<p>From the English Bridge Union Blue Book (Rules and Ethics):</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Unless it is announceable (
  see 4
  D
  , 4
  E, 4
  F
  and 4
  G
  ), a pass
  or bid must be alerted if
  it
  :
  (a)
  is not natural; or
  (b)
  is natural but has a potentially unexpected meaning</p>
</blockquote>

<p>('Natural' has a long paragraph of definition; a natural pass is
"A pass
which does not unexpectedly convey values or specify suit holdings.")</p>

<p>So yes, if your bid (including pass or double) is conventional it must be alerted.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-03T21:01:20.633Z
Rules can be different in different places.  For conventional passes, it's the same in the ACBL (i.e. North America).
Alexander Woo
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-03T23:08:49.950Z
Also, any pass that promises a minimum strength > 0 HCP is alertable, without any exceptions that I can think of right now. Unless it is part of a constructive defense it is also probably a restricted bid that could only be played in extended team play or other unrestricted events.
Forget I was ever here
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-03T18:14:13.690Z
2015-12-03T18:14:13.690Z
Tim Lymington
<p>My partner and I have a pretty neat system for bidding against opponents opening a weak 2 (2 in a Major = &lt;11 HCP, 6-card; 2 Diamonds as either the Multi or weak with diamonds). In this system, if North opens and East passes, that pass has a specific meaning.</p>

<p>Does this 'Pass' need to be alerted? Is it reglementary to alert a 'Pass'?</p>

<p>Same goes for Double, we have some specific agreements for Double in this defense as well. Does that need to be alerted?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-03T23:06:10.907Z
If your Double in this situation is primarily take-out, not a two-way bid, and shows a strength of at least 10 HCP but does not promise a significantly stronger hand such as 17+ HCP, then it is *probably* not alertable.
Forget I was ever here
<bridge><bidding>
Should I alert a conventional 'Pass'
steenbergh
# Should I alert a conventional 'Pass'

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-12-03)

My partner and I have a pretty neat system for bidding against opponents opening a weak 2 (2 in a Major = <11 HCP, 6-card; 2 Diamonds as either the Multi or weak with diamonds). In this system, if North opens and East passes, that pass has a specific meaning.

Does this 'Pass' need to be alerted? Is it reglementary to alert a 'Pass'?

Same goes for Double, we have some specific agreements for Double in this defense as well. Does that need to be alerted?

**Tags:** bridge, bidding

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: If your Double in this situation is primarily take-out, not a two-way bid, and shows a strength of at least 10 HCP but does not promise a significantly stronger hand such as 17+ HCP, then it is *probably* not alertable.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-12-03. Score: 7 | Accepted answer

From the English Bridge Union Blue Book (Rules and Ethics):

> Unless it is announceable (
> see 4
> D
> , 4
> E, 4
> F
> and 4
> G
> ), a pass
> or bid must be alerted if
> it
> :
> (a)
> is not natural; or
> (b)
> is natural but has a potentially unexpected meaning

('Natural' has a long paragraph of definition; a natural pass is
"A pass
which does not unexpectedly convey values or specify suit holdings.")

So yes, if your bid (including pass or double) is conventional it must be alerted.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Rules can be different in different places.  For conventional passes, it's the same in the ACBL (i.e. North America).  
> **username_1**: Also, any pass that promises a minimum strength > 0 HCP is alertable, without any exceptions that I can think of right now. Unless it is part of a constructive defense it is also probably a restricted bid that could only be played in extended team play or other unrestricted events.  

---

