Convention Directory
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NOTE: In 2022, ACBL redid the convention card. This file will not be updated to the new format unless enough people request it at BidBaseCC@aeyec.com.

Below is a current list of documents referenced in the BidBase bidding database in support of the criteria specified for making bids. Most of these documents are based on information from a variety of sources and are primarily intended to show all the related bids for a convention.

Some pages will reference books on the subject or have links to other web pages or to a different spot on the same page which will have much more information and discussion about the bids. (When a short bit of text is in a different color and underlined, it is a link to another web page even though it does not specifically say "click here". Example: see the next line.)

Larry Cohen has a series of 26 articles on his web site in which he discusses every part of a convention card.

This document is almost entirely about bids in conventions. For "just bridge" bidding tips, see Kantar's 52 Facts of Bridge Life.

Almost all of the conventions below are arranged into the same groups as on Convention Cards ("CC"). Not all of the conventions shown on the ACBL CC are in the list, but other conventions which are not on the CC are also on this list.

A list of the documents is shown in alphabetical order at the end of this page.

The following notations appear in the list:
    !! = The bid is Alertable.

    a = The meaning of the bid must be Announced.

    S = Standard American Yellow Card ("SAYC") bid. If a CC is marked as SAYC for General Approach,

      these are the bids to be used unless otherwise noted on the CC.

    B = Bridge Bulletin Standard (2017). The B is only shown when a bid's meaning deviates from SAYC.

Bids above 3N, such as slam conventions, must not be alerted during the bidding, per ACBL.
Instead, they must be explained after bidding ends and before the opening lead.

On this page and most of the pages linked here, is used to indicate either Hearts OR Spades and means Diamonds OR Clubs. So bidding of 1-1 is the same as 1-1 OR 1-1. When raises are being discussed, 1-2 means either 1-2 OR 1-2. However, if a bid shows Hearts and a minor, that's & while if a bid shows the majors, that's &, NOT .


It's worth reading Jerry Helms' article in the Jan.2021 Bulletin, page 51 about recommended conventions to be used at 4 different levels of play. If you don't save old issues, ACBL has them on their web site.

Right Side of Convention Card

Left Side Of Convention Card

    Special Doubles  

    Notrump Overcalls 

    Simple Overcall 

    Jump Overcall 

      Strong

    Defense vs Notrump ( = OR ,     = OR ) 

    Opening Preempts 

      Preempt - (Includes Defense Against Preempts.)

    Over Opp's T/O Double 

      New Suit Forcing (1 level, 2 level?)

      Jump Shift Forcing (Inv., Weak?)

      Redouble implies no fit?

      2N Over Majors, Minors (Limit+, Limit, Weak?)

    Direct Cuebid 

      Natural Over major, minor?

      Strong Takeout Over major, minor?

      Michaels (Of major = 5+ of other major and a minor, Of minor = 5+ both majors. Weakish hand.

          Also see Leaping Michaels in this file for Michaels over a weak 2 opening.)

    Vs Opening Preempts, Double Is 

      Sound,  Light,  Very light

    Slam Conventions 

Carding Agreements 


Other Bridge Documents

Documents in Alphabetical Order


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