Wikipedia:WikiProject Contract bridge/Manual of Style/Appendix 3: Bidding table examples

Inline text auctions edit

This Appendix relates to auctions displayed in tables. For treatment of auctions inline with text, see here.

Nomenclature for tables edit

When used in a bidding table

  • use Dbl and Rdbl rather than double, Double, redouble or Redouble
  • use Pass rather than pass, No bid, or P

Simple table edit

  • The table format may be abbreviated for an uncontested auction as follows:
Code Gives
{| class=wikitable
!width="50%"|West
!width="50%"|East
|- align=center
| 1{{Hearts}} || 1{{Spades}}
|- align=center
| 2{{Diams}} || 3{{Spades}}
|- align=center
| 4{{Spades}} || Pass
|}
West East
1 1
2 3
4 Pass

Competitive table edit

  • West should always be in the first column, regardless of who is the dealer. In this way, the layout of the table better corresponds with the layout of the diagram.
  • Optionally, add captions for (a) deal or board number, (b) scoring method, and (c) vulnerability. The dealer is known by the auction sequence illustrated. Do not duplicate this information if provided in the deal diagram.
  • For a competitive auction, the table would be as follows:
Code Gives
{| class=wikitable
!width="25%"|West
!width="25%"|North
!width="25%"|East
!width="25%"|South
|- align=center
| || 1{{Hearts}} || Pass || 1{{Spades}}
|- align=center
| Pass || 2{{Diams}} || Dbl || 3{{Spades}}
|- align=center
| Pass || 4{{Spades}} || Pass ||Pass
|- align=center
| Pass || || || 
|}
West North East South
1 Pass 1
Pass 2 Dbl 3
Pass 4 Pass Pass
Pass

Annotated table edit

  • A table may be annotated with footnotes to describe the meaning of calls, as follows:
Code Gives
{| class=wikitable
|+Roman Key Card Blackwood<br>IMPs      Vul:None
!width="25%"|West
!width="25%"|North
!width="25%"|East
!width="25%"|South
|- align=center
| || 1{{Diams}} || Pass || 1{{Spades}}
|- align=center
| Pass || 4{{Spades}} || Pass || 4NT<sup>1</sup>
|- align=center
| Pass || 5{{Hearts}}<sup>2</sup>
|| Dbl<sup>3</sup> || 5{{Spades}}<sup>4</sup>
|- align=center
| Pass || Pass || Pass || 
|}
<sup>1 RKCB 3014</sup><br>
<sup>2 Two keycards without the queen of trump</sup><br>
<sup>3 Lead directing</sup><br>
<sup>4 Two keycards missing</sup>
Roman Key Card Blackwood
IMPs      Vul:None
West North East South
1 Pass 1
Pass 4 Pass 4NT1
Pass 52 Dbl3 54
Pass Pass Pass
1 RKCB 3014
2 Two keycards without the queen of trump
3 Lead directing
4 Two keycards missing

Bidding explanation table edit

Example 1 edit

Opener Overcaller Responder
Response Meaning and Subsequent Bidding
1NT 2 in a suit 2 in a higher ranking suit natural and non-forcing
2NT a relay bid forcing the opener to bid 3; after that:
 – 3 in suit of lower rank than overcalled – natural, to play
 – 3 in suit of higher rank than overcalled – natural, invitational
 – 3 in the overcalled suit – a cuebid, artificial, akin to Stayman, asking partner to bid a 4-card major suit and showing a stopper in the overcalled suit
 – 3NT – to play, showing a stopper
3 in any suit except that overcalled natural, forcing to game
3 in the overcalled suit a direct cuebid, artificial, akin to Stayman, asking the partner to bid a 4-card major suit and denying a stopper in the overcalled suit
3NT to play, denying a stopper

Example 2 edit

Opener Overcaller
Call Meaning
1NT 2 diamonds, or hearts and spades
2 hearts, or spades and clubs
2 spades, or clubs and diamonds
2 clubs, or diamonds and hearts

Example 3 edit

The following summarises the balancing agreements made by competitive bridge players:

West North East South (in the balancing position)
Call Meaning
1 Pass Pass Double 8+ HCP
1/ normal overcall
1NT 10-14 HCP, does not guarantee a stopper
2 normal overcall
2 unknown two-suiter (see Michaels cuebid)
2/ good 6+ card, 12-16 hcp
2NT 18-19 HCP, balanced
West North East South (in the balancing position)
Call Meaning
1 Pass Pass Double 8+ HCP
1 normal overcall
1NT 12-16 HCP, does not guarantee a stopper
2/ normal overcall
2 unknown two-suiter
2 good 6+ card, 12-16 hcp
2NT 17-19 HCP, balanced

Colors edit

Table header colors edit

Background color: #F4F4FC
Standard header background color: #EFEFEF
Background color: #EAEAFC
Background color: #E0FFFF

Olympic colors edit

style="background: gold" bgcolor="gold"
style="background: silver" bgcolor="silver"
style="background: #CD7F32" bgcolor="cc9966"