Introduction to Conventions

Specially for Newer Players

A Convention is an artificial bid assigned a special meaning and used to help your partnership gain extra information about how high and where to go in the bidding. They require some memorising and agreements with partner, so tread carefully with them! Mixing them up could cause problems between you and lovely partner! So, don't use too many conventions, but this course will explore a few that will really help.

Lesson 1 - Stayman
Wednesday, 15 November: 10-11am AEDT

Whether to play in a major suit or no trumps is a common question in the bidding, and using the Stayman Convention will sort this out once and for all for you.

Lesson 2: Transfers to the Majors
Wednesday, 22 November: 10-11am AEDT

A modern idea that really works is to have the stronger hand to be playing the contract when partner has opened 1NT. So “transfers” are used to make this happen.

Lesson 3 - Transfers to the Minors
Wednesday, 29 November: 10-11am AEDT

Whether to play in no trumps or a minor suit is a big decision, and being able to transfer to a minor means the 1NT opener can make that decision with more information.

Lesson 4 - Blackwood
Wednesday, 6 December: 10-11am AEDT

Checking how many controls your side holds for slam helps avoid the embarrassment of losing two tricks and being at the six level!
It’s one of the earliest conventions and it helps a lot!

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