Heeding the amount of high card points, but paying
attention to the placement and distribution of a solid trump suit, the Trump Swiss
convention aids both players to reach a slam contract.
The guidelines are basically the same as with
the Swiss
Convention. However, emphasis is placed
upon the 4 Clubs or 4 Diamonds bid meaning that the 4 Clubs or 4 Diamonds bidder has at least 4-card support for the Major suit including two of the top three honors, or, and this is important, 5-card support for the Major suit including at least the Ace or the King.
Several examples should clarify the differences:
| South |
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1  |
... but here is where the conventions are different:
| North |
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Meaning |
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4  |
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Trump Swiss Convention |
Using the Swiss convention, the responder would jump to 4 Clubs.
Using the Trump Swiss convention, the responder would jump to 4 Diamonds. The responder does have a 4-card trump suit, but he does not have two of the top three honors.
Another example to clarify the differences:
| South |
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| 1 |
... but here is where the conventions are different:
| North |
|
Meaning |
|
|
|
4  |
|
Trump Swiss Convention |
Using the Swiss convention, the responder would jump to 4 Clubs.
AND using the Trump Swiss convention, the responder would jump also to 4 Clubs, but with the understanding that the bid signifies that he has 5-card trump support for the Major suit headed by at least the Ace or King.
The Trump Swiss convention simply places importance upon the meaning of the 4 Clubs and upon the meaning of the 4 Diamonds bid by the responder. This definition of the two bids is of ultimate importance and must be included in your partnership agreement.
There are some players who reverse the meaning of the two bids, and if that is your preference, then please include this in your partnership agreement. Some players, however, consider it more advantageous for the lower ranking response to show the stronger trump holding, thereby giving the auction more room to explore slam possibilities.
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.
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| Claus and Raymond |
Conventions |
Bridge Sites |
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Home Page I |
Swiss Convention |
Home Page II |