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For the list of conventions, see Category:Conventions.

A convention is an artificial call, used in an otherwise natural system, in order to convey a specific piece of meaning.

The reason of using conventions include:

  • to convey meanings which cannot be expressed using natural calls (such as asking the number of aces).
  • to save bidding space (such as a strong minor opening).
  • to free up natural bids for more useful meanings (such as Jordan 2NT).

Example[]

  • The sequence of 1 - (/) - 4NT normally specifies a Blackwood convention (or its variants). The 4NT bid does not say that the responder has a balanced hand, but instead asking the opener about the number of aces in order to avoid bad slams.
  • An X after an opponent's 1 or 2-level opening normally does not mean penalty, but instead tells the partner I have a strong hand and short in opponent's suit, please choose a suit for me. This is called takeout double and is technically a convention. As this practice has existed in the very early stage of development and is adopted universally, this is usually considered as a part of natural bidding and an alert is not needed. Although the caller does not mean penalty, the partner can pass it to convert it to a penalty double.
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