The Alert Procedure
The alert procedure is intended to help make all of the information
exchanged between partners in the course of the auction available to their
opponents at the time that it is needed. Basically, you are entitled to know
what your opponents' bids mean (according to their agreement with each
other, that is), and the spirit of the alert procedure
is to warn opponents that a bid has an unusual meaning. It will probably seem
strange at first; actually, it will probably always seem strange, only
what in particular
makes it strange will change as you get to know it better and get
used to it.
There are three stages to this procedure.
Before the Auction Begins: Pre-Alerts
Partnerships with very unusual systems (such as canapé, in which two-suited
hands are routinely bid by starting with the shorter suit rather than the
longer suit) or agreements their opponents may wish to discuss (such as
opening 2D with a variety of hand types), should inform their opponents
of these methods before play begins in each round. If your opponents do
this, you can ask them what methods they recommend in defense; in some cases
they are required to have prepared suggested defenses which their opponents
may choose to adopt and may refer to during the auction.
During the Auction: Alerts and Announcements
Throughout the auction, whenever a player makes a call, that player's
partner may be required to make an announcement (such as announcing the
range of a NT opening that does not fall within 15-18) or alert (by saying
"alert," and if using bidding boxes also tapping the alert flag or
placing the alert card on the table) in order to inform the opponents of an
unusual meaning of the call. At your turn, you can ask the opponent who
made the announcement or alert about its significance if you want to know
more; you could also look at
the appropriate section of their convention card instead of or in
addition to asking.
In fact, at your turn you can always ask about any of your opponents'
bids, even the ones that weren't alerted-- just ask the partner of the
person who made the call if you want to know what it means, or refer
to the opponents' convention card.
After the Auction: Delayed Alerts
Some calls, such as most ace-asking bids and responses, should not be
alerted during the auction, but should be explained afterwards. The
declaring side makes delayed alerts before the opening lead has been
selected, while the defending side makes delayed alerts after the opening
lead has been selected but before the declarer plays to the first trick
from dummy.
The declaring side should also correct any misinformation (including failures
to alert and wrong explanations) before the opening lead is selected. The
defending side should wait until the hand has been played, and then
correct any misinformation.
How do I know when to alert or announce?
You need to know how the alert procedure applies to the
bidding system you are playing; don't panic, you can ask an
experienced player to help you with this, and if you're just getting
started, chances are you are playing a system which requires very few
alerts or announcements.
Here's a link to the new ACBL Alert Chart.
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Last modified: May 5, 1998
clahey@umich.edu