Bridge is a pair game. In consequence, both players agree on methods and actions, often in written papers (conventioncards). This is done under the known rules of the game.
Auction is an essential part of the game. But the possibilities to act are - under the old rules - little. All you can do is to place one of the 35 bidding cards, with denomination and number of tricks , or pass or do contra and recontra.
Players do know nothing about their cards, when bidding starts. The law does not help.
Connecting information to a specific bid is the main possibility for lawful communication and must be learned from professionals. Communicated are mostly ranges, i.E 12 to 16 HCP
There are certain basic types of information i.E. :
a) The strenght of a hand by high card counting 4= ace; 3 = king; 2 = queen; and 1 = jack; (HCP). b) sum of loosers; (see Tools) c) sum of winning cards; d) new one yet to be invented.
a )and b) are simple mathematical operations. Which card is a winning card is a more complicated procedure and difficult to learn for beginners. It takes many hours of practice.
There are three types of connection of content to bids:
a) The information connected to a specific bid could apply to a sole action, i.e. transfer to a certain denomination in NT play;
b) all following actions to a bid, i.e. partner must go on bidding until game;
c) to a group of actions, i.e. contra in frist and second level requires action from partner.
Top players use to have - and often are requested to by tournament authorities - extensive descriptions of their agreements.
The revised 2008 laws introduces the possibility, to place a bid in two ways: 1) simple by by placing the usual bid-card 2) placing the bid card and at the same time the"alert" card. This implies new systems transferring more information.
Annex shows such system . Look at it and give your opinion.
