Alerting

[swanway]

English Bridge Union

 

Could you please answer the following questions regarding alerting.

 

1. If I open the bidding with a pre-emptive three bid that is weak, does it have to be announced as weak or alerted by my partner. Or does my partner say nothing and it is up to the opponents to ask?

 

2. If RHO opens the bidding 1D and I jump to 3C with a weak hand. Once again does my partner have to announce that it is weak?

 

3. I believe that any double below 3NT is not alertable if it is for take out. Any double below 3NT that is for penalty has to be alerted. Is that correct?

[Zelandakh]

English Bridge Union

 

Could you please answer the following questions regarding alerting.

 

1. If I open the bidding with a pre-emptive three bid that is weak, does it have to be announced as weak or alerted by my partner. Or does my partner say nothing and it is up to the opponents to ask?

You do not announce any 3 level opening bids in the EBU. You alert if the bid is either not natural or is natural but has a potentially unexpected meaning. A normal, natural preempt should thzerefore not be alerted.

 

 

2. If RHO opens the bidding 1D and I jump to 3C with a weak hand. Once again does my partner have to announce that it is weak?

Once again, this is neither alertable nor announcable.

 

 

3. I believe that any double below 3NT is not alertable if it is for take out. Any double below 3NT that is for penalty has to be alerted. Is that correct?

The rules for alerting doubles are quite specific. While your outline is the broad approach there are exceptions, for example doubles of NT and artificial bids. I have cut the following from the EBU Orange Book, pages 27-30:

 

5 E 2 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.

© 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.

Doubles are also alertable if they convey a potentially unexpected meaning in addition

to take-out or penalties as defined above.

In 5E2(a) and 5E2(d) the word ‘show’ is defined as follows:

‘it is natural, or shows willingness, in the context of the auction, to play in the suit, or it

is followed by two passes’.

 

 

5 E 4 Calls above 3NT

Once the auction is above the level of 3NT, no calls are to be alerted except for:

(a) Artificial opening bids

(b) Lead-directing passes

© Doubles or redoubles that are lead-directing but ask for the lead of a suit other

than the suit doubled (or redoubled)

 

 

5 G 4 The following doubles must be alerted:

(a) A penalty double of an opening natural 1NT which may have less than the

normally accepted point-count (ie 15 HCP or compensating distribution). Note

that this is not a real penalty double.

(b) A double of a 1NT response which is for take-out of opener’s suit.

© Any ‘competitive’, ‘co-operative’ or ‘optional’ double, since these are not takeout

doubles (see 4 H).

(d) A penalty double of a natural 2♦ in the sequence 1♦ (pass) 1♥ (2♦) dbl.

(e) A penalty double of 1♠ in the sequence (1♥) dbl (1♠) dbl.

(f) A penalty double of a natural 2♠ in the sequence 2♥ (2♠) dbl where 2♥ shows

both majors.

(g) A double of 1♦ in the sequence 1♣ (1♦) dbl if it shows one specific suit since this

is a potentially unexpected additional meaning.

5 G 5 The following doubles must not be alerted:

(a) Any ‘negative’ or ‘responsive’ double played in a traditional manner, such as 1♣

(1♠) dbl showing 4 hearts, since these are examples of take-out doubles.

(b) A take-out double of 2♥ in sequences such as 1♦ (pass) 1♥ (2♥) dbl, or 1♦

(pass) 1♥ (2♥) pass (pass) dbl, where 2♥ is natural.

© A take-out double of a transfer completion such as (1NT) pass (2♥) pass (2♠)

dbl since this is deemed to show the suit bid.

(d) A take-out double of a ‘pass-or-correct’ bid such as (2♦ multi) pass (2♠) dbl

since this is deemed to show the suit bid.