This bidding system was devised and developed by Mr. Bård Olav Ekren, who is from Norway. The original version has been altered to reflect the evolving stages and has been complemented with several concepts and principles. The bidding system has been catagorized independently. This information is written for and presented in a .pdf file format, and will automatically be opened by your browser in a new window. The visitor must then, in order to return to this web page, collapse the .pdf file.

Ekrens 2 Hearts Opening
The 2 Hearts opening shows at least 4-4 in the Majors and 5/6-10 high card points. In Norway this conventional method is called Ekrens, named after Mr. Bård Olav Ekren, who originated the convention (although he used the 2 Spades opening to show this distribution).

Ekren 2103 Principle
The 2103 Principle is employed to indicate the scale used when replying to a relay that asks for length in one specific suit.

Ekren Ceiling Concept
The Ceiling Concept is defined as the contract, which would be preferred not to pass unless an attempt is initiated for a slam.

Ekren LoHi / LoHiNo (LoHiBoth) Principle
LoHi and LoHiNo are acronyms for Lowest/Highest and ../None. It is used when the captain asks for a feature.

Ekren Max First Principle
Starting a relay against a hand that is very variable in strength (at least 3 high card points difference from minimum to maximum), the first answer to the relay is often according to the MaxFirst principle. This means that the 1st step in the answer is reserved for all the hands with extra values, whereas all the remaining steps shows minimum values and some particular distribution.

Ekren RKCB or Ekrens Roman Key Card Blackwood
The Ekrens bidding system uses Roman Key Card Blackwood, RKCB, as its first and main tool for slam-going purposes.

Ekren VoSS'N Principle
This principle called VoSS’N is an acronym for Void / Single / Single / None. It is mainly used when the responder has shown at least 8 cards in two specific suits and we have a known fit (one of the two suits is partner’s suit). It is also used when we open a Minor on the 1-level and partner preempts.

2 Diamonds

The Ekren 2 Diamonds opening refers to a preemptive opening defined as a distribution of either 4-4, 4-5, 5-4, or 5-5 in the Major suits and between 3-10 high card points. This conventional preempt was designed by Mr. Bjørn Olav Ekren and Mr. Ragnar Baardsgaard from Norway and is an example of the modern style of highly aggressive preemptive bidding.

The original is presented and described by Mr. Christer Enkvist.

 

 

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.