Bridge Conventions List: Which to Learn First, and Why
A bridge convention is a bid with an agreed special meaning that's different from its natural meaning. For example, in the Stayman convention a 2♣ response to 1NT doesn't say anything about clubs. It asks partner whether they hold a 4-card major. This list covers the conventions most players use, grouped by when you'll need them, with a link to a full guide for each one.
You don't need to learn them all. Most club players use a handful, and every convention only works if your partner plays it too. Start with the first group, add more as you play, and always agree with your partner before the game.
Conventions at a Glance
| Convention | When it comes up | What it does | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayman | Partner opens 1NT | 2♣ asks for a 4-card major | Beginner |
| Jacoby transfers | Partner opens 1NT | 2♦ or 2♥ shows 5+ cards in the next suit up | Beginner |
| Blackwood | Looking for slam | 4NT asks how many aces partner holds | Beginner |
| Takeout double | An opponent opens | Double asks partner to bid an unbid suit | Beginner |
| Weak two bids | Opening the bidding | 2♦, 2♥ or 2♠ with a 6-card suit and a weak hand | Beginner |
| Negative double | Partner opens, opponent overcalls | Double shows the unbid suits, often a major | Improving |
| Gerber | Slam in notrump | 4♣ asks for aces after a notrump bid | Improving |
| Roman Key Card Blackwood | Looking for slam in a suit | 4NT asks for the four aces and the trump king | Improving |
| Jacoby 2NT | Partner opens 1♥ or 1♠ | 2NT is a game-forcing raise with 4+ trumps | Improving |
| Drury | You passed, partner opens a major | 2♣ asks if the opening is full strength | Improving |
| Michaels cue bid | An opponent opens | A cue bid shows two 5-card suits | Improving |
| Unusual 2NT | An opponent opens | 2NT shows the two lowest unbid suits | Improving |
| Cappelletti | An opponent opens 1NT | Two-level bids show one- or two-suited hands | Improving |
| Control cue bids | Looking for slam | Show aces, kings or shortness below game | Advanced |
| Lebensohl | After interference over 1NT | 2NT relays to 3♣ to sort weak from strong hands | Advanced |
| Smolen | After 1NT - 2♣ - 2♦ | Shows 5-4 in the majors and forces to game | Advanced |
The Rule of 20 isn't a convention, but it belongs on every beginner's list. It helps you decide when a light hand is worth opening.
Stage 1: The Conventions Almost Everyone Plays
If you only learn five conventions, learn these. You'll meet them at almost every club table.
Stayman and Jacoby transfers
Both are responses to a 1NT opening. Stayman (2♣) asks opener for a 4-card major, so you can find a 4-4 fit. Jacoby transfers (2♦ for hearts, 2♥ for spades) show a 5-card or longer major and let the strong hand play the contract. Our guide to Stayman and transfers covers both.
Blackwood
When you think there's a slam, Blackwood asks partner how many aces they hold with a 4NT bid. It stops you from bidding a slam that's missing two aces. Start with the Blackwood convention, then move on to Roman Key Card later.
Takeout double
When an opponent opens and you have opening strength with support for the other suits, you double. It doesn't mean you expect to beat their contract. It asks partner to choose one of the unbid suits.
Weak two bids
An opening of 2♦, 2♥ or 2♠ shows a good 6-card suit and a weak hand, usually about 5-10 points. It takes bidding space away from the opponents. A strong 2♣ opening is then used for all the very strong hands.
Stage 2: Conventions for Improving Players
Once the basics feel natural, these conventions make the biggest difference to your results.
Raising partner's major
- Jacoby 2NT shows a strong raise of partner's 1♥ or 1♠ opening and asks opener to show shortness or strength.
- Drury is for when you've already passed and partner opens a major in third or fourth seat. It finds out whether the opening was light.
Competing against the opponents
- Negative double: when partner opens and an opponent overcalls, your double shows the unbid suits.
- Michaels cue bid: bidding the opponent's suit shows two 5-card suits.
- Unusual 2NT: a jump to 2NT over an opening shows the two lowest unbid suits.
- Cappelletti: a full set of bids to compete when an opponent opens 1NT.
Bidding slams
- Roman Key Card Blackwood counts the king of trumps as a fifth "ace" and tells you about the trump queen too.
- Gerber asks for aces with 4♣ when the auction is in notrump, so 4NT can stay natural.
Stage 3: Advanced Conventions
These are for regular partnerships that want more precision. Learn them one at a time, and only once both of you are comfortable with stages 1 and 2.
- Control cue bids: show aces, kings or shortness on the way to slam.
- Lebensohl: after the opponents interfere over your side's 1NT, a 2NT bid asks partner to bid 3♣, so you can tell weak hands from strong ones.
- Smolen: after 1NT - 2♣ - 2♦, responder jumps in the 4-card major to show five cards in the other major, so the 1NT opener plays the hand.
- Bergen raises: 3♣ and 3♦ responses to a major opening show four-card support and different strengths.
- New minor forcing: after 1♣ - 1♥ - 1NT or similar, responder bids the other minor to ask about opener's hand.
- Fourth suit forcing: bidding the fourth suit is artificial and keeps the auction going.
- Splinter bids: a double jump in a new suit shows a singleton or void plus support for partner.
- Puppet Stayman: a version of Stayman over 2NT that also finds 5-card majors.
How Conventions Fit Together
A convention is one piece of a partnership's full set of agreements. You can play Stayman with almost any style of bidding, for example. To see how whole styles differ from country to country, read our guide to bridge bidding systems. For definitions of the terms used here, our bridge glossary has you covered.
How to Add a New Convention
- Agree it with your partner first. A convention that only one of you knows causes more disasters than it prevents.
- Write it on your convention card. On Bridge Champ you can upload your convention card and assign it to a partner, and opponents can see it during the game.
- Practice it before a tournament. A convention you've used ten times in practice is far safer than one you read about last night.
- Add one at a time. Play a new convention for a few weeks before you add the next one.
Practicing conventions on Bridge Champ
- Bidding Practice tables skip the card play and score each auction against the double dummy result, so you can drill a new convention quickly. See the Bidding Practice guide.
- The Hand Editor lets you set point ranges and suit lengths for each seat, so the convention comes up on every deal. See the Hand Editor guide.
- The computer partner follows a fixed convention card that you can read on the bots page of the wiki. Check it before you use a convention opposite a computer partner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common bridge conventions?
The most common are Stayman, Jacoby transfers, Blackwood, the takeout double and weak two bids. After those, many players add the negative double, Roman Key Card Blackwood, Jacoby 2NT and the Michaels cue bid.
How many conventions should a beginner learn?
Start with four or five: Stayman, Jacoby transfers, Blackwood, the takeout double and weak two bids. Add more only when both you and your partner are comfortable with the ones you already play.
What is the difference between a convention and a natural bid?
A natural bid says you have the suit you bid. A convention gives a bid a special, agreed meaning. For example, a Stayman 2♣ says nothing about clubs.
Do you have to tell the opponents about your conventions?
Yes. The opponents are entitled to know your agreements. In club and tournament play you alert many conventional bids, and you show your agreements on your convention card.
Which conventions are allowed in tournaments?
It depends on the event. Organizations such as the ACBL publish convention charts that list what's allowed at each level. Most of the conventions on this list are allowed in almost every event.
Summary
Bridge conventions give certain bids special meanings so you and your partner can describe your hands more precisely. Start with Stayman, Jacoby transfers, Blackwood, the takeout double and weak two bids. Then add the competitive and slam conventions one at a time, always agreeing them with your partner first.
Pick one from this list, read its guide, then play bridge free online on Bridge Champ and try it out.