This conventional method was developed by Mr. Grant Baze, born June 5, 1943, and died January 11, 2009, of San Diego, California, United States, later San Francisco, California, United States. He was inducted into the ACBL Hall of Fame in the year 2012.

His ability to command the play at the table and tournaments is proven by the following victories in the North American Bridge Championships:

Reisinger in the year 1970 with partners Anthony Dionisi, William Grieve, Harlow Lewis, Peter Pender, George Rapée. (Note: the team tied for first place with Billy Eisenberg, Bobby Goldman, Bob Hamman, Jim Jacoby, Mike Lawrence, Bobby Wolff.

Spingold in the years 1975 with partners John Fejervary, Lew Stansby, Piyush Vakil, Ron Von der Porten, and in the year 1997 with partners Tipton Golias, Marek Szymanowski, Marcin Leśniewski, Cezary Balicki, Adam Żmudziński.

Jacoby Open Swiss Teams in the year 1983 with partners Mike Albert, Ira Rubin, Barry Crane.

Keohane North American Swiss Teams in the year 1984 with partners Rhoda Walsh, Lea Dupont, Benito Garozzo.

Mitchell Board-a-Match Teams in the years 1983 with partners Tommy Sanders, Harold Guiver, Grant Baze, John Sutherlin, and in the year 1998 with partner Fred Gitelman, George Mittelman, Brad Moss, Michael Whitman.

Mr. Todd Holes thinks our Baze Convention is wrong. He sent a nice document with the following words:
"I believe that your Baze Convention is incorrect. Attached is what is currently considered to be Baze.
Happy to see you up and running!"

We thanked him and put it here as a Pdf file for future reference.

Fundamentals of the Concept

The principle behind the concept is show interest in a slam following a No Trump opening bid by partner. The range becomes irrelevant as the Baze conventional response method can be employed with any range. The partnership must make adjustments. For the purpose of this presentation the No Trump range is 15-17 points and balanced distribution. A 5-card Major suit is also possible.

In order to employ the Baze conventional response method the responder must have game values and values, which strongly indicate a slam contract.

Baze Grant Sheridan

Clarification of the Concept

The following illustration should clarify this particular method:

North AQ76 K109 QJ8 AJ9

South K1053 AJ76 A86 KQ5

West (D)		North		East		South		Meaning
Pass		1 NT						Promises balanced distribution with values between 15-17 points.
				Pass		2		The Stayman conventional method inquiring about a 4-card Major suit.
Pass		2						Promises a 4-card Spade suit.
				Pass		3		The Baze conventional method is initiated. The responder bids the other Major suit after a Major suit has been discovered in order to show not only slam interest, but also to show a singleton (sometimes void).
						4		Jump rebids by the responder promise a fit in the Major suit and a singleton in Clubs.
						4		Jump rebids by the responder promise a fit in the Major suit and a singleton in Diamonds.

North K109 AQ76 QJ8 AJ9

South AJ6 K1053 A86 KQ5

West (D)		North		East		South		Meaning
Pass		1 NT						Promises balanced distribution with values between 15-17 points.
				Pass		2		The Stayman conventional method inquiring about a 4-card Major suit.
Pass		2						Promises a 4-card Heart suit.
				Pass		3		The Baze conventional method is initiated if the discovered Major suit fit with a jump bid in the other Major suit. The responder communicates with the jump bid that a slam contract has excellent prospects.
						4		Jump rebids by the responder promise a fit in the Major suit and a singleton in Clubs.
						4		Jump rebids by the responder promise a fit in the Major suit and a singleton in Diamonds.

Johnson Conventional Response Method

A variation of Baze called the Johnson conventional response method, whereby the bid in the other Major suit communicates both the Baze conventional response method and also balanced holdings of 9-11 high card points, which are suitable for a 3 No Trump contract despite the presence of a known 4-4 Major suit fit.

In the case that the opener holds a distribution of 4-3-3-3 or has a very weak 4-card Major suit (8765), then the opener may continue with 3 No Trump, which the responder will either pass if also distributionally balanced, or correct to 4 of the Major suit.

If the opener has near maximum values, then the opener can cuebid over the Johnson bid in case the responder has slam interest. After the employment of the Johnson conventional response method, then 4 No Trump by either player is Keycard Blackwood. However, a direct 4 No Trump bid over a Major suit rebid is quantitative.

 

 

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.