This conventional method was devised and developed by Mr. Richard John Cummings, (aka Dick Cummings), born 1933 and died October 27, 1999, and Mr. Thomas Peter Seres, (aka Tim Seres), born April 1, 1925 in Hungary and died September 27, 2007, both of Sydney, Australia. The designation is owning to the fact that their main bridge club belonged to the New South Wales Bridge Association located in Sydney, Australia.

Note: Any additional information, especially photographic material, regarding these two bridge personalities would be greatly appreciated.

Note: Many bridge theorists agree that their concept is a variation of the concept for the conventional method designated as Gladiator, which was devised and developed by Mr. C. L. Eastgate and Mr. L. M. Killop, both of New Zealand.

Note: The devised responses are also considered by bridge theorists to be similar to the conventional method designated as Absy devised and developed by Mr. Rafael Absy of Argentina, and which is also method employed following a No Trump opening bid by partner.

Note: As with the New South Wales System this conventional method was additionally expanded and upgraded by Mr Ronald Denny Klinger, (aka Ron Klinger), and Mr. William K. A. Schaufelberger.

The conventional method is employed by the responder following a No Trump opening by partner. The range of the No Trump opening bid is regarded as being strong with values between 15 and 18 points, and is a variation on the Stayman concept.

The conventional method is based on two bids by the responder:

2 :	This first response, without interference, asks partner to show a 4-card Major suit.
2 :	This first response, without interference, shows weak values and at least an unspecified long suit, possibly a minimum of 5 cards, normally a 6-card plus suit.

Following a 2 Clubs Response

As soon as this information has been communicated to the No Trump bidder, then the bidder is able to better judge the situation. If the first response is a Stayman-esque request, then the No Trump bidder is able to convey not only length, but also strength to the responder in the following manner:

Opener		Responder		Meaning
1 NT				Shows a balanced holding with values ranging from 15 to 18 points.
		2		Requests partner to show a 4-card Major.
2				Shows both 4-card Major suits and minimum values of 15 to 16 points.
2				Shows a 4-card Heart suit and minimum values of 15 to 16 points.
2				Shows a 4-card Spade suit and minimum values of 15 to 16 points.
2 NT				Denies holding a 4-card Major suit.
3				Denies holding a 4-card Major suit and holding maximum values of 17 to 18 points.
3				Shows both 4-card Major suits and maximum values of 17 to 18 points.
3				Shows a 4-card Heart suit and maximum values of 17 to 18 points.
3				Shows a 4-card Spade suit and maximum values of 17 to 18 points.

Following a 2 Diamonds Response

Opener		Responder		Meaning
1 NT				Shows a balanced holding with values ranging from 15 to 18 points
		2		This first response, without interference, shows weak values and at least an unspecified long suit, possibly a minimum of 5 cards, normally a 6-card plus suit.
2				The No Trump bidder, knowing of the weakness, puppets to Hearts. Forcing.
		2		Shows a 6-card Spade suit and minimum values. (Note: by favorable vulnerability the suit may be a 5-card suit.)
		3		Shows a 6-card Club suit and minimum values. (Note: by favorable vulnerability the suit may be a 5-card suit.)
		3		Shows a 6-card Diamond suit and minimum values. (Note: by favorable vulnerability the suit may be a 5-card suit.)
If the first response by the responder is not one of the Minor suits, then all other responses are natural and are considered invitational if partner holds maximum values.
Opener		Responder		Meaning
1 NT				Shows a balanced holding with values ranging from 15 to 18 points
		2		Promises a 5-card Heart suit and 5 to 6 points.
		2		Promises a 5-card Spade suit and 5 to 6 points.
		2 NT		Promises 8 to 9 points and denies holding a 4-card Major suit.
Any jump bid by the responder is slam-invitational.
1 NT				Shows a balanced holding with values ranging from 15 to 18 points
		3		Shows a 6-card plus Club suit and possible slam values. If the No Trump bidder holds a minimum of 3 cards in the Club suit, then the No Trump bidder will initiate a slam try. This is accomplished, according to the guidelines of the New South Wales System 1970, via steps. However, the partnership can employ other slam-bidding techniques such as showing controls, asking for Keycards, etc.
		3		Shows a 6-card plus Diamond suit and possible slam values. If the No Trump bidder holds a minimum of 3 cards in the Diamond suit, then the No Trump bidder will initiate a slam try. This is accomplished, according to the guidelines of the New South Wales System 1970, via steps. However, the partnership can employ other slam-bidding techniques such as showing controls, asking for Keycards, etc.
		3		Shows a 6-card plus Heart suit and possible slam values. If the No Trump bidder holds a minimum of 3 cards in the Heart suit, then the No Trump bidder will initiate a slam try. This is accomplished, according to the guidelines of the New South Wales System 1970, via steps. However, the partnership can employ other slam-bidding techniques such as showing controls, asking for Keycards, etc.
		3		Shows a 6-card plus Spade suit and possible slam values. If the No Trump bidder holds a minimum of 3 cards in the Spade suit, then the No Trump bidder will initiate a slam try. This is accomplished, according to the guidelines of the New South Wales System 1970, via steps. However, the partnership can employ other slam-bidding techniques such as showing controls, asking for Keycards, etc.
3 NT				The No Trump bidder denies all interest in any slam try and shows minimum values. This is a sign-off bid. Since the responder has only shown slam-interest and did not initiate a slam try, then the responder must pass.

The guideline for bidding via steps once a slam interest is shown by the No Trump bidder, then the bridge student must be aware that any bid or No Trump does not constitute a step according to the developers. The bid of No Trump is therefore skipped when attempting slam via steps.

 

 

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.