THE WBF CONVENTION BOOKLET

Use of this booklet is optional. If it is used it should be in conjunction with the Conditions of Contest 
for the event, which are published separately.
 When using a convention in FULL UNIFORMITY with the booklet, you need enter only the name on 
the Convention Card.
 When using a convention included in the booklet, but in a differing version, you may EITHER 
describe how your version differs or give your own FULL description. This must be done on your 
Convention Card or Supplementary Sheet; nothing may be written in the booklet.
 When using a convention NOT included in the booklet, a full description, complying with the Guide to 
Completion of the WBF Convention Card, must be given.

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In areas where practice varies, we have taken the view that it is better to leave players themselves to 
add details. Thus, a pair might enlarge the entry for 'Swiss' like this: 
SWISS: 4·C = 2 Aces S singleton,
4D = strong trumps.
 In other cases, such as Michaels Cue Bid, what needs to be added may be the range of strength. For 
example:
MICHAELS CUE-BID: NV 5-9, V unlimited.
 It follows that you should always consider whether, in order fully to disclose your methods, you need 
to add to the booklet description.
 Naming -- without describing -- a convention included in the booklet is equivalent to stating that you 
are using it precisely as described in the booklet, and with no additional understandings.
 Naming without describing a convention not included in the booklet is contrary to the Conditions of 
Contest and is subject to penalty.
The booklet may be taken to the table and consulted in respect of a call made by an opponent, but not 
in respect of a call made by your partner, nor one made or contemplated by you yourself.

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The test for inclusion in the booklet has been not only popularity but the practical usefulness of 
inclusion.
 Some widely played conventions have been omitted because there are many variations and no single 
version stands out.
 We have endeavoured to take account of the latest practices and in so doing have had access to 
systems material used in recent world championships.
 However, we make no special claim to authoritativeness, and especially do we not claim that these 
versions are necessarily approved by the majority of experts or by the authors of the conventions 
themselves. The test has not been, 'What is the best version of this convention, bridgewise?', but, rather, 
'What version is likely to be found a useful timesaver by as many competitors as possible?'

 We hope you will find the booklet useful, and we invite and welcome suggestions for additions and 
improvements.

WBF Systems Committee Ist February 1990


CONVENTIONS (in alphabetical order)

ANTIFLANNERY TWO DIAMONDS
An opening bid of 2D shows an opening hand with at least five spades and at least four hearts.
A response in a major suit -- whether at the two, three or four level -- is a natural limit bid.


ANTIFLANNERY OR TWO HEARTS OR TWO SPADES
An opening bid of 2H (or 2S) shows an opening hand with at least five spades and at least four hearts.
 In all other respects, the convention and the responses a re the same as the Antiflannery 2D


ASPRO OVER 1NT
Over 1NT, the bid of a minor by second or fourth hand has these meanings:
2·C shows hearts and another suit 
2D shows spades and a minor suit


ASTRO OVER 1NT
Over 1NT, the bid of a minor by second or fourth hand has these meanings:

2C shows hearts and a minor suit 
2D shows spades and another suit
The Astro overcall suggests at least nine cards in the two suits.


BARON OVER 2NT
In response to an opening bid of 2NT, a bid of 3C asks Opener to show his lowest-ranking four-card or 
longer suit. The partners may continue to show suits in ascending order. 


BERGEN RAISES
After an opening bid of 1H or 1S, responses are as follows:
A raise to two of the major shows a weak raise with three trumps
3C shows a weak raise with four trumps 
3D shows an invitational raise with four trumps
A raise to three of the major shows a weak hand with four trumps


BLACKWOOD
A bid of 4NT asks partner to show his total number of aces by the 'step' system:
5C shows no ace or four
5D  shows one ace
5H  shows two aces
5S  shows three aces

 (Players may add to the Convention Card a description of further sequences. For example: 
"Blackwood -- 5NT for kings".)

 Over interference, the responder has the option of passing or of showing aces, starting by steps from 
the opponent's bid, thus:

SOUTH		WEST    	NORTH		EAST 
1S		Pass		3S		4D
4NT		5D		?

 If North bids 5H, this shows one ace. 5S would show two aces, and so on. A pass means either no aces 
or no desire to show aces. A double is for penalties.

 Other ways of showing aces over interference are described under the headings DEPO, DOPE and 
DOPI.

 4NT non-conventional: Players are not required to specify on the Convention Card those sequences 
where the Blackwood Convention is inoperative and a bid of 4NT is not conventional.




BLACKWOOD -- KEYCARD ("KEYCARD BLACKWOOD")
The king of trumps is counted as an ace, making five aces, and the conventional responses to 4NT are 
as follows:
5·C shows no ace or four 
5D shows one ace or five
5H shows two aces
5S shows three aces
 A bid of 5NT now announces that all four aces and the king of trumps are held in the combined hands 
and invites the responder to bid a grand slam if he has a suitable hand. 


BLACKWOOD -- ROMAN ("ROMAN BLACKWOOD")
A bid of 4NT asks partner to respond according to the following schedule:

5C no ace or three aces 
5D one ace or four aces
5H two aces of the same colour
5S two aces of the same rank (both majors or both minors)
5NT two aces of the 'odd' combinations


BLACKWOOD -- ROMAN KEYCARD ("ROMAN KEY-CARD BLACKWOOD")
The king of trumps is counted as an ace, making five aces, and the conventional responses to 4NT are 
as follows:

5C no aces or three
5D one ace or four
5H two aces or five, no queen of trumps
5S  two aces or five, plus queen of trumps


BROZEL
Against a 1 NT opening, the overcaller indicates one of the following three types:
(i) an unspecified long suit; (ii) a particular two-suiter; (iii) a particular three-suiter.

 (i) A double of 1NT, whether in second position or fourth, indicates a normal one-suited overcall. If 
partner does not pass for penalty, he bids 2·C and the doubler indicates his suit.

(ii) A two-level overcall shows the following:
2C shows clubs and  hearts;
2D shows diamonds and hearts;
2H shows hearts and spades;
2S shows spades and a minor
2NT shows the minors.

 (iii) A three-level overcall shows a 5-4-4-0 or 4-4-4-1 pattern with shortage in the suit named.


CANAPE  STYLE OPENING BIDS
This is a method by which the shorter of two suits is opened first, so that the second suit in which the 
rebid is made is, in principle, the longer suit. The method may occasionally require an opening bid on a 
three card suit in order to rebid into a suit of five or more cards.




COMIC NO-TRUMP OVERCALL
A 1NT overcall by second hand shows either:

--a normal strong no-trump hand; or 
-- a weak hand with an escape suit, normally at least six cards.

The responder may:
-- pass, if he would pass a strong 1NT overcall;
-- sign off in a long suit, if he would do so over a strong 1NT overcall; or
-- bid 2·C, if he would take constructive action over a strong 1NT overcall. Now the no-trump bidder, if 
weak, bids his suit. If genuine, he bids either the opener's suit or, with a maximum, 2NT.


COMPETITIVE DOUBLE
One that conveys the message, 'l am unwilling to pass, but have no satisfactory descriptive bid'.
 Players using this definition should state the sequences to which it applies.
 Use of Competitive Doubles should be noted in the 'Special, Artificial and Competitive Doubles' 
section on the outside of the Card.

See also, 'Maximal Overcall Double'.


DEPO
When a Blackwood bid of 4NT is overcalled by next hand, a pass or double by the partner of the 4NT 
bidder has the following meaning:

Double	An even number of aces (Zero, Two or Four) 
Pass 	An odd number of aces (One or Three)


DOPE
When a Blackwood bid of 4NT is overcalled by next hand, a pass or double by the partner of the 4NT 
bidder has the following meaning:

Double	An odd number of aces (One or Three)
Pass	An even number of aces (Zero, Two or Four)


DOPI
When a Blackwood bid of 4NT is overcalled by next hand, calls by the partner of the 4NT bidder have 
the following meanings:

Double			No aces		DO
Pass 			One ace		PI
Cheapest suit 		Two aces
Second cheapest suit 	Three aces
 Third cheapest suit 	Four aces


DOPI -- ROMAN ("ROMAN DOPI")
When a Roman Blackwood bid of 4NT is overcalled by next hand, calls by the partner of the 4NT 
bidder have the following meanings:

Double			Zero or three aces
Pass 			One or four aces
Cheapest suit 		Two aces without king or queen of trumps
Second cheapest suit	Two aces with king or queen of trumps


DOUBLES
Entries are included for the following types of double: Competitive Double, Maximal Overcall Double, 
Negative Double, Optional Double, Penalty Double, Responsive Double, and Takeout Double.


DRURY
A bid of 2C by a passed hand, in response to an opening one of a major, is conventional, asking opener 
to clarify his range.

 Opener rebids 2D if minimum or subminimum. Any other call shows that he is not under strength.


DRURY FIT
In an alternate version of the Drury Convention, 2C by a passed hand, in response to an opening one of 
a major, promises a fit in opener's suit. Now a simple rebid by opener of his suit is a signoff.


FLANNERY TWO DIAMONDS
An opening bid of 2D shows an opening hand with five hearts and four spades. A response in a major 
suit -- whether at the two, three or four level -- is a natural, 'limit' bid. A response of 2NT is a forcing 
bid which asks for a fuller description of the opener's hand.

FLANNERY TWO HEARTS
An opening bid of 2H shows five hearts and four spades. In all other respects the convention, and the 
responses, are the same as the Flannery Two Diamonds. 


FORCING 1 NT RESPONSE TO ONE HEART OR ONE SPADE OPENING
A response of  1NT to an opening bid of one of a major is forcing. It does not necessarily show a 
balanced hand and it does not have to be strong. Opener clarifies his hand and may bid a three card 
minor with certain hand types.


FRAGMENT
A bid, on the second round, of one more than a jump shift, shows support for partner's suit and a 
shortage in the unbid suit.

SOUTH 		NORTH
1C 		1H
3S

3S suggests two or three cards in spades and guarantees a singleton or void in diamonds.


GERBER
4C, as an immediate response to 1NT or 2NT, asks opener to show his aces in accordance with the 
'step' system. 4D shows no ace or four, 4H one ace, and so on.
4C has the same meaning after a conventional opening followed by opener's natural rebid of 1NT or 
2NT.
 A bid of either 5C or 5NT following the response to 4C, asks for kings. 


JACOBY TRANSFERS
After a natural opening bid of 1 NT or 2NT and a pass by next hand:
A minimum bid in diamonds -- promises length in hearts 
A minimum bid in hearts -- promises length in spades

 The convention is inoperative when second hand overcalls or doubles the notrump opening.


LANDY CONVENTION
Over a 1NT opening, 2C by second or fourth hand shows at least four cards in each major suit.


LEBENSOHL
A scheme of responses to a 1 NT opening where there has been an overcall by second hand at the two 
level.
A two level bid in a suit is competitive
 2NT asks opener to bid 3C. Responder can pass or make a minimum bid in a suit, nonforcing. Other 
continuations cater for four card majors and stops (or a lack of them) in the enemy suit.
 A double shows at least the values for a natural raise to 2NT but may be stronger.


MAXIMAL OVERCALL DOUBLE
A double by opener on the second round when both sides have found a fit and there is no room for any 
other game try. The double shows a hand strong enough to invite game.
SOUTH		WEST 		NORTH 	EAST 
1S		2H		 2S		 3H
Dble

 It follows that a bid of 3S by South would suggest simply a desire to contest the partscore.
In this example, if the defending side's suit were diamonds or clubs, a double would have its ordinary 
penalty meaning.
 Use of the Maximal Overcall Double should be noted in the 'Special, Artificial and Competitive 
Doubles' section on the outside of the Card.


MICHAELS CUE BID
A cue bid by second hand in opener's minor suit shows a limited hand with length in the major suits, at 
least 5-4.
 A cue bid over opener's major shows the unbid major suit and an unspecified minor suit.

MULTI 2D
An opening 2D shows one of three types
(i) Weak two in a major suit
(ii ) A strong balanced hand of a defined range
(iii) Strong three-suited hand.

Responses to 2D. The first response assumes that Opener has a weak two in a major.
2H: Willingness to play here or in at least 2S.
2S: Willingness to play here or in at least 3H.
2NT: Forcing, asking opener to clarify his hand.

Opener's rebids.  
With type (i):
Over 2H: pass or bid 2S
Over 2S: with hearts, bid 3H.
Over 2NT: bid 3·C to show hearts, upper range; 3D to show spades, upper range; 3H or 3S with         
lower range.

With type (ii): rebid in notrumps at minimum level.

 Other rebids show type (iii) and should be specified on the Convention Card. 



NEGATIVE DOUBLE
A double by third hand after a suit opening and overcall is for takeout and suggests length in an unbid 
major suit.
Range of strength should be stated whenever this may differ from the responding values normal to the 
methods played. Thus, if a double of a two level overcall may be made with less than is needed for a 
normal two-over-one response, the range should be mentioned.
The fourth vertical column inside the Convention Card should be used to indicate the highest overcall 
to which the Negative Double applies. When not all doubles within the range are 'Negative', the 
exceptions should be noted in detail.
 Use of the Negative Double should also be disclosed in the 'Special, Artificial and Competitive 
Doubles' section on the outside of the Convention Card.


OPTIONAL DOUBLE
A double made with the conventional understanding that partner will pass only when his hand is suited 
to defence.
 Use of the Optional Double should be disclosed in the 'Special, Artificial and Competitive Doubles' 
section on the outside of the Card. The sequences where it applies should be specified.


PENALTY DOUBLE
A double made in the expectation that partner will pass.


RESPONSIVE DOUBLE
A 'return takeout double' made by fourth hand when second hand has doubled for takeout and third 
hand has raised opener's suit.

SOUTH 		WEST 		NORTH 	EAST
1S 		Dble 		2S 		Dble

 The double shows responding values and, by inference, a hand that offers no satisfactory descriptive 
bid.
 Any partnership understanding that goes beyond this definition should be noted on the Convention 
Card.
 Use of the Responsive Double should be disclosed in the 'Special, Artificial and Competitive Doubles' 
section on the outside of the Card. An indication of the highest level to which it is played should be 
given, e.g. Responsive Doubles to 3S. 


RIPSTRA OVER 1NT
Over a  1NT opening, the bid of a minor by second or fourth hand shows support for the
major suits and shortage in the unbid minor.


SMITH SIGNAL

At no-trumps, an echo in the first suit played by declarer conveys a special message.
When made by the partner of the opening leader, the echo says, 'Continue the suit originally led. When 
by the opening leader himself, the message is, 'Find a switch.'


SPLINTER BID
A double jump shift shows support for partner's suit and a singleton or void in the suit named
SOUTH		NORTH
1H		4C
 4C shows a singleton or void club and suggests strong support for hearts.


STAYMAN
In response to a 1NT or 2NT opening, a minimum bid in clubs asks the no-trump opener to bid, at the 
minimum level: diamonds with no four card major, hearts with four hearts, spades with four spades.


STAYMAN -- PUPPET ("PUPPET STAYMAN")
After a 1NT opening and Stayman response, the opener rebids as follows:
-	2H or 2S, with a five card suit; 
-	otherwise, 2D.

Now responder bids:

-  2H, with four spades;
-  2S, with four hearts;
- 2NT, with 4-4 in majors;
- 3NT, with 4-4 in majors, stronger.


STAYMAN -- TWO-WAY ("TWO-WAY STAYMAN")
2C in response to 1NT has the same meaning as i n Stayman. 2D in response to 1 NT is forcing to 
game: opener shows a four card major suit by bidding it, or denies one by bidding 2NT.

 Opener shows any five card suit by bidding it at the three level.


SWISS
In response to an opening bid of one of a major, direct bids of 4C and 4D show a sound raise to game 
with certain specific features.
 (Players using this description should proceed to describe on the Convention Card what these features 
are).


TAKEOUT DOUBLE
A double of a suit opening bid, or a double of a response to it when partner has passed, made in the 
expectation that partner will remove.


UNUSUAL NO-TRUMP OVERCALL
A jump by second hand to 2NT over an opening suit bid of one shows the two lowest unbid suits, i.e. 
1D - 2NT (shows hearts and clubs).

 In all other situations, a bid of notrumps which cannot logically be genuine shows length in the two 
lower unbid suits.

