ACBL38L – Convention Card Ward Trumbull
Filling Left Side Oct 17, 2009
Page 1 of 10
Left Side of Card – Five Entries in Left Column
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Special Doubles
Explanation My Recomendation
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1. After Overcall:
Penalty Is a responder double Leave box blank. I teach
of an overcall for negative doubles.
penalty?
Neg. thru ___ Do you play negative Leave blank if you don’t
doubles? If so, thru play negative doubles.
what overcaller’s bid? X in box if you do and
typically enter 2S
(thru 2 spades) or 3S
(thru 3 spades).
2. Responsive: An alternative approach Leave all blank.
thru ____ instead of Neg. Dbl.
Maximal
3. Support Dbl. Do you play Support X if you do and same
thru ____ Doubles? If, so thru typical 2S or 3S limit.
Redbl what overcaller’s bid? If not, leave blank.
Do you redouble to I don’t teach redouble
indicate a Support Dbl? as SD. Leave box blank.
4. Card-showing, Leave entries blank.
Min. Offshape
T/O
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ACBL38L – Convention Card Oct 17, 2009
Filling Left Side Page 2 of 10
Left Side of Card – Five Entries in Left Column
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Simple Overcall
Explanation My Recomendation
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5. 1 level _____ What is the HCP range I teach a light 6 – 12 HCP.
to _____ HCP of your 1 level overcall? Your range may differ.
(usually)
6. often 4 cards Do you overcall 4 card I teach never to overcall
very light style suits? 4 card suits. Lv box blnk.
Are you overcalls X in box if you’re 6-12.
light?
Simple Overcall - Responses
7. New Suit: If partner overcalls and I teach that overcalls are
Forcing, NFConst, then you bid a new suit, not forcing. Put an X in
NF is partner: the box of the style you
1. Forced to bid? play.
2. NF Constructive Constructive is inviting.
3. Not forced to bid? NF is partner can pass.
8. Jump Raise: If you overcall and I teach that jump raise is
Forcing, Inv., partner jumps in your invitational because my
Weak suit, what does it mean? overvalls are light.
Put an X in the box of
the style you play.
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Jump Overcall
9. Strong, Intermed, How do you play jump I teach them for Weak
Weak overcalls? 2s and preempts. Weak
ACBL38L – Convention Card Oct 17, 2009
Filling Left Side Page 3 of 10
Left Side of Card – Five Entries in Left Column
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Opening Preempts
Explanation My Recomendation
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10. 3/4 bids: Do you open 3/4 X in Stong for 13+ HCP.
Sound, Light, level bids with 13+, X in Light for 10-12.
Very Light 10-12 or 0-9 HCP. X in Very Light for 0-9.
I teach very light but do
open 4 of majors with
one-suited opening
hands to shut out the
opponents.
11. Conv./Resp ___ Leave blank.
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Direct Cuebid
Explanation My Recomendation
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12. Over: Min. Maj. What is the meaning if I now teach Michaels and
Natural you cuebid the would put Xs in that row’s
Strong T/O opener’s suit? minor/major boxes.
Michaels Natural – you have that
suit, typically If you play Natural or
over minors. Strong T/O, put Xs in
Strong T/O – 16+ HCP. their minor/major box.
Michaels – you have a
5/5 hand.
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ACBL38L – Convention Card Oct 17, 2009
Filling Left Side Page 4 of 10
Left Side of Card – Four Entries in Right Column
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Notrump Overcalls
Explanation My Recomendation
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13. Direct : What is your 1 NT 15 – 18 HCP same as
____ to ____ overcall HCP range? opening 1 NT.
14. Systems on Do you play Stayman X is yes and on Conv.
Conv. ____ and transfers with line enter X and
1 NT overcalls? “Stayman and trans”.
With Systems On, If not, leave boxes blnk.
what conventions do
you play?
15. Balancing: If first position opens I teach that all 1 NT
____ to ____ and you bid 1 NT in bids (open, overcall,
balancing position balancing) are 15-18.
(4th) what is HCP If you balance with
Range. a different range, enter
that range.
16. Jump to 2NT This is an Unusual NT With Michaels it is for
Minors, Lowest bid ( 2 five card suits), the minors.
especially with Michaels. Some people use it
Leave boxes blank if to indicate the 2 lower
you don’t play Unusual unbid suits. If you do,
Notrump. put an X in Lowest box.
17. Conv. _____ Used if you play some Leave blank.
other 1 NT overcall.
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ACBL38L – Convention Card Oct 17, 2009
Filling Left Side Page 5 of 10
Revised
Left Side of Card – Four Entries in Right Column
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Defense vs Notrump
Explanation My Recomendation
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18. Versus: What is the meaning I teach natural suit over-
2C, 2D, 2H, 2S of these overcalls of 1 calls with a HCP range of
_____ _____ NT? Typically, you are 8-14. With 15+ double.
just bidding your 5+ If so, enter “natural” and
card suit. “8-14”. There are
however, several
conventions that
have very different
meanings for these bids,
such as D.O.N.T. and
Hamilton/Capiletti.
19. Dbl. ____ ____ What is the range for Since overcall’s are 8-14,
range for a 1 NT takeout doubles are 15+.
double? It may be an unbalanced
hand.
20. Other ________ Anything else? I teach Systems On for
1 NT doubles.
Responder may use
Stayman or transfers.
If so, enter “systems
on”. Partnership
agreement is mand-
etory.
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ACBL38L – Convention Card Oct 17, 2009
Filling Left Side Page 6 of 10
Revised
Left Side of Card – Four Entries in Right Column
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Over Opp’s T/O Double
Explanation My Recomendation
------------------------------ -----------------------------------
Your partner has
opened the bidding
and LHO made a T/O
double.
21. New Suit Forcing: If you bid a new suit X in both boxes.
1 level, 2 level at the 1 or 2 level after If you haven’t passed, any
after the T/O double, response after a T/O
is it forcing (partner double (except 1 NT)
can’t pass)? should be forcing.
22. Jump Shift: How about a jump X in Weak box.
Forcing, Inv., shift after a T/O dbl? Partner has 12+ and T/O
Weak doubler has 12+. So you
can’t have more than 15.
Play this as a weak hand
with a 6+ card suit.
23. Redouble What is the meaning I teach a redouble denies
implies no fit of a responder support, has no 4+ card
redouble? Does it unbid major and has 10+
imply no fit with HCP. If you do also, put
opener’s suit. an X in the box. If the
redouble implies a fit,
leave box blank.
ACBL38L – Convention Card Oct 17, 2009
Filling Left Side Page 7 of 10
Revised
Left Side of Card – Four Entries in Right Column
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Over Opp’s T/O Double
Explanation My Recomendation
------------------------------ -----------------------------------
24. 2 NT Over: What does a 2 NT Another tough one.
Limit+, Limit, response over a T/O I teach 2 NT responses
Weak double mean? Is the as 12-15 HCP. Ignore
Majors/Minors meaning different for the T/O double. It’s
majors or minors? the same for majors or
minors. So I put Xs in
the two Limit+ boxes.
You can mark other
boxes or leave the
whole thing blank,.
25. Other _____ Leave blank.
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VS Opening Preempts Double Is
Explanation My Recomendation
------------------------------ -----------------------------------
26. Takeout What is a double of a Typically it is Takeout
thru _____ weak 2 or preempt thru 3 spades. If only
3 bid? Takeout or thru 2 spades, put an X
Penalty Penalty? in the Penalty box for
over 2 spades.
If no hard-fast rule,
leave the entries blank.
27. Conv. Takeout __ Leave blank. This is if partnership has
a conventional type dbl.
ACBL38L – Convention Card Oct 17, 2009
Filling Left Side Page 8 of 10
Revised
Left Side of Card – Four Entries in Right Column
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VS Opening Preempts Double Is
Explanation My Recomendation
------------------------------ -----------------------------------
28. Lebensohl 2NT The is a convention I teach the Lebensohl
Response for responses to a 2 NT response. You
double of a Weak 2 don’t respond at the
bid. Do you play this 3 level unless you have
Lebensohl 2NT? 8+ HCP. If not, you bid
2 NT. Note that no
stoppers are needed.
X in box for Lebensohl.
If not, leave blank.
29. Other ______ Leave blank.
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Left Side of Card - Center
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Slam Conventions
Explanation My Recomendation
------------------------------ -----------------------------------
30. Gerber Do you play Gerber? X = yes. See item 34.
31. 4NT Blackwood Do you play Blackwood? X = yes.
32. RKC Do you play Roman Key X = yes
Card Blackwood? See item 34.
33. 1430 3014 is standard. 1430? X = play 1430 RKC.
ACBL38L – Convention Card Oct 17, 2009
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Revised
Left Side of Card – Center
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Slam Conventions
Explanation My Recomendation
------------------------------ -----------------------------------
34. ____________ Anything special for If you play Gerber over
Gerber or Blackwood? NT and suit bids enter
“Gerber over suits” or
“RKC Gerber”.
35. VS Interference Too complicated.
Leave entries blank.
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Left Side of Card – Left Column
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Leads (circle card led, if not in bold)
Explanation My Recomendation
------------------------------ -----------------------------------
36. If the lead you would I teach to always lead
make versus suits or from top of touching
NT contracts is not the honors and small from a
same as the card in facecard. Some bold
bold print, circle the items differ from this.
card that you would
lead. See new pages 10A & B.
37. Length Leads: The only box I mark is You may have others to
4th best against NT. mark.
38. Primary signal to Most players signal X in Attitude box.
partner’s leads attitude.
ACBL38L – Convention Card Oct 17, 2009
Filling Left Side Page 10A of 10
Revised
Left Side of Card – Right Column
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Defensive Carding
Explanation My Recomendation
------------------------------ -----------------------------------
39. vs Suits, Any special signals X in both Standard boxes.
vs NT when following suits Leave Except box blank.
Except or discarding?
40. Other defensive conventions are listed. Leave remaining entries
I neither teach or play any of them. blank.
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Left Side of Card – Left Column
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This is a suggested marking for opening leads.
Versus Suits Why I differ from bold marked card
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X x
X x x x Leading small indicates a face card
on top; so I lead top of nothing.
X x x Same.
X x x x x Same
A k x The card doesn’t indicate ace or king.
Lead top of a sequence.
T 9 x
K q x .
k j t X Small indicates face card on top.
Q j x
k t 9 X Ditto.
ACBL38L – Convention Card Oct 17, 2009
Filling Left Side Page 10B of 10
New
Versus Suits Why I differ from bold marked card
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J t 9
q t 9 X Small indicates a face card on top.
K q t 9
Versus Notrump Why I differ from bold marked card
------------------ --------------- -----------------------------------------------
X x
X x x x
X x x
X x x x x Fourth longest should have an ace
or face card on top.
A k j x Either the ace or the x, but not the king.
a Q j x agree This is an interior sequence.
a J t 9 agree Partner will never believe the 9 is fourth
longest. It’s sort of interior sequence.
K q j x
K q t 9 Lead king as top of three.
Q j t x
q t 9 X Lead fourth longest.
Q T 9 is not a sequence of three.
J t 9 x
T 9 x x agree Top of nothing.