DUTCH ACOL
OPENING BIDS

The ACOL bidding system, developed and enhanced in England, has many followers in the bridge community and has gained world-wide acceptance. The guidelines of the ACOL bidding system are, however, not static and can be varied to fit the needs and requirements of individual partnership agreements. This is not only the case in England, but also around the world. One version of the ACOL bidding system in Holland is called Dutch Acol, and deals mainly with the opening bid. Although this variant has many similarities with the general guidelines of the ACOL bidding system, some of the opening bids differ. The responses are generally the same as in traditional ACOL, but may be changed according to the partnership understanding.

1 :

  11-20 HCPs 3-card plus Club suit

1 :

  11-20 HCPs 3-card plus Diamond suit

1 :

  11-20 HCPs 5-card plus Heart suit

or:

  11-20 HCPs Distribution: 4-4 in both Major suits

1 :

  11-20 HCPs 5-card plus Spade suit

1 NT:

  15-17 HCPs Balanced distribution

2 :

  7-10 HCPs 6-card plus Diamond suit

or:

  21 plus HCPs Any shape

2 :

  7-10 HCPs 6-card Heart or Spade suit

or:

  22-23 HCPs Balanced shape

2 :

  7-11 HCPs Distribution: 5-4 in Hearts and a Minor suit

2 :

  7-11 HCPs Distribution: 5-4 in Spades and a Minor suit

2 NT:

  20-21 HCPs Balanced shape

As the bridge player can recognize, there are several opening bids which can have different meanings, and this duplicity is cleared up in the continuing bidding sequence. Defense to this different opening bid used by bridge players in The Netherlands is generally the same as contained in the normal ACOL guidelines for defense.

For additional information, please visit:

Standard Dutch Bidding System aka Biedermeijer Reds

Bridge @ SFictie

Home Page of Mr. Gerrit Pieter van Dijk

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

Bridge Sites



Home Page I

Little Known

Home Page II