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WSDBC Policies:WEST SUBURBAN DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB CLUB POLICIES Effective July
1, 2006 GAMES AND STARTING TIMES
West Suburban Duplicate Bridge Club is a member-owned and operated club,
sanctioned by the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL), and affiliated with
Unit 123 (the Chicago Contract Bridge Association, which includes most of the
ACBL Masterpoints will be awarded in all games, in accordance with ACBL
regulations.
Games are held every Friday evening at 7:30 PM, at the Darien Sportsplex,
Games
are open to all players; a separate section will generally be available for
players with fewer than 300 Masterpoints, unless there is insufficient
attendance, or conditions of contest dictate otherwise.
Games will be canceled on major holidays, and may also be canceled due to
conflicts with nearby bridge tournaments, or for certain religious holidays.
Game schedules will be posted at the Club, and on the Club's website.
Players should have arrived (and purchased an entry) at least 5-10
minutes prior to the announced starting time. Players wishing to play who will
not arrive before game time are requested to notify the club in advance. Anyone
arriving after the announced starting time might not get to play. TABLE FEES
The fees for a regular Club Masterpoint Game are $6.00 per person. Fees
for students under the age of 25 years of age will be reduced by about 50%
Extra fees will be charged for Special Games, such as Charity Games, NAOP
Qualifying Games, Sectional Tournaments at Clubs, etc., to cover the increased
Sanction fees imposed by the ACBL, CCBA, or other Sponsoring Organization. See
Appendix 2. - Special Games RULES AND REGULATIONS
All games are sanctioned by the American contract Bridge League. ACBL
Rules and Regulations and the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge are in effect
for all games. Specific ACBL Regulations which will be enforced
include: Convention Cards
Each player must have a convention card available for inspection by the
opponents. The convention card must be legible, completely filled out, and
identical to his or her partner's convention card. New partnerships may be given
some leeway, but any bidding or carding agreements the pair has reached must be
listed on the convention card. Alert Procedure
The ACBL Alert procedure will be observed at all times. Players are
responsible for knowing which calls are to be Alerted, Announced, Pre-Alerted
and/or Post-Alerted. In addition to a verbal alert or announcement, the ALERT!
Strip should be tapped, or the ALERT! Card displayed. See
Appendix 3. - The ACBL Alert Procedure Bid Box Regulations
Bidding boxes are to be used whenever available. If a player suffers from
a physical or visual handicap which precludes the use of bidding boxes, an
exception may be made by the Director-in-Charge. See
Appendix 4. - The ACBL Bid Box Regulations
Players are to use the skip bid warning whenever making a skip bid (a bid
which skips one or more levels of bidding). The skip bid warning is to be made
by placing the STOP! Card on the table or by verbally announcing "skip bid,
please wait".
The player next in rotation is expected to wait about 10 seconds before
making a call, even when his or her right-hand opponent has failed to use the
skip-bid warning. See
Appendix 5. - Players who violate proper procedure may be subject
to procedural penalty. PARTNERSHIPS
Partners are NOT guaranteed. Every effort will be made to find a suitable
partner (and/or teammates) for everyone. Anyone needing a partner and/or
teammates should contact the Club Partnership Chairperson as far in advance as
possible, and should arrive at the playing site 15-20 minutes before game time. Anyone
who requests the Club to find a partner for them is expected to play with the
partner arranged by the club. Those who fail to do so will not be permitted to
play.
Players who arrive without a partner might not get to play. CONVENTIONS
Pairs are permitted to play any convention allowed on the ACBL General
Convention Chart, provided: 1)
These
conventions are clearly listed on the convention cards of both
players, and 2)
These
conventions are properly alerted or announced as required by the ACBL Alert
Chart. In
events with no upper masterpoint limit, pairs will be permitted to play
conventions not allowed on the ACBL General Convention Chart, but allowed on the
ACBL Mid-Chart (unless conditions of contest dictate otherwise), provided: 1)
These
conventions are listed on the convention cards, and alerted as required 2)
A list of
all such conventions, including a detailed description of, and approved defenses
to, these conventions is made available, in
writing, to the opponents prior to the start of each round. These written
defenses may be referred to by the opponents during the auction and play. The ACBL Defense Database has a list of approved
defenses to many Mid-Chart Conventions. If the Convention a pair wishes to play is not listed in
the Database, that pair must submit a full description and suggested defense to
Club Management for approval at least one week in advance.
Pairs will not be permitted to play any convention not allowed on the
Mid-Chart.
It is the responsibility of the players themselves to insure that their
methods are allowed. Also, any pair found to be abusing any convention may be prohibited from using that convention, at the
discretion of the Director-in-Charge. See
Appendix 6. - The ACBL Convention Charts APPEALS COMMITTEES
For special events (such as NAOP Qualifying Games, Sectional Tournaments
at Clubs, or ACBL-Wide Games) an Appeals Committee may be made available, at the
discretion of the Director-in-Charge. The Committee members will be selected by the
Director-in-Charge, in accordance with ACBL Regulations. For all other games,
the Director-in-Charge shall make the final decision on all appeals. CORRECTION PERIOD
Scores will be posted as soon as possible after the completion of the
game. The traveling score slips, and/or pick-up scores will be made available
for inspection.
The score correction period expires one week after the completion of the
game, or twenty-four hours after the completion of the final game of the month,
whichever is earlier. For
STaCs, ACBL-wide games, or other games which are held simultaneously at
different sites, the correction period expires twenty-four hours after the
completion of the game, unless the Conditions of Contest state otherwise. The
appeal period of or for a Director's ruling expires thirty minutes after the
completion of a session. SEEDING
For special events (such as NAOP Qualifying Games, Sectional Tournaments
at Clubs, or ACBL-Wide Games), the field will be seeded in order to achieve a
balance of stronger and weaker pairs among sections. For other pair events, an
attempt will be made to achieve a balance of stronger and weaker pairs; however,
an attempt will also be made to accommodate those pairs who wish to sit
North-South or East-West, or to remain stationary. Players with a physical
condition which necessitates a stationary position will be accommodated.
For Swiss Team events, first-round pairing will be done by random draw;
later pairings will be done by current standing, in accordance with ACBL Swiss
Teams Conditions of Contest.
No team shall have seating rights. In the event of a dispute, each team
shall submit a geographical line-up to the Director-in-Charge. The
Director-in-Charge reserves the right to assign seating for any match. LATE PLAYS
Approximately 7 minutes are allotted for the bidding and play of each
board. More time will generally be allowed for the first round, especially if
hand records are in use. If,
with fewer than 2 minutes remaining in a round, players have not begun a board
they will not be permitted to play that board in that round. At the discretion
of the Director-in-Charge, they may be given a late play, if time permits. In
general, players will be allowed a late play if they can begin play by three
hours and 20 minutes after the scheduled starting time. (10:50 for a 7:30 game).
The Director's decision shall be final. ZERO TOLERANCE
Inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated. The ACBL's "Zero
Tolerance" Policy is in effect at all times. SMOKING
Smoking is not allowed anywhere inside the building at any time. CELL PHONES
The use of cell phones in the playing area is discouraged, but not
prohibited. Players are requested to refrain from making or receiving
unnecessary phone calls while at the table. CONDITIONS OF CONTEST
Additional Conditions of Contest for special events may be authorized by
the ACBL, the Unit, or other Sponsoring Organization, and supersede those of the
club. APPENDIX 1. CURRENT WSDBC
OFFICERS President: Treasurer
: Club Manager
Chief Director
Partnership Chairperson:
Refreshments Chairperson
Ginnie Webmaster
: Educational Co-chairpersons
Jim
APPENDIX 2. SPECIAL GAMES Club Championships Each club is allowed to hold up to 4 Club Championship games per session, one in each calendar quarter. Clubs are allowed additional "Upgraded" Club Championship games for new member recruitment. Masterpoint awards are Black, based on 65% of Sectional Rating. ("Upgraded" Club Championship awards are Black, at full sectional rating). There is no increase in the entry fee for a Club Championship Game. Membership Games Each club is allowed to hold 1 Membership Game per year per session. Masterpoint awards are Black, based on full Sectional Rating. Any pair including a non-ACBL member is not eligible for Masterpoint Awards. There is no increase in the entry fee for a Membership Game. Unit Games
The extra money raised in these games goes to the Unit. The schedule for
these games is determined by the CCBA. Masterpoint awards are Black, based on
85% of Sectional Rating. There is no increase in the entry fee for Unit Games. Club Appreciation Games October is "Club Appreciation Month". In October, each club is allowed to hold one "Club Appreciation Game" per session. Masterpoint awards are Black, based on full Sectional Rating. There is no increase in the entry fee for a Club Appreciation Game. Club Appreciation Team Games In addition to
Club Appreciation Games, in October each club may hold one "Club
Appreciation Team Game" per
session.Masterpoint awards are 95% Black, 5% Gold (up to a maximum of .25 Gold)
based on full Sectional Rating. There is no increase in the entry fee for a Club Appreciation Team Game. Charity Club Championships Each club is
required to hold 1 Charity Club Championship per year per session. The extra
money raised goes to the ACBL Charity Foundation. Clubs are also allowed to hold
a second Charity game; the extra money may go any local Charity, or to the ACBL
Charity Foundation. Additional Charity games may be held throughout Entry fees for Charity Club Championships are increased by $1 or more/player. Sectional Tournaments at
Clubs (STaC) STaCs allow players to earn
Silver points playing at their local clubs. The "Tournament" consists
of several single-session pair games. Each STaC runs for an entire week.
Currently, the CCBA runs 3 STaCs per year. Additional STaCs may be run by
District 13. STaCs are stratified, and stratification limits may vary. Section
awards are given at the clubs; overall awards are given to the pairs with the
highest % games Unit-(or District-) wide. All masterpoint awards are Silver,
based on full Sectional Rating. Entry fees for STaCs are increased by $1-2/player. Junior Fund Games The extra money
raised in these games goes to the Junior Fund, which helps defray the cost of
sending ACBL pairs and teams to World Junior Championship events. Each Club may
hold as many Junior Fund Games as it likes during February, and up to one per
month per session during the rest of the year. Masterpoint awards are Black,
based on full Sectional Rating. Entry fees for Junior Fund Games are increased by $1/player. North American Open Pairs (NAOP)
Qualifying Games The NAOP is a
grass-roots contest which begins at the club level in the summer and culminates
with the National Finals at the Spring NABCs. Players who do well at each stage
may advance to the next level. Club Qualifying Games are held in
A = unlimited
B = less than 2000 MPs
C = non-Life Masters with fewer than 500 MPs Players who finish in the top half of their section, or who have a score of 50% or better, earn a Qualification to play in the Flight A Unit Final. Players who finish in the top half of the "B" field (B & C pairs) earn a Qualification to play in the Flight B Unit Final. Players who finish in the top half of the "C" field (C pairs only) earn a Qualification to play in the Flight C Unit Final. Any player who earns a qualification in A or B is automatically qualified for all lower Flights for which he or she is eligible. Masterpoint
awards are 50% Red, 50 % Black, based on full Sectional Rating. Entry fees for
NAOP Games are increased by $1/player. ACBL-Wide International Fund
Games Held 3 times each year, the extra money raised in these games goes to the International Fund, which helps defray the cost of sending ACBL pairs and teams to World Championship events. Hand records and analyses are provided. These games are usually stratified, with stratification limits set by the ACBL. Masterpoint
awards are 50% Red, 50% Black, based on full Sectional Rating. The top 5 pairs
in each District and top 10 pairs nationwide (based on overall %) receive
additional masterpoints. Entry fees for ACBL-Wide International Fund Games are increased by $2/player. World-Wide Pair Games The World-Wide
Pair Games are usually held the first weekend in Entry fees for World-Wide Pair Games are increased by $4/player. APPENDIX 3. ACBL ALERT
PROCEDURE - March 1, 2002 (Compiled
unofficially by PRE-ALERTS--Before
cards are taken from the board, disclose to the opponents: Any Mid-Chart or Super-Chart methods;
unusual general approaches (e.g., two-system methods); highly aggressive methods
or preempts; opening bids (even in 3rd seat) or 2/1 responses that are weaker
than usual, overcalls with fewer than 6 HCP, low leads from doubletons. Pre-Alertable
calls must also be Alerted when they are made. ALERTS--Say
"Alert," and tap the Alert card (or display it) if in use, when
partner makes any of the following
calls, but don’t
explain (or Announce!) them until asked: -
Conventions that are not exempted below and all highly unusual calls
(e.g., canapé bids) -
A bid whose forcing or non-forcing nature is unusual, or one that has an
unusual strength, length, or range requirement (e.g., a direct notrump overcall
based on less than 14 HCP or more than 19 HCP; a weak two bid with a range
greater than 7 HCP or not showing at least five cards in the suit, a possibly
strong raise of a 1H
/1S opening to 4H /4S ) -
Any opening artificial ace or control-asking bid, including -
2C opening that is natural and non-forcing, and conventional responses
(except 2NT) -
2D /2H /2S opening that is
not a natural weak two bid, or is weak but promises another suit -
3NT opening based by partnership agreement on a six-card or longer suit,
whether “gambling” or not -
In response to one-level suit opening, a weak single jump raise, or
non-forcing weak jump shift, over a pass -
Strong single raise of a natural one-level suit opening, even if only
"constructive" -
1D response to 1C
that denies a four-card major regardless of hand strength -
Non-forcing non-game new suit response by an unpassed hand (UPH) to an
opening suit bid at any level -
Non-forcing 2NT, non-forcing new suit bid by UPH, conventional response
other than 2NT, or invitational raise, in response to a
non-forcing opening bid at the two level. -
Unusual response to a 2C opening (e.g., controls, HCP, 2H bust, 2D game
force, negative double) -
1NT response that by partnership agreement may be based on more than 10
HCP, but is not Announceable -
1NT rebid by a natural opener that by partnership agreement may be
stronger than 15 HCP -
Artificial checkback rebid (e.g., Checkback Stayman, New Minor Forcing)
after a natural opener’s notrump rebid -
Unusual Stayman usage (e.g., Two-Way, Puppet), and an unusual or
conventional response to Stayman other than a minimum bid in diamonds to deny a
four-card major -
Next-level club response to a natural notrump opening (or overcall) that
does not ask for a four-card major -
Natural 2D/2H/2S response to
a 1NT opening or 1NT overcall unless it is a signoff -
Gerber 4C in the absence of a
previous notrump bid, or other
unusual ace or control-asking bid -
Strong or intermediate jump overcall of one-level suit openings and
responses, except in balancing seat -
Weak jump shift as an advance of partner's overcall, even over a pass -
Unusual notrump by an unpassed hand if a non-jump 1NT/2NT/3NT bid, or a
jump to 3NT, or does not definitely show either both minors or the two lower
unbid suits (as indicated on the convention card) -
Penalty(ish) double of a natural bid when non-penalty is expected,
including: double of an overcall of a one-level suit opening, through 4H; double
of an opening bid in a suit (including 1C or 1D that “may be short”); double
of a natural suit response to an opening bid, through 4H
-
Non-penalty double when penalty is expected, including: negative double of 4S
or higher overcall, double showing support, takeout double of 4S or
higher opening bid, double of an overcall of a 1NT or higher opening bid (e.g.,
1NT-2S-Dbl, 2C-2S-Dbl), double of a notrump bid (except 1x-P-1NT-Dbl), double of
a splinter bid that shows strength in another suiy -
Negative double that does not show what is usually expected (e.g., 1C-1H-Dbl
denying, or not implying, four spades), or is a double of 4S or higher overcall -
Conventional redouble (e.g., showing 3-card support), except one
obviously asking for a rescue (“S.O.S.”) -
Passes with highly unusual or unexpected meanings (e.g., 1D-Dbl-Rdbl-Pass
showing a desire to defend 1D redoubled; 2C (strong, artificial)-2S -Pass
showing values; 1S-2C-Pass forcing) ANNOUNCEMENTS--Explain
partner’s
call without being asked, and tap the Alert card, or display it, if in use: -
The range of a natural 1NT opening, but not of a higher notrump opening
or notrump overcall -
"Forcing" for a forcing 1NT response to a 1H or 1S opening. -
"Semi-Forcing" for a semi-forcing (opener may pass with no more
than a balanced minimum) 1NT response to a first or second-seat (only) 1H or 1S
opening. If opener tends to pass 1NT only after a four-card opening, 1NT is
Alertable -
"Transfer" for a diamond-to-heart or heart-to-spade transfer
response at any level to any natural notrump opening or overcall, or after a
natural notrump rebid by opener, even over a double. "Transfer" may be
Announced even if a later game-forcing bid (Alerted) will cancel the transfer
meaning. Alert all other transfer bids. -
"May be short" for non-forcing 1C or 1D openings that might be based
on fewer than three cards DO
NOT ALERT OR ANNOUNCE: -
Non-forcing one-level suit opening with an agreed range of somewhere
between 10-21+ HCP -
Artificial strong 2C opening and 2D negative or waiting response -
Stayman next level of clubs in response to an opening notrump bid (or
overcall), asking for a major -
Natural 2D/2H/2S signoff response (not 2C, which must be Alerted) to a
1NT opening or overcall. -
Natural three-level response to a 1NT opening or notrump overcall, jump
or not, any strength -
Possible bypass of a four-card major when bidding notrump -
Possible two-card 2C rebid after a forcing or semi-forcing 1NT response,
if only done with 2-2 minors. -
Non-invitational raise of a natural two-level opening, or a forcing 2NT
response -
Natural jump response of 2NT, whether forcing or merely invitational -
Jump raise, weak or strong, except a weak single jump raise of an opening
one bid when -
Natural constructive (i.e., not weak) or better jump shift as an advance
of an overcall, even if not forcing -
Cue bid (bid of a suit shown by an opponent), regardless of meaning,
except for a direct cue bid of a natural opening bid played as natural.
1x-P-1y-2x natural and 1x-P-1y-2y natural are not Alertable, but 1x-2x natural
is Alertable -
Natural bid in a suit bid artificially by an opponent, a double that
shows the suit, or a lead-directing double of the suit -
Jump overcall, strong or weak, over non-strong two-level and higher
opening bid -
4NT or higher unusual notrump bid, an unusual jump to 2NT, or any unusual
notrump by a passed hand -
-
4C Gerber ace-asking after partner has opened, responded, or overcalled
in notrump -
Forcing pass whose forcing nature is not unexpected -
Pass that denies three cards in partner’s suit DELAYED
ALERTS Alertable bids above 3NT, starting with opener’s second call, are
Alerted after the auction. Before the opening lead, declarer or dummy Alerts
such bids made by their side. Although legal, it is better not to explain
one’s own bid. Defenders Alert and explain partner’s bids, not their own,
when the opening lead is face down, before dummy is tabled. Conventional
doubles, redoubles, and passes must be Alerted immediately when made, but
forcing passes at this level are not Alertable. ALERT
MISTAKES Players who realize their own mistake (failure to Alert, or incorrect
explanation) must call the Director immediately. A player whose partner has made
a mistake gives no indication of that in any manner before the final pass. The
presumed declarer or dummy then calls the Director before the opening lead is
made, but a defender must wait until play is over. APPENDIX 4. BIDDING
BOXES A player is obligated to choose a call before touching any card in the box. Deliberation while touching the bidding box cards, removing bidding cards prior to the call being considered "made," etc., may subject the offending side to the adjustment provisions of Law 16. A call is considered made when a bidding card is removed from the bidding box and held touching or nearly touching the table or maintained in such a position to indicate that the call has been made. Until a call is considered made, the director will treat the situation as unauthorized information and apply Law 16. After a call is considered made, the director will apply Law 25. A call, once made, may be changed without penalty under the provisions of Law 25 only if a player has inadvertently taken out the wrong bidding card, and the player corrects, or attempts to correct without pause for thought, and Partner has not taken action (picking up the bidding cards after the auction is over constitutes taking action). The skip-bid warning is given using bidding boxes by displaying the stop card, making a call and then replacing the stop card in the bidding box. LHO is obligated to wait 10 seconds (while giving the appearance of studying his hand) before making a call. APPENDIX 5. ACBL Board of Directors - November, 1995 1. How and When Made Players should protect their rights and the opponent's by announcing, prior to making any subsequent bid that skips one or more levels of bidding: When bidding orally by saying, "I am about to make a skip bid. Please wait!" When using bidding boxes, by placing the stop card so that LHO sees it (the skip bidder is responsible for gaining LHO's attention). The skip bid is made. The stop card is replaced in the bidding box. 2. The skip bid warning may not be used to alert partner that a strength-showing bid is being made or not being made. The warning should be used all the time. The tournament director may assess a procedural penalty (Law 90) for failure to comply. 3. Opponents of All Players When Experienced Players Experienced players are expected to maintain proper tempo whether a skip bid is announced or not. 4. Questioning After a skip bid, players may ask questions but must still pause an appropriate amount of time for study. 5. Failure to Pause When a player acts with undue haste or hesitation, the tournament director may award an adjusted score (Law 16) and/or procedural penalty (Law 90). APPENDIX 6. ACBL CONVENTION CHARTS - July 1, 2001 GENERAL CONVENTION CHART The conventions listed below must be allowed in all ACBL sanctioned tournament play (other than in events with an upper restriction of 20 or fewer masterpoints and events for which the ACBL conditions of contest state otherwise) and at club-level events with multiple-site overall masterpoint awards. Clubs have full authority to regulate conventions in games conducted solely at their clubs. DEFINITIONS 1. An opening suit bid or response is considered natural if in a minor it shows three or more cards in that suit and in a major it shows four or more cards in that suit. A notrump opening or overcall is natural if not unbalanced (generally, no singleton or void and only one or two doubletons). 2. An overcall in a suit is considered natural if, by agreement, it shows four or more cards in that suit. 3. A sequence of relay bids is defined as a system if, after an opening of one of a suit, it is started prior to opener's rebid. **ALLOWED ** **Unless specifically allowed,
methods are disallowed ** OPENING BIDS 1. ONE CLUB OR ONE DIAMOND may be used as an all-purpose opening bid (artificial or natural) promising a minimum of 10 high-card points. 2. FORCING 1NT OPENING BID indicating a balanced or unbalanced hand and a minimum of 16 HCP. 3. TWO CLUBS ARTIFICIAL OPENING BID indicating one of: a) a strong hand b) a three-suiter with a minimum of 10 HCP 4. STRENGTH SHOWING OPENING AT THE TWO LEVEL OR HIGHER that asks for aces, kings, queens, singletons, voids or trump quality and responses thereto. 5. TWO DIAMOND ARTIFICIAL OPENING BID indicating one of: a) both majors with a minimum of 10 HCP. b) a strong hand. c) a three-suiter with a minimum of 10 HCP. 6. OPENING BID AT THE TWO LEVEL OR HIGHER indicating two known suits, a minimum of 10 HCP and at least 5-4 distribution in the suits. 7. OPENING NOTRUMP BID AT THE TWO LEVEL OR HIGHER indicating at least 5-4 distribution in the minors. 8. OPENING THREE NOTRUMP BID indicating one of a) a solid suit or b) a minor one-suiter. 9. OPENING FOUR-LEVEL BID transferring to a known suit. RESPONSES AND REBIDS 1. ONE DIAMOND as a forcing, artificial response to 1. 2. ONE NOTRUMP response to a major suit opening bid forcing one round; cannot guarantee game invitational or better values. 3. CONVENTIONAL RESPONSES WHICH GUARANTEE GAME FORCING OR BETTER VALUES. May NOT be part of a relay system. 4. TWO CLUBS OR TWO DIAMONDS response to third or fourth-seat major-suit openings asking the quality of the opening bid. 5. SINGLE OR HIGHER JUMP SHIFTS AND/OR NOTRUMP BIDS AT THE TWO LEVEL OR HIGHER to indicate a raise or to force to game. 6. ARTIFICIAL AND OR CONVENTIONAL CALLS after strong (15+ HCP), forcing opening bids and after opening bids of 2 or higher. (For this classification, by partnership agreement, weak two-bids must be within a range of 7 HCP and the suit must contain at least five cards - See #7 under DISALLOWED.) 7. ALL CONSTRUCTIVE CALLS starting with the opening bidder's second call. 8. CALLS THAT ASK for aces, kings queens, singletons, voids or trump quality and responses thereto. 9. ALL CALLS AFTER A NATURAL NOTRUMP opening bid or direct overcall, EXCEPT for natural notrump opening bids or overcalls with a lower limit of less than 10 HCP or with a range of greater than 5 HCP (including those that have two non-consecutive ranges). See #7 under DISALLOWED. COMPETITIVE 1. CONVENTIONAL BALANCING CALLS. 2. CONVENTIONAL DOUBLES AND REDOUBLES and responses (including free bids) thereto. 3. NOTRUMP OVERCALL for either a) two-suit takeout showing at least 5-4 distribution and at least one known suit (At the four level or higher there is no requirement to have a known suit.) or b) three-suit takeout ( at least three cards in each of the three suits.) 4. a)JUMP OVERCALLS INTO A SUIT to indicate at least 5-4 distribution in two known suits and responses thereto. b)SIMPLE OVERCALLS INTO A SUIT to indicate a minimum of 10 HCP, at least 5-4 distribution in two known suits and responses thereto. 5. CUEBID of an opponent's suit and responses thereto, except that a cuebid that could be weak (less than 10 HCP) directly over an opening bid, must show at least one known suit. 6. DEFENSE TO: a) conventional calls (except see #9 RESPONSES and REBIDS above and #7 under DISALLOWED below), b) natural notrump opening bids and overcalls, except that direct calls, other than double and 2 must have at least one known suit. c) opening bids of 2 or higher. 7. Numbers 4 through 8 under RESPONSES AND REBIDS above APPLY TO BOTH PAIRS. ** DISALLOWED ** 1. Conventions and/or agreements whose primary purpose is to destroy the opponents' methods. 2. Psyching of artificial or conventional opening bids and/or conventional responses thereto. Psyching conventional suit responses, which are less than 2NT, to natural openings. 3. Psychic controls (Includes ANY partnership agreement which, if used in conjunction with a psychic call, makes allowance for that psych.) 4. Forcing pass systems. 5. Relay (tell me more) systems. 6. Opening one bids which by partnership agreement could show less than 8 HCP. (Not applicable to a psych.) 7. CONVENTIONAL RESPONSES, REBIDS AND A CONVENTIONAL DEFENSE TO AN OPPONENT'S CONVENTIONAL DEFENSE after natural notrump opening bids or overcalls with a lower limit of less than 10 HCP or with a range of greater than 5 HCP (including those that have two non-consecutive ranges) and weak two-bids which by partnership agreement are not within a range of 7 HCP and or do not show at least five cards in the suit. CARDING Dual-message carding strategies are not approved except on each defender's first discard. Except for the first discard, only right-side-up or upside-down card ordering strategies are approved. Encrypted signals are not approved. In addition, a pair may be prohibited from playing any method (such as suit preference systems at trick one), when they are deemed to be playing it in a manner which is not compatible with the maintenance of proper tempo (much like dual message signals). This decision may be appealed to the tournament committee.
ACBL
MID-CHART This chart applies to: 1. All NABC+ events with no upper masterpoint restrictions played at an NABC. 2. All unrestricted Flight A regionally rated events at an NABC. 3. Any bracket of a bracketed KO at an NABC which contains no team with a bracket designator (average masterpoints of the entire team or top two players) of less than 1000 points. This chart (or any part) may apply to any sectionally or
regionally rated event or tournament at sponsor's option provided that this has
been included in tournament advertising. (The requirement for advertising does
not extend to use in Flt. A or high brackets of When using a method permitted by the Mid-Chart but not by the General Convention Chart, a pair is required to: 1. Pre-Alert the method(s)* 2. Have a written description of the method(s) available for the opponents. 3. Except for those methods authorized by sections below with an asterisk (numbers 2, 3, and 9 under ALLOWED), have a copy of the approved suggested defense available for opponents. Approved defenses are available in the ACBL defense database at www.acbl.org. A defense to a method which requires the above pre-Alert may be referred to during the auction by both pairs. To get a defense approved, a complete written explanation
of the method and a complete written defense must be submitted to ACBL in ** ALLOWED ** ** Unless specifically allowed, methods are disallowed ** 1. All of the ACBL General Convention Chart. 2.* Relay (tell me more) systems that promise game-forcing values. 3.* All other constructive rebids and responses are permitted, except for: a. relay systems that show less than game-forcing values, b. conventional calls after natural notrump opening bids or overcalls having a lower limit of less than 10 HCP or with a range of greater than 5 HCP (see #9 under RESPONSES AND REBIDS and #7 under DISALLOWED on the General Convention Chart) - however, this prohibition does not extend to notrumps that have two non-consecutive ranges neither of which exceeds 3 HCP, and c. conventional calls after a weak two-bid with an agreed range of more than 7 HCP or an agreement where the suit length may be four cards (see #6 under RESPONSES AND REBIDS and #7 under DISALLOWED on the General Convention Chart). THIS APPLIES TO BOTH PAIRS. 4. Any call that promises four or more cards in a known suit. (See items #6 and #8 in DISALLOWED below.) 5. Opening 2D showing a weak two-bid in an unspecified major and may include additional strong (15+ HCP) meaning(s). 6. A 2S or 2NT opening bid showing an unspecified minor or both minors. 7. A transfer opening bid at the two-level or higher showing a weak bid in the suit being transferred to or a type or types of strong hand. 8. Any strong (15+ HCP) opening bid. 9. Notrump overcall as a two-suit takeout showing at least 5-4 distribution. 10. *Defenses to natural notrump opening bids and overcalls. 11. Any opening bid at the three level or higher showing an undisclosed solid suit. DISALLOWED 1. Conventions and/or agreements whose primary purpose is to destroy the opponents' methods. 2. Psyching of artificial opening bids and/or conventional responses thereto. 3. Psychic controls. (Includes ANY partnership agreement which, if used in conjunction with a psychic call, makes allowance for that psych.) 4. Forcing pass systems. 5. Relay (tell me more) systems except those that are game-forcing. 6. Opening one-bids which by partnership agreement could show less than 8 HCP. (Not applicable to a psych.) 7. Psyching a conventional agreement which may show less than 10 HCP and which is not permitted by the General Convention Chart. This includes psyching responses to or rebids of these methods. 8. Any weak opening bid which promises an unknown suit may not include as the unknown suit the suit named (the suit opened). CARDING Same as listed on the General Convention Chart. ACBL
SUPER-CHART This chart applies to all NABC+ events with no upper masterpoint limit played at an NABC in which contestants play segments (no change of opponents) of 12 or more boards. This chart (or any part) may be used at a sectionally or regionally rated event or tournament at sponsor's option in any event with 12-board or longer segments provided this has been included in tournament advertising. Pre-Alerts are required for all conventional methods not permitted on the ACBL General Convention Chart. Description of, and suggested defenses to, such methods must be made in writing. A defense to a method which requires the above pre-Alert may be referred to during the auction by opponents of the convention user. For NABC+ events in which this chart is permitted, pairs playing SuperChart methods must furnish the above descriptions of their methods to the Director-in-Charge of the event the day prior to the session in which they choose to play them. ** ALLOWED ** ** Unless specifically allowed methods are disallowed ** All of the ACBL Mid-Chart plus any other non-destructive convention, treatment or method except that: 1. Artificial weak bids at the two or three level (including those with strong adjuncts) must possess: a) a known suit, or b) one of no more than two possible suits not to include the suit bid. 2. Defenses over opponents' natural suit bids must promise: a) for non-cuebids showing a single-suited hand, one of no more than two possible suits b) a cuebid which could show a weak hand with four or more cards in the suit bid must promise four or more cards in another known suit. 3. The prohibitions contained in item #9 under RESPONSES AND REBIDS on the General Convention Chart are effective for this Chart. (However, this prohibition does not extend to notrumps that have two non-consecutive ranges neither of which exceeds 3 HCP.) DISALLOWED Conventions and/or agreements whose primary purpose is to destroy the opponents' methods. Psyching of artificial opening bids and/or conventional responses thereto. Psychic controls. (Includes ANY partnership agreement which, if used in conjunction with a psychic call, makes allowance for that psych.) Forcing pass systems. Opening one bids which by partnership agreement could show fewer than 8 HCP. (Not applicable to a psych.) Psyching a conventional agreement which may show fewer than 10 HCP and which is not permitted by the General Convention Chart. This includes psyching responses to or rebids of those methods. CARDING Same as listed on the General Convention Chart. |