Announceable   Bids


by Rusty Court

The announcement procedure was not originally part of the current CCR. It was adopted by the SABF some time subsequent to the publication of the current CCR, and covers four specific areas. The idea originated in the U.S.A. and was adopted here and some other zones and I see that David Stevenson has just published a set of announcements that may be used in the U.K. He has, at times, commented on our 'announcement' procedure in the past.

The SABF condones the following variations of the normal alert process, which are known as 'announcements'. The Alert card need not be displayed before the announcement.

The definitions are as follows - The SABF condones the following variations of the normal alert process, which are known as 'announcements':


  1. After a natural opening No Trump bid, ar a natural No Trump rebid after a suit opening, the partner of the No Trump bidder announces the range e.g. 12-14, 13-15, 20-22, 22-23, etc.;
  2. When a player has made a transfer bid after an uncontested 1 or 2 No Trump opening bid, partner announces it as a transfer to the agreed denomination;
  3. When a player opens a Multi 2 Diamond, partner announces 'Multi';
  4. When a player opens two of a suit, partner announces it as 'Weak' or 'Strong' plus any other relevant information in terms of the partnership agreement.

No further explanations should be given unless requested by an opponent at their turn to call.


These are recommendations made in an effort to speed up the bidding process and failure to utilise them does not constitute an infraction, so they would not really be part of the CCR. It would be helpful, though, if this procedure was publicised and displayed at clubs. It does save time.

Rusty Court
27 December 2004


Convention Card       (PDF format)

- BLUE fields represent announcable items;
- RED fields represent alertable items;