Conventions

In modern bridge there is a vast range of conventions for all types of auctions. A lot of them are very useful, but there are often trade-offs, and of course we need to be sure we'll remember what our conventions are under pressure — so the advice is to keep it minimal and only consider adding more with a regular partner.

A test for a good convention is that it's easy to remember, likely to come up frequently, and adds a lot of value. Although it can be fun to add gadgets to our bidding, if it doesn't pass that test, it is ill-advised.

Overall, we want to pick our conventions carefully and not overcrowd our system to the point that we cannot bid our hands naturally and confidently under pressure.

Practise conventions in the trainer
Interactive practice hands
  1. 1
    What is a convention, and which are best to play?FreeAdvanced
  1. 1
    System Over 1NT: Transfer Responses and ConventionsFreeAdvanced
  2. 2
    Find a Major Fit After 1NT: Stayman, Smolen, Puppet, TexasFreeAdvanced
  3. 3
    The Stayman Convention in Bridge: How and When to Use ItFreeAdvanced
  4. 4
    Puppet Stayman Convention - All You Need to KnowFreeAdvanced
  5. 5
    Smolen Convention: Show 5-4 Majors After StaymanFreeAdvanced
  6. 6
    Garbage stayman: Stayman with weak handsFreeAdvanced
  7. 7
    Texas Transfers: Transfer Directly to GameFreeAdvanced
  8. 8
    Super accept: 1NT Transfers JacobyFreeAdvanced
  9. 9
    Negative Doubles and One-Level ResponsesMembersAdvanced
  10. 10
    Landy and Multi LandyFreeAdvanced
  11. 11
    Cappelletti Convention in Bridge: Interfering Over 1NTFreeAdvanced
  12. 12
    DONT convention: Interfering over No TrumpFreeAdvanced
  1. 1
    Roman Key Card Blackwood (RKCB) and BlackwoodFreeAdvanced
  2. 2
    Kickback Convention: RKCB One Level Above the Trump SuitFreeAdvanced
  3. 3
    Gerber Convention in Bridge: Asking for Aces with 4CFreeAdvanced
  4. 4
    Quantitative 4NT: How to Invite Slam in No TrumpsFreeAdvanced
  5. 5
    Best slam bidding conventionsFreeAdvanced
  6. 6
    Jacoby 2NT: The Game-Forcing Major RaiseFreeAdvanced
  7. 7
    Splinter Bids in Bridge: How and When to Use ThemFreeAdvanced
  8. 8
    5NT Pick a Slam: Practical Partnership AgreementsFreeAdvanced
  9. 9
    Cue Bids in Bridge: Slam Bidding Made SimpleFreeAdvanced
  10. 10
    Last Train Convention in Bridge: The Slam Try Just Below GameFreeAdvanced
  1. 1
    What is a convention, and which are best to play?FreeAdvanced
  2. 2
    Bergen Raises: A Bridge Bidding ConventionFreeAdvanced
  3. 3
    Inverted Minors in Bridge: How and When to Use ThemFreeAdvanced
  4. 4
    Splinter Bids in Bridge: How and When to Use ThemFreeAdvanced
  5. 5
    Fourth Suit Forcing: How and When to Use ItFreeAdvanced
  6. 6
    Lebensohl Convention ExplainedFreeAdvanced
  7. 7
    Rubensohl Convention in Bridge: Transfers Over InterferenceFreeAdvanced
  8. 8
    Reverse Bids in Bridge: Showing Extra StrengthFreeAdvanced
  9. 9
    Multi 2D opening: How to play and defend itFreeAdvanced
  10. 10
    18-19 "Mexican" 2D openingFreeAdvanced
  11. 11
    Weak Two Bids in Bridge: Opening and ResponsesFreeAdvanced
  12. 12
    Ogust Convention in Bridge: The Artificial 2NT EnquiryFreeAdvanced
  13. 13
    Drury Convention in Bridge: The Passed Hand RaiseFreeAdvanced
  14. 14
    Transfers over 1C: How They WorkFreeAdvanced
  15. 15
    Two-way checkback: all you need to knowFreeAdvanced
  16. 16
    The Unusual NT: A Two-Suited 2NT OvercallFreeAdvanced
  17. 17
    Michaels Cue Bid in Bridge: The Complete GuideFreeAdvanced
More bidding topics