Alerts and Explanations: What Partner Must Know
Alert artificial bids, explain your agreements rather than your hand, and correct a wrong explanation at the right time.
Opponents are entitled to know your partnership agreements. Alerts, announcements and explanations make sure they do. Getting them right also protects your result.
Alerts and announcements
The EBU rules are in the Blue Book. In general:
Natural bids usually need no alert.
Artificial bids, such as Stayman or a conventional double, are usually alerted.
Some common bids are announced instead, for example the range of your 1NT opening and a transfer after 1NT ("hearts").
Check the current Blue Book for the full list, as details change.
Explaining a bid
When an opponent asks, explain your agreement, not what you hold. Say "Partner's 2♦ is a transfer showing at least five hearts", not "I think they have hearts". If you have no agreement, say so.
When partner gets it wrong
If partner gives a wrong explanation of your bid:
If your side will declare, call the director and correct it at the end of the auction, before the opening lead.
If your side will defend, wait until the end of play, then call the director.
Don't show surprise or react during the auction: that passes information to partner.
Why it protects you
Failing to alert can lead the director to adjust the score. Clear agreements, written on your convention card, make alerting easy.
Key takeaways
Alert artificial bids; announce the ones the Blue Book lists.
Explain your agreement, not your hand.
Correct a wrong explanation at the correct moment, with the director.