The following tables list the valid qualities of the bidding language which can
be expressed in either a single word or a simple phrase. The first table,
containing most of the qualities, lists the name of the quality, a short
description of how the value of the quality is set, and a list of the possible
values the quality may take. The second table lists the different ways that
suits can be referenced.
If, in the description of the quality, it is stated that the quality is set to a
value, this means that the game itself automatically sets the quality. However,
some qualities are not modified by the game. These qualities are meant to be set
by one of the bidding system rules. Qualities not modified automatically by the
game are explicitly described as "Must be set by a rule". Note that
just because a quality is set by the game does not mean that the quality can not
be set through a rule. However, there are certain qualities whose meaning is so
important to the game that the game does not allow them to be changed from a
rule. Qualities that may not be changed by rule will be noted as "May not
be set by a rule".
You should also be aware that each player has their own set of qualities. One
player, during their turn, may test a certain quality and find it to be of a
particular value. During a second player's turn, the second player may also test
the same quality. Their value of the quality may be different from the value the
first player sees. Also, if one player sets the value of a quality from a rule,
the values of the other player's qualities are unaffected.
| Name |
How the Value is Set |
Allowed Values |
| order of seat |
Set to the order of the player's seat for each hand, at the start of the hand.
May not be set by a rule.
|
first seat
second seat
third seat
fourth seat
|
| owner of contract |
Set to refer to the partnership winning the bidding. May not be set by a rule.
|
we
they
|
| declarer |
Set to refer to the declarer of the contract. May not be set by a rule.
|
myself
left hand opponent
my partner
right hand opponent
|
| leader |
Set to refer to the leader of each trick. May not be set by a rule.
|
myself
left hand opponent
my partner
right hand opponent
|
| player |
Set to refer to the person who played the last card. May not be set by a rule.
|
myself
left hand opponent
my partner
right hand opponent
|
| winner of current trick |
Set to refer to the person who either has won the last trick, or, while the
trick is being played, has played the highest card in the trick. May not be set
by a rule.
|
myself
left hand opponent
my partner
right hand opponent
|
| level of contract |
Set to the level of the contract at the conclusion of the bidding. May not be
set by a rule.
|
A number from 1 to 7
|
| trump suit |
Set to the suit of the contract at the conclusion of the bidding. May not be set
by a rule.
|
NoTrump
Spades
Hearts
Diamonds
Clubs
|
| suit led |
Set to the suit of the card led after the first play of each trick. May not be
set by a rule.
|
Spades
Hearts
Diamonds
Clubs
trump suit
|
| playing order |
Set to the player's playing turn for the current trick. May not be set by a
rule.
|
leading the trick
playing second
playing third
playing last
|
| last bid is forcing |
Indicates the force of partner's last bid. Must be set by a rule.
|
not forcing
for one round
to game
|
| vulnerable |
Indicates partnership vulnerability. Must be set by a rule.
|
no
yes
|
| distribution count method |
The method for counting distribution points. Must be set by a rule.
|
long suits (5=1 6=2 7+=3)
long suits (5=1 5+=2)
short suits (0=5 1=3 2=1)
short suits (0=3 1=2 2=1)
count only high cards
|
| high card count |
Set to the high card count of the hand.
|
A number from 0 to 40
|
| distribution count |
Set to the distribution count of the hand, depending upon the value of
distribution count method.
|
A number from 0 to 40
|
| point count |
Set to the total point count of the hand. Specifically, the high card count plus
the distribution count.
|
A number from 0 to 40
|
| partner's point count min |
The minimum number of my partner's points, calculated from partner's bids. Must
be set by a rule.
|
A number from 0 to 40
|
| partner's point count max |
The maximum number of my partner's points, calculated from partner's bids. Must
be set by a rule.
|
A number from 0 to 40
|
| partnership point count min |
The minimum number of the partnership's points, player's total point count plus
partner's minimum point count. Set when partner's points are set.
|
A number from 0 to 40
|
| partnership point count max |
The maximum number of the partnership's points, player's total point count plus
partner's maximum point count. Set when partner's points are set.
|
A number from 0 to 40
|
| shape |
Set to the shape of the hand.
|
unbalanced
balanced
|
| pattern |
Set to the pattern of suits in the hand.
|
4-3-3-3
4-4-3-2
5-3-3-2
5-4-2-2
6-3-2-2
7-2-2-2
4-4-4-1
5-4-3-1
5-4-4-0
5-5-2-1
5-5-3-0
6-3-3-1
6-4-2-1
6-4-3-0
6-5-1-1
6-5-2-0
6-6-1-0
7-3-2-1
7-3-3-0
7-4-1-1
7-4-2-0
7-5-1-0
7-6-0-0
8-2-2-1
8-3-1-1
8-3-2-0
8-4-1-0
8-5-0-0
9-2-1-1
9-2-2-0
9-3-1-0
9-4-0-0
10-1-1-1
10-2-1-0
10-3-0-0
11-1-1-0
11-2-0-0
12-1-0-0
13-0-0-0
|
| biddable suits |
The number of biddable suits in the hand. Must be set by a rule.
|
no biddable suit
one suiter
two suiter
three suiter
|
| quick tricks |
Set to the number of quick tricks the hand contains.
|
A number from 0 to 13 by 0.5 increments
|
| stoppers in unbid suits |
Set according to the presence of stoppers in the unbid suits.
|
no
yes
|
The next table identifies the ways that suits can be referenced in this
language.
| Names |
How the Value is Set |
Allowed Values |
longest suit
second longest suit
third longest suit
shortest suit
|
For each hand, the game sorts the suits by length. If the hand has one suit
longer than the others, that suit is the longest. With two suits of equal
length, the higher ranking suit is the longest suit and the lower ranking suit
is the second longest. For example, look at the way the game designates these
hands:
S 8 shortest suit
H A Q 8 7 4 longest suit
D K J 9 7 5 second longest suit
C A K third longest suit
S 8 4 third longest suit
H A Q 8 7 second longest suit
D K J 9 7 5 longest suit
C A K shortest suit
|
May not be set by a rule.
|
Spades
Hearts
Diamonds
Clubs
|
longer major
shorter major
longer minor
shorter minor
|
Set in a similar manner to the the above suit qualities. May not be set by a
rule.
|
Spades
Hearts
Diamonds
Clubs
|
best suit
second suit
third suit
fourth suit
|
Must be set by a rule.
|
suit not selected
Spades
Hearts
Diamonds
Clubs
|
|
trump suit
|
Set when the bidding is complete. May not be set by a rule.
|
Spades
Hearts
Diamonds
Clubs
NoTrump
|
|
suit led
|
Set after the first card of each trick during play of the hand. May not be set
by a rule.
|
Spades
Hearts
Diamonds
Clubs
|
