Bidding Conventions
📋 What it is
Conventions are agreed artificial bids (like Stayman or Blackwood) that ask specific questions during the auction.
🗣️ Coach says
Sometimes a bid means something OTHER than its face value — an agreed "convention". Blackwood (bidding 4NT) asks "how many Aces do you have?" Stayman asks "do you have a four-card major?" These shortcuts let partners find slams and fits precisely.
🧠 Memory hook
A convention is a code word. "4NT" (Blackwood) really means "how many Aces?"
😂 Giggle
Why did partners never talk during play?
Because in bridge, all your messages must be sent through your bids and cards, not words!
😲 Whoa!
There are hundreds of named bridge conventions — partnerships literally agree on a private language before they play, and both must know exactly the same code.
✅ Quick check: The Blackwood convention (bidding 4NT) asks partner what question?
Say your answer out loud first — then reveal.
How many Aces do you hold? — it's an artificial ask used to judge whether a slam is safe.
Blackwood is an Ace-asking convention, not a natural notrump bid.
🧪 Try it! (2 minutes)
Learn ONE convention (Stayman or Blackwood) and use it once in a practice auction with a partner.