[blml] Definition of the term "Natural"

[Marvin French]

From: "richard willey"

> Quick question:
>
> Through the years we've seen a number of debates on BLML
dealing with
> the meaning of the word natural.  As I recall, it was
(generally)
> accepted that bids could be both natural and conventional.
For
> example, a Muiderberg 2S opening which showed 5+ Spades
and 4+ cards
> in either minor is both natural and conventional.
>
> More recently, I've some definitions which suggest an
alternative
> approach.  The EBU Organge Book definines natural as
>
> "Natural Suit bid:
>
> a bid showing length in the suit and saying nothing about
any other
> suit. Length is at least four cards unless explicitly
stated
> otherwise. In many situations, especially on later rounds,
a natural
> suit bid may show at least three cards in that suit."
>
> The Bridge World offers ""a call indicating a desire to
play in the
> named strain without offering information relevant to a
specific
> different strain." and I've seen some claims that the ACBL
is using
> the same definition.

Not so. The ACBL Convention Chart defines the word "natural"
as follows:

1. An opening suit bid or response that shows three-plus
cards in a minor or four cards-plus in a  major.

2. A notrump opening or overcall is natural if not
unbalanced (generally, no singleton or void and only one or
two doubletons).

3. An overcall is natural if it shows four or more cards in
the suit.

Why are they defining "natural" instead of "conventional" in
a publication entitled "ACBL General Convention Chart"?
Because they want to outlaw the bidding of three-card major
suits, which they don't like, even though the Laws say it's
okay.

The ACBL Alert Procedure defines the word "natural"  this
way:

(1) Three or more cards in a minor suit
(2) Four or more cards in a major suit
(3) Four or more cards for an overcall at the one level
[five at the two level??]
(4) Five or more cards for a weak two bid
(5) Six or more cards for a three-level preempt

Definition (1) is how players get away with bidding xxx
suits as a "Help Suit Game Try" without explaining the
weakness when questioned. When you complain to the TD, he
says it's natural, that's all you need to know. Baloney on
that. Three small is a "Weak Suit Game Try" that should be
Alerted as such, natural or not.

> I'm curious whether there is a significant change taking
on here...
>
I see no need for the word "natural," which is not in the
Laws (other than in an obscure footnote). A call is either
conventional or it is not conventional, that's it. The
definitions in the Laws and BW's definition are not good. We
know a convention when we see one, but it is hard to define.

Let me try: A bid is a convention if it

-- Doesn't show three or more cards in the suit (any
strength), or
-- Doesn't show strength in the suit (any length).
-- Says something specific about another denomination by
agreement rather than inference.
-- Asks a question by agreement rather than inference.

A play is a convention if it conveys a meaning by agreement
rather than inference [from the Laws, I like that]

A double is a convention if it is not intended "to play."
That does not mean a non-conventional double must be passed
!

A redouble is a convention if is not intended "to play."
That does not mean a non-conventional redouble must be
passed!

A pass is a convention if it conveys a meaning by agreement
rather than inference

Law 30C defines a conventional pass, but it's beyond my
ability to understand it.

Marv
Marvin L. French
San Diego, California
www.marvinfrench.com