Canapé is a bidding method, note that it is not a system, in which the long
suit is normally, usually, generally bid on the second round. This bidding method was strongly and additionally developed by Mr.
Pierre Albarran, born May 19. 1894, and died February 24, 1960, in France, and which became quite popular. According to reliable historical sources it has been reported that he was born either in the West Indies, or also in Chaville, Hauts-de-Seine, France. Regarding the canape bidding method, in
comparison, standard methods are described in France as la longue d'abord, or long
suit first. The picture below shows Mr. Pierre Albarran and is a photograph taken in the early 1920s. The photographer is unknown.
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Etmology of the Designation
In the publication Natural Big Club Mr. George Sturgis Coffin, published in the year 1969, published by Parsonsfield Publishers, defined the origins of the designation. The following is quoted from this source. He was also co-founder of the American Bridge Teachers Association.
Etymology of canape. In French canape is a high-backed sofa, in English a thin piece of toast covered with a fish, game, cheese, et cetera and served hot. Either way we see the high back of the sofa or the seasoned preparation on top first, likened to the shorter suit that we bid first. Comfort or conestible, the foundation (sofa proper or toast) is lke the longer suit bid later. And both kinds of canape appear in the parlor with card games."
History of Canape. Canape bids were originated in 1936 by the late George O. Charron of Nashua, past president of the New Hampshire Bridge Association, USA. A few years later the late Jack Kushner of Srpingfield, Mass[achusetts, injected canape bids into the Tierney Notrump System (TNT) that was orginated by Edgar Tierney of Westfield. Today many top players of this area still play canape in major tournaments with deadly effect. About 15 years ago the late Pierre Albarran of Paris introduced canape into Eurpoe and he developed the modern French bidding style so today 49,999,999 Frenchmen are right. The top Italian players were quick to adopt canape bids to base theirworld-championship-winning systems, bothe the Roman Club and the Neopolitan Club.
Historical Information and Principle of the Concept
The Canapé bidding method has also influenced
Italian bidding theory. It was incorporated into both the Roman and Blue Team Club
systems, and also in derivative bidding systems such as the Orange Club, which was
successfully played by Bob Hammon and Bobby Wolff, and the Simplified Club, which
is a total canapé bidding system.
The definition given by Mr. Pierre Albarran
was that a two-suited hand of more than minimum strength, the higher-ranking suit
must be bid on the first round if it has four cards, and on the second round if it
has more than four cards.
Four-card Major suits are normally bid ahead
of any Minor suit and five-card Major suits are bid on the first round if the hand
is minimum. Normal reverse sequences are inverted, or inversé in French.
The following example is an illustration of
the canapé bidding system.
When applying the Canapé bidding method, the opening bid is 1 Heart. The rebid of 2 Spades is made on the second round. The reasoning is that a Heart preference is almost certainly improbable and the partnership can remain safely on the two level.
As mentioned, the Canapé bidding method has been incorporated into other bidding systems, and a modified version called canapé tendency, or tendance canapé in French, was used with excellent success in international competition by Pierre Jaïs and Roger Trézel. This partnership bid minimum hands in normal, standard bidding sequences, but adopted the Canapé bidding method for hands of maximum strength.
Article by Benjamin Jay Becker and Steven Becker
The Bridge Column of Benjamin Jay Becker and Steven Becker for The Mohave Daily Miner, published November 5, 1984, is presented below as a picture. The clarity is not the best. The point of the article is to point out that there can be a disadvantage to such a bidding method, especially in competition.
3rd European Open Bridge Championships
Daily Bulletin 1, Saturday, June 16, 2007
Chief Editor: Mark Horton
Location: Anatalya, Turkey
Date: June 15 to June 30, 2007
Board 32
Dealer: West
Vulnerable: East-West
| West |
|
North |
|
East |
|
South |
| Rubin |
|
Hamman |
|
Ekeblad |
|
Soloway |
1  * |
|
Pass |
|
1 NT |
|
3  |
3  |
|
Pass |
|
4 |
|
Double |
| Pass |
|
Pass |
|
Pass |
|
|
One Diamond was part of the canapé method being employed by East/West.When South decided his hand merited further action, North was delighted to pass.
Declarer won the Club lead with dummy’s Ace and played a Spade, getting the bad news, South discarding the seven of Diamonds. He ducked a Diamond to North who switched to the Jack of Hearts, covered by the King and Ace. South played the King of Clubs, declarer and North discarding Hearts and continued with the Jack of Clubs, ruffed by declarer as North discarded another Heart.There was still a Diamond and a trump to lose, two down, -500.
Publication - How to Win at Rubber Bridge
Mr. Pierre Albarran and Mr. Pierre Jaïs published the book How to Win at Rubber Bridge. The publication was first published in 1959; the English translation was published first in 1961. The book contains a certain humour, profoundness and orginality, which won tremendous acclaim and popularity in France and Europe. The book was adapted for English readers by Mr. Terence Reese.
Notes to the Publication
Mr. Pierre Albarran, perhaps too extensively, concentrates in the first third of the book mainly on psychological problems, especially the human failings which lead bridge players to perform on a lesser level than should be owing to various human frailties. The book contains many anectdotes from his personal experience at the bridge table, but Mr. Pierre Jaïs complements the book with the more detailed and technical topics, including many complete analysis of partscore situations. It is this feature of the game of bridge, which perhaps provides the skillful bridge player with the greater advantage opposite his opponents.
The book is written by both authors from the standpoint of the French canapé method, but this feature provides no problem for the adaptation of Mr. Terence Reese in his translation of the book.
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.