Director

I've encountered many pairs at clubs and tournaments who have made up their own systems and/or rewritten "standard" conventions, which can be very confusing for their opponents. Some of these auctions are so complex -- and such a departure from "standard" bridge -- that it's impossible to understand all the inferences, even after a long exchange of questions and answers. What is the best way to handle this situation? What should I do if an opponent makes a totally unfamiliar bid and my partner and I have no agreement about how to defend against it?

Stevenson:

In general, most players should have a general idea how to defend against General Convention Card (GCC) systems, which include Strong clubs [like Precision] and Either-Or clubs [like Polish]. Not many really strange systems are seen.

In a club, you get to know the few players who play something esoteric, and it is a good idea to take a little trouble working out defenses since you see them week after week. In tournaments, you will often be protected by the fact that a lot of tournaments are GCC in the ACBL. Even the Multi 2D opening, played in many clubs in England and used all over the world, is banned at GCC tournaments.

Yes, you will run into a few "Mid-Chart" conventions if you play in Mid-Chart tournaments. To me -- and to many people outside North America -- this is part of the fun, but in North America you do not play against much that needs defense. And if your opponents play a Mid-Chart convention that requires a defense, they have to give you a written defense and pre-alert you.

If you are a serious player, I would not advise using these defenses given to you. Just make sure you know how to defend against Short Minors, Strong Clubs, Either-Or clubs, artificial two bids that may be or are weak, and partly natural two-bids like Lucas, where the hand contains the suit bid and at least one more. But most conventions do not need written defenses: If your opponents play the San Francisco ace/king-asking convention, so what? Just ask the meaning at the end of the auction so as to help your defense.

If your opponents embark on a lengthy artificial auction, you are the ones slowing it down if you keep asking questions. It is much better to leave it to the end of the hand. Do not worry about slow play penalties. Experience shows that despite what players think, in practice, these penalties are normally caused by slow play, not from the bidding phase. No, you do not get any special dispensation for your opponents playing a funny system time-wise, but it really does not slow it down much, and other things do so much more. As for subtle inferences, my experience is that in North America, you have more difficulty with standard auctions because everyone plays the inferences differently, but they do not expect to have to explain them.

As for whether the opponents' system is legal, if you really have some doubts, ask the Director, but generally just assume they have done their homework and checked that it is legal. If you are the Director and are asked to check, it is reasonable to ask the players to show you where some particular agreement appears in the convention charts.

Do you have questions about bridge laws, a ruling you received (or made) at a tournament or club game, how to handle an ethical dilemma? David, who is very knowledgeable on North American bridge, will explain laws and proprieties, share opinions on specific cases and offer advice on any aspect of game direction. You can submit questions on his web form or by email to laws2@blakjak.com . In your message, include a note that you're an Advocate reader from the U.S.

Director, please

by David Stevenson, Liverpool, England