Opener |
Responder |
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1  |
1  / 1 / 1 |
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1 NT |
2 |
Crowhurst Convention |
This concept was devised by Mr. Eric Crowhurst of England, where the Acol Bidding System is the established norm. In the Acol Biddding System an opening of 1 No Trump indicates a definite point range from generally 12 to 14 points, as opposed to the point range of 15-17 points generally played in Standard American. This concept is designed to assist those bridge players to show this different range agreed upon by partnership agreement.
Without competition the formula for this action is shown in the following diagram:
The artificial rebid of 2 by the responder requests that partner clarify his strength or the range of his high card points. This rebid of 2 by responder is not showing / promising support for partner if the opened suit is Clubs. It is based on the rebid of 1 No Trump by partner.
The opener has the following options to clarify his strength:
Opener Responder Meaning 1 1 1 NT Showing possible ranges of 12-14 points or 15-16 points. 2 Asks for clarification. 2 NT Promises 15-16 high card points and any distribution. 2 Promises 12-14 high card points and a 3-card support for Spades if responder's first response was 1 2 Promises 12-14 high card points and one of the following possibilites:
1. A rebiddable Heart suit if the opening bid was Hearts:
2. A biddable 4-card Heart suit which could not be shown:
3. A 3-card support for Hearts bid by the responder on the first round of the auction:
Opener Responder 2 Promises 12-14 high card points and indicates any other shape / pattern not covered by any other rebid.
Following are a few examples of such holdings with the corresponding auctions:
Example 1:
Opener Responder Meaning
75 AK984 KJ7 A764 1 1 1 NT 2 Crowhurst 2 NT Promises 15-16 high card points and any distribution.
Example 2:
Opener Responder Meaning
53 Q9865 KJ7 AK6 1 1 1 NT 2 Crowhurst 2 Promises 12-14 points and a rebiddable Heart suit if the opening bid was Hearts.
Example 3:
Opener Responder Meaning
76 KQJ9 KJ6 A875 1 1 1 NT 2 Crowhurst 2 Shows fewer than 2 Spades, fewer than 5 Hearts. Promises 12-14 high card points and indicates any other shape / pattern not covered by any other rebid.
In a refinement of this conventional method to overcome a certain disparity Mr. Eric Crowhurst also devised the so-called Impossible Major as the solution to one particular problem not covered by his origianl conventional method. If the opener indeed has a genuine Spade suit in the following auction:
Opener Responder 1 1 1
then the opener would bid 1 Spade. However, in the following auction:
Opener Responder 1 1 1 NT 2 2
the opener does not have a genuine 4-card Spade suit to bid. The opener could rebid 2 No Trump to show 15-16 high card points and any distribution. The 2 rebid, an idle bid, by the opener therefore promises a "borderline holding" with a good 14 high card points or a weak 15 high card points indicating that the responder becomes the captain and places the contract. This idle bid of 2 has been designated as the Impossible Major.
If you wish to include this feature, or any other feature, of the game of bridge in your partnership agreement, then please make certain that the concept is understood by both partners. Be aware whether or not the feature is alertable or not and whether an announcement should or must be made. Check with the governing body and/or the bridge district and/or the bridge unit prior to the game to establish the guidelines applied. Please include the particular feature on your convention card in order that your opponents are also aware of this feature during the bidding process, since this information must be made known to them according to the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. We do not always include the procedure regarding Alerts and/or Announcements, since these regulations are changed and revised during time by the governing body. It is our intention only to present the information as concisely and as accurately as possible.
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