Ripstra Convention

The Ripstra convention was devised by Mr. Joseph (Rip) G. Ripstra of Canada, born in the year 1900 and died in the year 1982, and who was President of ACBL in the year 1957. This conventional defense method shows actually a three-suited holding.

He assisted greatly in developing the Kansas State Bridge Association (Unit 131) and was active in national tournaments and events for many years. He was a member of the ACBL Board of Directors from the year 1945 until the year 1958.

Note: Any additional information about Mr. Joseph G. Ripstra, especially photographic and biographic material, would be greatly appreciated.

The concept consists of an overcall after a 1 No Trump opening by an opponent, and can be used either in the immediate position or in the pass-out seat after two consecutive passes. The range of the No Trump opening can either be a range for a strong No Trump opening or a weak No Trump opening.

The actual values of the holding vary slightly and is very much dependent on the state of vulnerability. The fact that the overcaller does not have any other descriptive, natural overcall plays an important part in using the Ripstra conventional defense method. The priority of the partnership is to find an immediate Major suit fit. The conventional defense method calls for a minimum of 10 points required by equal vulnerability or a minimum of 6 playing tricks.

The Ripstra convention is another method used after a No Trump opening, usually on the one level. Overcalling a 1 No Trump is generally risky, because the overcaller is bidding mainly in the dark, attempting to find a fit. On the other hand, the partner of the overcaller knows the strength and distribution of his partner, the overcaller.

The Ripstra convention is quite similar to the Landy conventional defense method, but the difference lies in the fact that the overcaller will use the 2 Clubs bid as the takeout bid only when the Clubs of the overcaller are as strong, or stronger than his Diamonds. If the Diamonds of the overcaller are stronger than the Clubs, then the overcaller will bid 2 Diamonds.

Overcalls of the Defense Method

Overcaller shows with an overcall of either 2 Clubs or 2 Diamonds:
1.	both Major suits.
2.	a minimum 4-4 distribution in both Major suits.
3.	that the stronger of the two Minor suits is the suit overcalled (third suit).
4.	partner that the pattern is 4-4-3-2, 4-4-2-3, 5-4-1-3, 4-4-4-1, 4-4-1-4, or 5-4-3-1.
5.	Exception: if the overcall is 2 No Trump, then the overcaller is showing a distribution of 5-5, which equals a two-suited holding.

* Note: The bridge student will recognize immediately that this conventional defense method does not include a double. Since defense methods were in their infancy in the 1950s, they normally did not include the double as showing a single-suited holding nor were any doubles intended as being penalty-oriented. The later versions, variations, and modifications include the double.

The overcaller should be aware of the state of vulnerability. Certain guidelines and requirements are necessary and should be met before deciding to compete. Generally the overcaller will have about 10 points to overcall by favorable vulnerability, values almost equal to the minimum range of the No Trump opening by equal vulnerability, and additional values by non-favorable vulnerability. The location of these values in the intended suits are also a main factor. The main feature of the holding is the distributional shape and a minimum of 6 playing tricks or about 7 Losing Tricks maximum.

In both instances, the overcaller is showing at least 8 card distribution in both Major suits. The following examples illustrate the possible bids of the overcaller of a 1 No Trump bid to show strength and distribution.

Example 1
North KQ74 AJ95 7 K954		North KQ74 AJ975 J98 8
2		2

The reason why the Ripstra conventional defense method was also devised, was to give the responder, or advancer, better choices. The advancer may simply pass the suit of his partner, the overcaller or intervenor, if he has sufficient length in that suit, either Clubs or Diamonds.

Example 2
North KQ74 AJ95 7 K954		Advancer 108 K104 64 QJ8762
2		Pass

Example 3
North KQ74 AJ95 J98 8		Advancer 983 Q2 Q107532 96
2		Pass

Continuations by the Advancer

In the considerations of the development of the conventional defense method Mr. Joseph G. Ripstra realized that different response methods were necessary according to the held values of the advancer and made, therefore, the continuations dependent upon the held values.

1. With minimum values:
Pass:	Shows a minimum of four cards in the Minor suit bid by the intervenor and denies a 3-card Major suit. A pass by the advancer may show a 5-card suit in the bid Minor suit by the intervenor.
2 :	Shows a 4-card suit in Hearts and minimum values.
2 :	Shows a 4-card suit in Spades and minimum values.

2. With additional values or more than minimum:
3 :	Shows a 4-card suit in Hearts and moderate values. This first response is invitational.
3 :	Shows a 4-card suit in Spades and moderate values. This first response is invitational.
Other Minor:	This bid promises at least a 6-card suit in the other Minor suit and two or fewer cards support in either Major suit.

3. With possible game values:
2 NT:	This first response is game forcing and shows a strong fit with one of the Major suits. The intervenor rebids his better Major suit. The advancer either bids game in that suit or corrects by bidding game in the other Major suit.

Distribution is 5-5

If the overcaller has a 5-5 distribution, then the overcaller, or intervenor, can show this with an overcall of 2 No Trump. The general guideline is that such an overcall can be made when the two-suited holding contains a maximum of five Losing Tricks, as in the following two examples:

Example 4
North AQJ83 9 KQJ97 54		North   KQJ94 AJ6 AQJ76
2		2

The advancer, forced to bid one round, will bid his longest suit first, since neither of the two suits held by the intervenor are known. If the suit bid by the advancer is not one of the two suits held by the intervenor, then the intervenor will bid the cheaper suit above the suit bid by the advancer in order to consume bidding space.

Whether or not the advancer is then forced to bid game is questionable. The general idea is that the advancer count his losing tricks and add them to the maximum number of allowed losing tricks held by the intervenor, which is five. If the result equals game, then the advancer will bid game.

If the advancer bids one of the two suits held by the intervenor, then the intervenor has several options:

Pass
	Shows the maximum number of losing tricks and no interest in game, especially if the suit bid by the advancer is a Minor suit.
Bid Game in a Major
	This promises an excellent holding with a maximum of five losing tricks.
Raise to the four level in a Minor suit
	This promises an excellent holding with a maximum of five losing tricks.
3 No Trump
	This rebid is game forcing and shows a holding with only three losing tricks. The advancer is then requested to show a control in another suit. This action is an attempt at bidding slam. If the advancer holds no side suit control, then the advancer rebids the agreed trump suit.

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.