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 weaker range, generally 12 to 14 points, than 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:

Opener
Responder
1
1 / 1 / 1
1 NT
2

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 / 1
1 NT
Showing possible ranges.
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 points and one of the following possibilities:
1. A rebiddable Heart suit if the opening bid was Hearts:
Opener
Responder
1
1
1 NT
2
2
2. A biddable 4-card Heart suit which could not be shown:
Opener
Responder
1
1
1 NT
2
2
3. A 3-card support for Hearts bid by the responder on the first round of the auction:
Opener
Responder
1
1
1 NT
2
2
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:

Opener

Responder
75
AK984
KJ7
A764

1

1

1 NT

2

Crowhurst

2 NT

Promises 15-16 high card points and any distribution.

Opener

Responder
53
Q9865
KJ7
AK6

1

1

1 NT

2

Crowhurst

2 rebid

Promises 12-14 points and a rebiddable Heart suit if the opening bid was Hearts.

Opener

Responder
76
KQJ9
KJ6
A875

1

1

1 NT

2

Crowhurst

2 rebid

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.

Claus and Raymond

Conventions

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