Proposed New Alert Procedure

Prepared by Rich Colker for the ACBL Conventions & Competition Committee

"Changes to the alert procedure" — how many shudder at these words? How many own up to not really understanding the procedure now? This is the reason that the Competition and Conventions Committee undertook the task of trying to make improvements that would make the system simpler and more understandable even at a cost of "technical perfection."

The recommendations for changes to the Alert procedure, summarized in the accompanying charts, are the result of many months of work by the Competition and Conventions Committee. The recommendations will go before the Board of Directors for final action at their Las Vegas meetings in November. (It was previously reviewed in Toronto.) They will appreciate your feedback, which should be routed through Gary Blaiss at Memphis Headquarters. Please place "Alert comments" in the subject line of the message.

A few proposed changes of note are announcements of all 1NT opening bids, regardless of range, and of 1 and 1 openings which may be shorter than three cards (say: "May be short."). Added to the pre-Alert chart is leading low from a doubleton by agreement.

Under this new procedure, many previously Alertable calls would no longer require an Alert. However, players are encouraged when in doubt, to Alert. There is no penalty for Alerting unnecessarily but there may be one for failing to Alert when one is required. The major change proposed in the Alert area is that most doubles, redoubles and passes would no longer require an Alert.

In general, no double would require an Alert if it is for takeout, for penalty, shows general values, or requests partner's input (do-the-right-thing, cooperative). No redouble would require an Alert if it is for penalties, shows general values or shows or denies a control in the redoubled suit. Passes that indicate weakness, show no desire to bid or indicate that no suitably descriptive call is available would not be Alertable. In more familiar terms, if the proposal is adopted, responsive doubles, maximal doubles, support doubles and redoubles, and card-showing doubles will no longer be in red on the convention card.

The new Alert procedure includes a number of definitions whose purpose is to clarify important concepts and create a standard terminology.

Definition of expected length for natural calls for the Alert Procedure are:

Suit bids:

• 3+ in a minor and 4+ in a major for opening bids, rebids and responses.
• 4+ for an overcall at the one level, 5+ for higher levels.
• 5+ for a weak two-bid.
• 6+ for a weak three-bid.

Notrump openings and overcalls:

A notrump opening or overcall, if not unbalanced (generally, no singleton or void and only one or two doubletons), is considered natural.

Convention:

A call which, by partnership agreement, conveys a meaning not necessarily related to the denomination named.

Treatment:

A natural call which, by partnership agreement, carries a specific message about the suit bid or the general strength of the hand.

Transfer:

A bid of a suit to show another specific suit (e.g., a diamond bid showing hearts).

Relay:

A bid which does not guarantee any specific suit; partner is requested to make the next-step bid (usually) or make another descriptive bid if appropriate (e.g., a diamond bid which usually shows hearts but may not have hearts in some cases).

Puppet:

A bid which requires partner to make a specific bid (e.g., a 2NT bid which requires partner to bid 3).

Cue-bid:

A bid in a suit which an opponent has either bid naturally or in which he has shown four or more cards.

Doubles (in increasing order of penalty orientation):

Takeout:

Partner is requested to bid.

Competitive:

Shows a desire to compete further; partner normally bids.

Optional:

Shows extra high-card values; offers partner a choice between bidding or passing.

Penalty-oriented:

Partner normally passes but occasionally bids.

Penalty:

Partner is requested to pass.

Alerts:

Many previously Alertable calls no longer require an Alert. However, when in doubt Alert (there is no penalty for Alerting unnecessarily but there may be one for failing to Alert when one is required).

Pre-Alerts (Alerts before hands are removed from the first board of a round or match segment):

• Two-system methods (e.g., strong club when equal or favorable vulnerability; a natural two-over-one when not).
• Systems based on very light openings or other highly aggressive methods or preempts.
• Systems which may be unfamiliar to opponents, such as canapé.
• SuperChart and Mid-Chart methods.
• Leading low from a doubleton.

Delayed Alerts:

Beginning with opener's rebid, Alertable bids above 3NT require a Delayed Alert. Passes, Doubles and Redoubles requiring an Alert must always be Alerted immediately. A Delayed Alert is made as follows:

Declaring side:

The partner of the person making the Alertable bid Alerts after the auction is completed and prior to the opening lead.

Defending side:

The partner of the player making the Alertable bid Alerts after the opening lead is made face-down and before the dummy is tabled.