Alerting Rules
ALERTING and ANNOUNCING
The purpose of alerting and announcing is to draw the opponents’ attention to any call by partner that may have a special meaning.
Alerting and announcing are compulsory; a player may not ask opponents not to alert or announce.
Alert or announce only partner’s calls, never your own.
Alert or announce any of partner’s calls believed to be alertable or announceable even if the meaning cannot be explained.
If there is no alert and no announcement, opponents can assume that there is no agreement that the call falls within an alertable or announceable category.
Do not alert or announce any play of the cards.
Passes and bids
Unless it is announceable, a pass or bid must be alerted if
- (a) it is not natural; or
- (b) it is natural but has a potentially unexpected meaning.
Announcements — INT Openings and Responses
Natural 1NT openings are announced by stating the range, eg by saying “12 to 14”. NOT "Weak"
Where a I NT opening which is in principle natural may be made by agreement on some hands which contain a singleton, it is announced by stating the range followed by possible singleton.
Stayman is announced, but only in response to a natural I NT opening where there has been no intervention; and where it is used in the traditional manner to ask for a four card major, ie with responses 2?. with no major, and 2? and 2? to show that major. Opener says “Stayman”. After such a 2? response a 2?. rebid by opener does not need an alert.
Note that Stayman is announced whether it promises a four card major or not. Players who want to know whether it makes such a promise may ask or consult the convention card.
Red suit transfers, ie ? to ? and ? to ?, are announced, but only in response to a natural 1 NT opening where there has been no intervention, and where the transfer shows at least five cards in the major suit concerned. Opener says “Hearts” when 2?. is bid, or “Spades” when 2? is bid.
All 1 NT openings are announced (if natural) or alerted (if artificial). All responses of 2?, 2? or 2? to a natural 1NT opening without intervention are either announced or alerted except natural weak take-outs.
Two of a Suit Openings
A natural opening bid of two of a suit is announced by stating the range into which it falls, from the following categories. Partner of the opener says the words shown.
- (a) “Strong, forcing”
- (b) “Strong, not forcing”
- (c) “Intermediate”
- (d) “Weak”
It is possible to play a wide-ranging opening that covers more than one category, in which case the announcement should say so. Examples are:
- (a) "Intermediate to strong, forcing” or
- (b) “Weak to Intermediate”
On the other hand, some openings show another suit so are not natural. For example a Muiderberg 2? shows another suit, so is not natural and is alerted, not announced. All two of a suit openings are announced (if natural) or alerted (if artificial).
Doubles
The rules for alerting doubles are:
- (a) Suit bids that show the suit bid.
Double of these bids is not alertable if for take-out; alertable otherwise. - (b) Short, Nebulous, Prepared and Phoney minor openings.
Double of these bids is not alertable if for take-out; alertable otherwise. - (c) No trump bids.
Double of these bids is not alertable if for penalties; alertable otherwise. - (d) Suit bids that do not show the suit bid.
Double of these bids is not alertable if showing the suit doubled; alertable otherwise.
Redoubles
The rules for alerting redoubles are:
(a) Redoubles which are for business or show general strength, which partner is normally expected to pass if the next hand passes — not alertable.
Other redoubles (notably those partner is expected to take out) — alertable. above 3NT the auction is above the level of 3NT, no calls are to be alerted except for:
- Artificial opening bids
- Lead-directing passes
- Doubles or redoubles that are lead-directing but ask for the lead of a suit other that the suit doubled (or redoubled)