Dutch Acol Opening Bids

The Acol bidding system, developed and enhanced in England, has many followers in the bridge community and has gained world-wide acceptance. The guidelines of the Acol bidding system are, however, not static and can be varied to fit the needs and requirements of individual partnership agreements. This is not only the case in England, but also around the world.

Dutch Acol Opening Bids

One version of the Acol bidding system in The Netherlands is called Dutch Acol, and deals mainly with the opening bid. Although this variant has many similarities with the general guidelines of the Acol bidding system, some of the opening bids differ. The responses are generally the same as in traditional Acol, but may be changed according to the partnership understanding. Source.

Opening Bids Only

Bid	Meaning
1 :	Promises 11-20 high card points and a 3-card plus Club suit.
1 :	Promises 11-20 high card points and a 4-card plus Diamond suit.
1 :	Promises 11-20 high card points and a 5-card plus Heart suit., or
	promises 11-20 high card points with 4-4 distribution in both Major suits.
1 :	Promises 11-20 high card points and a 5-card plus Spade suit.
1 NT:	Promises 15-17 high card points plus, and balanced distribution.
2 :	Promises 7-10 high card points and a 6-card plus Diamond suit, or
	promises 21 plus high card points and any shape.
2 :	Promises 7-10 high card points and a 6-card Heart or Spade suit, or
	promises 22-23 high card points and balanced distribution.
2 :	Promises 7-11 high card points and 5-4 plus distribution in Hearts and a Minor suit.
2 :	Promises 7-11 high card points and 5-4 plus distribution in Spades and a Minor suit.
2 NT:	Promises 20-21 high card points and balanced distribution.

As the bridge player can recognize, there are several opening bids which can have different meanings, and this duplicity is cleared up in the continuing bidding sequence. Defense to this different opening bid used by bridge players in The Netherlands is generally the same as contained in the normal Acol guidelines for defense.

Alternative Version

An alternative version is presented on the web by Bobby. This version includes the continuances for the various opening bids. They have been recreated, preserved, and archived on this site for future reference. Although not specifically designated as the Dutch Acol System in written form, they are presented and listed as such on the web page.

The similarities are many, but the differences indeed make it obvious that these opening bids are modified. They are presented in the general description and have, on this web page, been listed from the first up.

Bid		Strength		Meaning
1 :		Opening values		Shows usually a 4-card suit.
1 :		Opening values		Shows usually a 4-card suit.
		Continuances:		1. Limit raises.
				2. New Minor Forcing, which is Crowhurst (Acol).
				3. A Minor suit opening bid followed by a rebid of 2 No Trump shows 18-19 high card points, and no higher-ranking 4-card suit following a one-level bid by responder.
1 :		Opening values		Shows usually a minimum of 4 plus Hearts.
1 :		Opening values		May show a minimum of 4 plus Spades, but shows normally a 5-card Spade suit.
		Continuances:		1. Natural 1 No Trump response.
				2. Any bid on the two level shows 10 plus points.
				3. Limit Raises.
				4. Splinters.
				5. A first response of 2 No Trump promises 11-12 high card points. (Note: insufficient support for partner's suit.)
				6. A first response of 3 No Trump promises 13-15 high card points. (Note: insufficient support for partner's suit.)
1 NT:		12-14 high card points		The No Trump range is determined by the vulnerability. A range of 12-14 is employed by favorable vulnerability.
		15-17 high card points		The No Trump range is determined by the vulnerability. A range of 15-17 is employed by unfavorable vulnerability.
				(Note: a Minor suit opening followed by a rebid of 1 No Trump shows a weaker range with a balanced holding.)
2 NT:		20-22 high card points		Shows a balanced distribution. The responder can employ Jacoby Transfer bids.
2 :				Artificial game force promising an unspecified suit. (Note: This definition is singular in comparison with the definition described above, which is multiple. The evaluation of the holding is also not specified.)
		Continuances:		1. A first response of 2 is waiting. (Note: conveys no information.)
				2. A first response of 2 shows a good Heart suit and (unspecified) values.
				3. 2. A first response of 3 shows a good Diamond suit and (unspecified) values.
2 :				Acol Two Bid showing 8 plus tricks (with Diamonds as the suit).
2 :				Acol Two Bid showing 8 plus tricks (with Hearts as the suit).
2 :				Acol Two Bid showing 8 plus tricks (with Spades as the suit).
		Continuances:		1. A single raise of the above Acol Two bids is strong.
				2. A double raise of the above Acol Two bids shows a limited raise.
				3. A bid of a new suit following an Acol Two bid promises 8 plus high card points and a good suit.
				4. A first response following an Acol Two bid of 2 No Trump is negative.

Continuances include:

1:	Key Card Blackwood
2:	Gerber
3:	Long Suit Game Tries
4:	Cheapest Cuebids

Competition from Opponents

1:	Negative Doubes through 2 Spades.
2:	Fourth Suit Forcing.
3:	Jump Rebids are limit bids.

Overcalls When Defending

1:	Simple overcalls show a range of 10 to 16 high card points.
2:	Michaels Cuebid.
3:	Landy over weak No Trump.
4:	Weak No Trump overcalls.
5:	Weak jump overcalls.

Leads

1:	Ace from Ace-King-x
2:	MUD
3:	Fourth best.
4:	Normal count and attitude signals.

 

 

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.