[shugart24]

Would someone give a brief high level explanation of when a double or cue bid might be alterable? Partner and I use doubles and cue bids in a variety of ways, known only to us unless asked. I'm thinking by their very nature, opponents are alerted when they hear a double or cue bid, so no need for me to alert.

example : 1C (precision)- 1H (me alert showing spades) -2C (opponents) - Pass by opener (alerted and control asking) - 3C opponent - double by me ( 3 controls).

I (think I) understand delayed alerts. eg no need to alert anything 4C and above. If the only bid above 4C was a double (or a cue bid), is that a delayed alert that needs to be explained after the auction.

The nature of my question is not to hide anything from the opponents; I am more than willing to explain in depth anything an opponent wants to know about a bid. In fact, I tend to error on the side of alerting. But am I unnecessarily alerting bids that I am not required to alert?

Thank you

and on a totally unrelated topic, is a multi-2NT opening allowed under ACBL rules - (I think not)

[mycroft]

Online with self-alerts, probably best to explain any cuebid of an opponents' suit or double that is unusual or not "normal". After all, wouldn't you rather tell them right away than have to tell them later when they ask? Especially if they ask before their partner leads to 3NT?

FtF, as always, this depends on the RA. I know you're in the ACBL, so:

ACBL Alert Procerdure said:

Natural: Alert [mycroft: need not Alert anything not specifically mentioned]:
2. After a Natural 1-level suit bid, a Natural 2-level Cuebid. [mycroft: note nothing said about QN or Artificial openers.]

Artificial: do NOT Alert:
Direct Overcalls:
1. After a Natural 1-level minor suit bid, a 2-level Cuebid that shows Length in both majors.
2. After a Natural 1-level major suit bid, a 2-level Cuebid that shows Length in the unbid major and an unspecified minor.
3. After a Quasi-Natural Opening Bid, any Cuebid.
4. After an Artificial Opening Bid, any bid in the same suit or in a suit shown by the Artificial Opening Bid. [mycroft: note that this is not a Cuebid by the definition, one of the reasons nothing is Alertable!]
7. After a Natural Opening Bid at the 2-level or higher, any bid in the same suit or in a suit shown by the Opening Bid.
8. Any Cuebid that is a jump.

Other Artificial Bids:
3. After an Opening Suit Bid and an Overcall, a Cuebid by either side that shows a raise, or an Average Strength or stronger hand, or either possibility.
4. After an Opening No Trump Bid and an Overcall, any bid in the same suit or in a suit shown by the Overcall.
5. After an Opening Bid and a Response, any bid in the same suit as the Opening Bid or Response or in a suit shown by the Opening Bid or Response.

Yeah, a lot to take in. But effectively: Alert a cuebid of a natural suit opening that isn't Michaels. Don't alert anything if the opening isn't Natural. That's about it.

I'm just reposting the entire Doubles section (turning the "is it a leap year" first paragraph into a more readable list):

Quote

Doubles:

• Alert a double of an Artificial Bid that asks for the doubled suit to not be led, or that asks for a specific suit to be led that is not the doubled strain.
  
• Otherwise do not alert a double of 3NT or higher.
  
• Alert a double below 3NT except as listed below. Do NOT Alert the following doubles:

After an Opening Bid
1. After a Natural or Quasi-Natural suit Opening at any level, a Takeout Double.
2. After a No Trump Opening Bid, a penalty or card-showing double.
3. After an Artificial Opening Bid, any double.

After an Opening Bid and an Overcall
1. After a 1-level suit Opening Bid and a Natural suit overcall, a Negative Double by Responder.
2. After a 1-level suit Opening and an Artificial overcall, any double by Responder.
3. After a 2-level or higher suit Opening Bid and a Natural suit overcall, a penalty double by Responder.
4. After a Natural 1NT or 2NT Overcall, a penalty double by Responder. After an Artificial 1NT or 2NT Overcall, any double.
5. After a 1NT or 2NT Opening and an overcall at the two or three level, Negative Doubles, penalty doubles and card-showing doubles by Responder.

After an Opening Bid and a Response (whether or not there was interference)
1. After a Natural or Quasi-Natural Opening suit Bid and a Natural or Quasi-Natural Response, a Takeout Double.
2. After an Opening Bid and a Response if either the Opening Bid or the Response is Artificial, any double.
3. After a Natural Opening, Natural overcall, and Natural 1NT Response, any double.

At Opener’s Rebid and Later
1. All doubles by both sides.

Note especially the "leap year" rules: Always alert a double that says you *don't want* that suit led. If that doesn't apply, don't Alert any double over 3NT. Below 3NT doubles are Alertable, except [big list].
Also Note "do not Alert any double (except the "don't lead this" ones) starting with opener's rebid."
Final one I would emphasize: "if they do something Artificial, no double is Alertable".

[and heh, just learned something I didn't know (remember?). Don't really like it. Probably will start Following The Rules, even When They're Stupid, anyway, because me.]

[mycroft]

Generalities over, minutiae now.

shugart24, on 2025-February-02, 11:50, said:

I (think I) understand delayed alerts. eg no need to alert anything 4C and above. If the only bid above 4C was a double (or a cue bid), is that a delayed alert that needs to be explained after the auction.

No, you don't understand delayed alerts. Don't take that as a criticism, it really isn't easy. Plus, it's very rare.

• Alertable Bids (note: not Calls)
  
• higher than 3NT
  
• starting with Opener's rebid

(and control cuebids, even if lower than 3NT) must be Delayed (FtF only) until the end of the auction and explained then.

So, if the only call 4♣ or higher was a cuebid of the opponents' suit, *and it wasn't your initial response*, then yes, Delayed Alert. If it was the initial response (say 1♣-(3♣)-4♣ if it showed "two places to play"), then no, immediate Alert. If it was an Alertable Double (or Pass, or Redouble) [these are not Bids], then no, immediate Alert (but note that the only Alertable Double over 3NT is a "don't lead the doubled suit", or "lead this suit that isn't the doubled suit", double, so it is very likely that your double isn't Alertable at all).

Quote

and on a totally unrelated topic, is a multi-2NT opening allowed under ACBL rules - (I think not)

This one depends on the Chart in play. Open Chart disallows any Artificial Opening Preempt below 3NT (except 2NT "two known suits"), so, no. Open+, "no Artificial Opening Preempt below 3NT that does not show at least one known suit" except in segments 6+ boards long (so, team games). And it requires a defence. And that defence has to be pre-submitted for vetting to the ACBL. So, effectively no.

[jillybean]