then the initial 2§ bid must be alerted to warn the opponents that there is more to the bid than seeking a major fit or (possibly) an escape to clubs. | ||
| Red suit transfer | Announce by saying "Hearts" or "Spades" as appropriate. Note that this only applies opposite a 1NT opener, if the bid shows at least five cards in the target suit, and only if there has been no intervention. In all other circumstances, transfers should be alerted as before. In particular, not that transfers opposite 2NT openers are alerted, not announced. | ||
If natural then you must announce the strength with one of the following
statements
|
At the same time as alerting was introduced, the rules for alerting were greatly simplified.
Even if your club has elected not to adopt alerting (a foolish decision, in my opinion, leaving members at a distinct disadvantage when playing out of the club) then you should still be using the revised alerting rules.
Some of the announcements (for example when you announce partner's transfer) replace an alert. If you announce, don't alert. The revised alerting rules may be summarised as follows:
| With a few minor exceptions, you should never alert any bid above 3NT. No more waking partner up to the fact that you've taken his 4NT as Blackwood! The only exceptions are artificial opening bids, lead directing passes and doubles/redoubles which ask for a suit other than the suit doubled. | |||
| Doubles | Doubles of natural suit bids are assumed to be for takeout. Takeout doubles are therefore not alerted. The corollary is that penalty doubles of suit bids (at the 1, 2 or 3 level) must alerted. Doubles of artificial suit bids are assumed to show the suit doubled. Only alert if your partner's has a different meaning. Doubles of NT bids are assumed to be primarily for penalties. This includes
the double of a 1NT response |
Unless you play a very exotic system...
I hope that all makes perfect sense. If you don't like it, please don't blame me, it's all down to the EBU's Laws & Ethics committee.