ent001387-118

;y-Ur. ' ; , i ?╟≤?√ß-?√ß?√ß e v '.,>-. ?√ß , v.... ^,.?╟?.?╟÷?√ß- ?√ß.-?√ß?╟≤?√ß; % ?√ß7 ?√ß , ?√ß - . ' ;;$> September 14, 19(56 Mr. Harold McLaughlin 19 Hast Idaho Street Kslispell, Montana Dear Mr. MeLauglin: Z wish Z could send you the two booklets you requested?╟≤ Z cannot, because they have not yet been written ~~ let alone printed. Z plan to do that very soon, but you have caught ste with ay trousers at half-mast. Me plan to call certain bidding conventions standard for the purposes of this tournament. This does not imply that they are better than other bidding methods: merely that they are more widely used. Me think that if you walked into a rubber bridge club in a strange town and set down to play ,$< bridge with and against strangers, these are the conventions you would expect to agree upon. The opening hid of 1 NT shows no very long suits or very short suits. The strength is roughly 16 to 18 points (using the 4-3-2-1 count) but might be 15 to 17 or even 15 to 18. Zt would NOT be the weak notrump (12 to 14) or the super -strong notrump (17 to 20) . Players who prefer quick tricks or honor tricks,' would bid a no trump mixwith about 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 tricks. The Stayman Convention is used in response to 1 NT, asking the opener to bid a major suit if he has four or more spades or four or more hearts (or both). The response is 2 ?╓¬. Opener bids a major suit if be has the length in either major. Otherwise ha bids 2 *4. The same principle is followed in response to 2 NT or even 3 NT. The opening bid of 2 of a suit is forcing to game. The bust response is 2 NT. Takeout Double. When an opponent opens the bidding with 1, 2 or 3 of a suit, a double asks partner to bid his longest suit and promises support for any suit he bids. A player who has opened the bidding may double at his next turn to promise support in the unbid suits. Even a low-level double is for penalties, however, if partner has bid at doubled. Jump overcalls may be weak or strong (but not both). Weak means less than torn value of an opening bid. Strong means more than a minimum opening bid, with a good suit. Players will"have a card, which shows which type of jump over call they use?╟÷ as well as any deviations. Blackwood Convention for ace-showing. Gerber when the previous bid was some number of notrump. {Blackwood begins with 4 NT; Gerber, with 4 *.) That?╟╓s about ail. Me may allow one or two others by the time we print the booklet. Z will also print shoot explanations of the most popular deviations from standard. A pair is allowed a maximum of three deviations. Z will gladly explain any bidding convention on October 9th to any and all players who ask me questions. Z will be at registration all day. Please write or call me here if you have further questions.