Alerting Rules
As an International Club, we have many members playing Standard European (5 card majors, better minor, strong NT) as well as ACOL (4 card suits, weak NT). In order that players may enjoy their bridge session, we have produced alerting rules to facilitate this and to accommodate several systems and styles of play.
Broadly, we attempt to follow the UK Orange Book Regulations (level 3) as well as the Spanish Reglamentos. We permit:
- The rule of 19 for 1 level opening bids
- A natural 1NT to be minimum 10 HCP (Also a strong and forcing 19+)
- Multi 2♦
- Any defence to 1NT
- Any convention shown in the AEB "Reglamento sobre la Practica del Juego"
Players are expected to familiarise themselves with the opponents’ basic system before each round. This should include:
- NT ranges
- Meaning of 1♣ opening
- Meaning of 2 level openings
- Strength of jump overcalls
- Signalling and carding methods
Bridge is a game of full disclosure. You should alert any bid that has a meaning that the opposition may not understand. You must not use alerts to "wake partner up" as to the use of a convention.
ALERTABLE BIDS:
- 1♣ openings if the suit could be fewer than three cards
- Unbalanced or wide-ranging NT bids
- Inverted minor suit raises
- All doubles except:
- Penalty doubles
- Take-out doubles
- Re-opening doubles
- Natural bids that pass a concrete message to partner of length or strength that may not be apparent to opponents
- All conventional bids
DO NOT ALERT:
- Opening major suit bids that promise at least 4 cards
- Opening minor suit bids that promise at least 3 cards
- Two level openings that show only strong hands
- A single suited jump overcall
- Any bid above the level of 3NT unless it is not natural and it is partner’s first bid