WBF SYSTEMS POLICY
1. OBJECTIVES
The objectives are to ensure that WBF Championships can he properly
operated and adequately administered, with a fair and equal chance
for all competitors, while at the same time affording proper consideration
to progress and innovation, to ensure that players are in no doubt
as to what is expected of them with regard to preparation and filing
of systems material for WBF Championships.
Additions or amendments to this policy will normally be put into
effect only after four months' notice.
2. DEFINITION OF HIGHLY UNUSUAL METHODS
Average Hand |
a hand containing one card of each rank |
Weak |
high card strength below that of an average hand |
Strong |
high card strength a king or more greater than that of an
average hand |
Natural |
a call or play that is not a convention (as defined in the
Laws) |
Length |
three cards or more |
Shortage |
two cards or less |
Long Match |
a match of 17 or more deals |
Short Match |
a match of less than 17 deals |
For the purpose of this Policy, a Highly Unusual Method (HUM) means any System
that exhibits one or more of the following features, as a matter
of partnership agreement:
a) A Pass in the opening position promises the values generally
accepted for an opening bid of one, and the player who passes will
or may hold values a queen or more above average strength (i.e.
an average hand contains 10 HCP).
b) By partnership agreement an opening bid at the one level may
be weaker than pass.
c) By partnership agreement an opening bid at the one level may
be made with values a king or more below average strength.
d) By partnership agreement an opening bid at the one level shows
either length or shortage in a specified suit; or either length
in one suit or length in another.
2.2 CLASSIFICATION OF SYSTEMS
In order to facilitate recognition and handling, systems material
will be identified by one or more of the following:
i) a WBF coloured sticker;
ii) the appropriate name (hand printed or typed) colour;
iii) a check mark on a convention card next to the appropriate
colour in keeping with the following descriptions:
- Green: Natural
- Blue: Strong Club/Strong
Diamond, where one club/one diamond is always strong
- Red: Artificial: this
category includes all artificial systems that do not fall under
the definition of Highly Unusual Methods (HUM)
systems [see definition below], other than Strong Club/Strong
Diamond. systems (see Blue). Examples would be a system where one club shows
one of three types a natural club suit, a balanced hand
of a specific range, or a Strong Club opener; or a system in
which the basic methods (other than the no trump range) vary
according to position, vulnerability and the like; or a system
that uses conventional weak or multi-meaning bids
(with or without some weak option) in potentially contestable
auctions, other than those described in the main part of the
WBF Convention Booklet.
- Yellow: Highly Unusual
Methods ('HUM') as defined above.
2.3 BROWN
STICKER CONVENTIONS AND TREATMENTS
The following conventions or treatments are categorized as "Brown Sticker".
(a) Any opening bid of two clubs through three
spades that:
(i) could be weak (may by agreement he made with values
below average strength); and
(ii) does not promise at least four cards in a known
suit.
Exception:
(iii) The bid always shows at least four cards in a
known suit if it is weak. If the bid does not show a known four
card suit it must show a hand a king or more over average strength.
(Explanation: Where all the weak meanings show at least
four cards in one known suit, and the strong meanings show a
hand with a king or more above average strength, it is not
a Brown Sticker Convention.)
(iv) A two level opening bid in a minor showing a weak
two in either major, whether with or without the option of strong
hand types, as described in the WBF Conventions Booklet.
(b) An overcall of a natural opening bid of one
of a suit that does not promise at least four cards in a known
suit.
Exception: A natural overcall in no trumps.
(c) Any 'weak' two-suited bids at the two or three level
that may by agreement be made with three cards or fewer in one
of the suits.
(d) Psychic bids protected by system or required by system.
(e) None of the foregoing restrictions pertain to conventional
defences against strong, artificial opening bids or defences against
Brown Sticker or HUM
conventions.
Additional to the classification of systems in (2.2) above,
any partnership using one or more Brown Sticker
conventions must indicate this alongside its system classification.
2.4 ENCRYPTED SIGNALS
Additional to the restrictions on bidding methods and conventions
above, players may not use signalling methods by which the message
or messages conveyed by the signals are hidden from the declarer
because of some key available only to the defenders (i.e. encrypted
signals are not allowed).
3. SYSTEMS ALLOWED AT WBF CHAMPIONSHIPS
In relation to the aspect of Systems to be allowed at WBF Championships,
the events will be divided into three categories:
- CATEGORY 1
-
Bermuda Bowl, Venice Cup (current format).
For such events all classifications of systems will be permitted,
subject to adequate disclosure, but teams using HUM
systems must submit their Convention Cards in advance in accordance
with the Conditions of Contest and will be subject to
a reduction of seating rights, as follows:
Whenever a team with one or more pairs using a HUM system opposes a team that has no such pair, the HUM
systems team will be the Away team, and lines up first
throughout.
-
No special seating rights or line-up restrictions shall apply
when two teams containing HUM systems
pairs (regardless of line-up) oppose one another.
CATEGORY 2
-
Olympiad
Knockout Matches; Rosenblum
Cup and McConnell Cup (Knock-out matches only) and other
Teams Championships as decided by the WBF
Rules and Regulations Committee.
The use of HUM systems is prohibited.
Brown sticker conventions will
be permitted, subject to adequate disclosure, but players using
them must submit their Convention Cards in advance in accordance
with the Conditions of Contest.
- CATEGORY 3
-
Olympiad (Round-Robin), all Pairs
Championships, Junior Teams Championships,
Rosenblum Cup and McConnell Cup (short matches), Transnational
events and the IOC Grand Prix.
The use of both HUM systems and
Brown Sticker conventions is prohibited.
4. SYSTEMS MATERIAL
For all Category 1 Teams events,
where Yellow (HUM) systems are permitted,
any pair using a HUM system is required
(in addition to the normal timely filing of the Convention Card
and Supplementary Sheets) to submit the full system in English
at the beginning of the Championship.
Pairs using Green, Blue or Red systems are encouraged
to submit their full system in English at the beginning of
any WBF Championship.
In decisions taken by Tournament Directors and by the Appeals Committee,
pairs who have submitted their full system will be given the benefit
of any support this provides for an explanation given at the table,
as far as this goes.
4. CONVENTION CARDS / SUPPLEMENTARY SHEETS
The principle of adequate disclosure requires that competitors
fully disclose the meanings of their calls, and particularly, all
conventions and treatments requiring defensive preparation.
In addition to the Convention Cards, pairs will use Supplementary
Sheets to achieve this objective.
The use of Supplementary Sheets is not strictly limited for all
events, provided that the entries are properly numbered to
correspond to appropriately cross-referenced numbers on the Convention
Card itself. The sheets must be readily legible and the numbered
entries must be separated by discernible heavy lines. While brevity
is encouraged, particularly for Category
2 and Category 3 events, full disclosure must not be prejudiced
in any way as a result.
All conventions and treatments requiring defensive preparation
must be listed on the front part of the WBF card. They
must be explained and fully developed (including competitive agreements)
either in the appropriate section on the outside or inside
of the card, or, where there is inadequate space there, in the first
numbered entries on the Supplementary Sheets.
The front right part of the Convention Card must include:
i) All artificial openings (except strong one club/two club openings);
ii) Response to natural openings which are weak and conventional;
iii) All conventional defensive bids used over natural openings
of one of a suit (making sure that all two suited intervention is
detailed precisely; the best way to do this is to write: 'Two
Suiters' and include a reference number to an early Supplementary
Sheet entry, which will provide the particulars).
If a pair uses any bid which should have been listed here, but
which has been left out, and their opponents do not get to their
best contract, there will be a strong presumption that the opponents
have been damaged by not being able to prepare a defence. The offending
pair can assume that they will also be liable to incur a procedural
penalty.
Any pair playing a HUM system or Brown
Sticker convention has a special obligation to present a
complete description of both their bids and subsequent developments
(especially competitive developments). If a pair uses an auction
that is not fully described, then the same presumption of lack of
advance notice (with adjustments and penalties as described in the
preceding paragraph) shall apply.
For each tournament, the Conditions of Contest will state
the date by which and the address at which systems
material and Convention Cards (together with telephone and [preferably]
fax numbers of the individuals best equipped to deal with queries
regarding the system) must be received. The onus is jointly
on the pair, the non-playing captain (where relevant), the NCBO,
and the Zonal Organization to obtain the information required
to meet this deadline. Failure to meet this deadline will result
in automatic penalties, which will be fully described in
the Conditions of Contest. Problems with systems should be
referred to the Chairman of the Systems Committee or his nominee
in accordance with details given in the Conditions of Contest.
After the closing date for submission of systems, the following
will be the policy governing any changes to the Convention Card
and Supplementary Sheets:
(a) Deletion of an item or a statement will be permitted
upon application to the Chairman of the Systems Committee or his
nominee
(b) A change replacing an agreement with another or to introduce
a fresh agreement, where the new material is not Brown Sticker,
will normally be permitted. The permission to use the new agreement
will operate at the discretion of the Chairman, but will normally
be from the morning of the second day after notification of the
change is issued to other contestants
(c) Neither the replacement of a Brown Sticker convention
with another Brown Sticker convention, nor the introduction of a
new Brown Sticker convention will be permitted
It is strongly emphasised, and all contestants must note, that
the policy stated above will be rigorously applied.
6. DEFENCE AGAINST YELLOW
(HUM) SYSTEMS AND RED (ARTIFICIAL)
SYSTEMS
For Team events in Category 1, the following regulations will apply
to defensive measures against HUM systems.
1. A pair opposing a HUM system pair
will submit two (clearly legible) copies of their defence to the
HUM system at an appropriate time and
place prior to the start of that segment, to be specified in the
Conditions of Contest. Such defences are deemed to be part of the
opponents' convention card.
2. In preparing the defence against a HUM
system, pairs using Green, Blue or Red systems are allowed
to change their systems, including opening calls. Pairs using a
HUM system are not allowed to change
their opening calls.
3. The pair using a HUM system must
inform the opponents in writing (two clearly legible copies) about
their counterdefence at the table prior to the start of the session
In preparing their counterdefence, the pair using a HUM
system is not permitted to change any of the highly artificial aspects
of its system.
For Teams events in Category 1
and Category 2, the following
regulations will apply in relation to defensive measures:
A pair may prepare written defences against the Brown Sticker elements of any system. Such defences will
have to be given to the opponents (two clearly legible copies) at
an appropriate time and place prior to the start of that segment,
to he specified in the Conditions of Contest. Written defences
against Brown Sticker conventions are
deemed to be part of the opponents' convention card.
7. NUMBER OF SYSTEMS ALLOWED PER TEAM
For Category 1 events, a maximum
number of four Red or Yellow
Systems, of which only three may be Yellow,
will permitted for each participating team. A System, for the purpose
of this section, may include different be methods for different
vulnerabilities.
Both members of the partnership must use the same methods.
Published by the WBF Systems Committee
January 2000 |