ALLEN
CONVENTION
Your partner has opened the bidding with 1 No Trump. You, as the responder, decide that the contract should be in one of the Minor suits. The Allen convention was devised to force the 1 No Trump bidder to explore this possibility of finding a 4-4 Minor suit Fit.
The application of the Allen convention requires the responder to apply the Stayman convention first, which means that the responder must bid 2 Clubs, asking the opener if he has a 4-card Major suit.
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| 1 No Trump |
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2  |
With this holding, the No Trump bidder will rebid 2 Hearts. In this case, the Allen convention dictates that the responder bid 2 Spades, thereby asking the No Trump bidder whether he holds a second 4-card suit. If the No Trump bidder rebids 2 Spades, the Allen convention dictates that the responder bid 3 Hearts, which is also asking whether the No Trump bidder has a second 4-card suit. As you have already noticed, the bidding has reached the Three Level, and the best contract could be on the Three Level. The partnership is already, in the second case, heading towards a risky contract.
If the No Trump bidder does not have a second 4-card suit, he automatically rebids No Trump at the cheapest Level.
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| 1 No Trump |
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| 2 |
The 1 No Trump bidder, with this holding, will answer 2 Diamonds, showing no 4-card Major suit. With the holding of the responder, it is evident that a slam is a good possibility. The responder then applies the Allen convention by bidding 3 Clubs, again asking the No Trump bidder to describe his holding further. The No Trump bidder follows the Allen convention requirements listed below to accurately inform his partner of his holding.
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3 |
shows 4 Diamonds and 3 cards in every other suit | |
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3 |
shows 2 Hearts, 3 Spades, and 4 cards in each Minor Suit | |
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3 |
shows 2 Spades, 3 Hearts, and 4 cards in each Minor Suit | |
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3 NT |
shows 4 Clubs, and 3 cards in every other suit |
By applying the Allen convention with the example above, if the No Trump Bidder rebids 3 Diamonds, it is reasonable to visualize a Contract of 6 Diamonds.
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.