CategoryNo AlertAlertAnnounce
Natural Calls Not Specifically NotedAbout expected strength and shapeHighly unusual strength, shape, etc.
Conventional/Artificial
  • Stayman (next higher level of clubs)
  • Blackwood (4NT) and expected responses
  • Gerber (4C)/NT
  • Conventional 2NT response to an opening two-level suit bid
  • Two diamond response to strong artificial two club opening which is waiting or negative
All other conventional and/or artificial bids. *See Delayed Alerts Above for when to Alert*
Notrump Openings
ConventionalState Range, if natural, for all 1NT openings
Notrump Overcalls
  • Conventional overcalls by a passed hand
  • Jumps to 2NT or any four-level or higher notrump bid that is unusual
  • Jump to 3NT that is unusual
  • Other conventional notrump overcalls
  • A natural notrump overcall with an expected lower limit of less than 14 HCP and/or an upper limit of more than 19 HCP
  • Natural jumps to 2NT, except in balancing seat

Responses to Notrump Opening Bids and Overcalls
  • Stayman (next higher level of clubs) asking for a four-card major. (Also, Stayman after the NT opening has been doubled.)
  • Natural signoffs at the next higher level in diamonds, hearts and spades
  • Three-level natural responses whether a jump response or not
  • Stayman (next higher level of clubs) if other than asking for a four-card major, and rebids
  • Transfers, except for those which are announced and other artificial responses above next higher level of clubs
  • Rebids after use of Stayman by responder which do not promise a major.
  • State "Transfer" any time a diamond response to a natural notrump bid at any level is a transfer to hearts.*
  • State "Transfer" any time a heart response to a natural notrump bid at any level is a transfer to spades.*

    *If the transferer may occasionally hold a Game Forcing hand without the next higher suit, state "Transfer" and Alert the subsequent bid which cancels the transfer meaning

    NOTE: Announcements of transfers as above apply after a natural NT rebid by opener
Opening Suit Bids at the One LevelNatural non-forcing openings with an agreed range of somewhere between 10-21+ HCP
  • Conventional and/or artificial openings which do not require an Announcement such as a strong/artificial forcing club
  • Frequent very light openings (fewer than 10 HCP by agreement). Also, pre-Alert
State "may be short" for non-forcing 1C and 1D calls which may be shorter than three cards
Responses to One-Level Opening Bids in a Suit
  • Non-forcing 1NT response whether four-card majors are bypassed or not
  • Forcing natural 2NT response that may bypass four-card majors
  • A one-level major-suit response to 1C that may bypass longer diamonds
  • 2/1 which shows at least game invitational values
  • All jump raises in or out of competition except a weak jump raise after a pass by RHO (no competition)
  • Natural forcing jump shifts and all natural jump shifts in competition
  • Natural 2NT response invitational or better
  • Conventional 1NT response which is not Announced
  • Non-forcing suit bid by an UPH
  • A weak jump raise after a pass by RHO (no competition)
  • A natural, non-forcing jump shift after a pass by RHO (no competition)
  • All conventional responses not listed under no Alert
  • State "Forcing" if a 1NT response to a major is simply forcing
  • State "Semi-forcing" if a 1NT response to a major is forcing except when opener has a balanced minimum
Opener’s and Responder’s Rebids
  • Two-of-a-minor after a forcing or semi-forcing 1NT response
  • A 1NT or 2NT rebid that implies a balanced hand (may contain one or two four-card majors)
  • Opener’s 1NT rebid, if strong
  • Responder’s artificial third- or fourth-suit bids
  • Responder’s "checkback" bids (of 2 or 3 C or D)

Opening Two-Level Bids in a Suit and Responses
  • 2C strong, artificial, and forcing
  • Weak, natural 2D, 2H or 2S
  • Conventional and/or forcing 2NT responses
  • Natural, forcing responses in a suit
  • Other conventional and/or artificial bids
  • Natural 2D, 2H or 2S, if intermediate or better
  • Natural weak or intermediate 2C
  • Natural and non-forcing 2NT responses
  • Natural, non-forcing responses in a suit

Doubles and RedoublesMost Doubles and Redoubles *See Alertable Doubles*Doubles and redoubles with highly unusual or unexpected meanings
Cue-bidsMost Cue-bids *See Alertable Cue-bids*Direct cue-bid of natural opening bid played as natural
Passes
Passes with highly unusual or unexpected meanings
Other Constructive Calls
  • Over suits, 4NT ace-asking and responses
  • Over notrump, 4C ace-asking and responses
  • Ace-asking calls and responses at or below the level of 3NT or any opening ace-asking call and response

    Delayed Alerts
  • Ace-asking calls and responses above the level of 3NT beginning with opener’s second call except for those listed under not Alertable

Defensive Bids
  • Weak jump overcalls (two or three level)
  • All constructive or better jump-shift advances
  • All natural jump raises of an overcall
  • Very light overcalls (fewer than 6 HCP) Also pre-Alert
  • Intermediate or better jump overcalls (two or three level)
  • Weak jump shifts after partner’s overcall