CRASH convention

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In the game of contract bridge, CRASH (an acronym for Color-RAnk-SHape) is a defense against a strong 1 or a 1NT opening that first appeared in 1976 in an article by Kit Woolsey in The Bridge World. [1] Within the CRASH framework, intervening calls after the 1NT opening denote either (a) two-suited hands of the same color (black or red), the same rank (major or minor), or the same shape (pointed or rounded) [2] or (b) a natural one-suited hand (hearts or spades).

Contract bridge card game

Contract bridge, or simply bridge, is a trick-taking card game using a standard 52-card deck. In its basic format, it is played by four players in two competing partnerships, with partners sitting opposite each other around a table. Millions of people play bridge worldwide in clubs, tournaments, online and with friends at home, making it one of the world's most popular card games, particularly among seniors. The World Bridge Federation (WBF) is the governing body for international competitive bridge, with numerous other bodies governing bridge at the regional level.

Kit Woolsey American bridge and backgammon player and writer

Kit Woolsey is an American bridge and backgammon player.

The Bridge World (TBW), the oldest continuously published magazine about contract bridge, was founded in 1929 by Ely Culbertson. It has since been regarded as the game's principal journal, publicizing technical advances in bidding and the play of the cards, discussions of ethical issues, bridge politics and leading personalities, and reports of major tournaments.

Contents

Over a 1NT opening, the following CRASH overcall structure applies:

OpenerIntervenor [3]
CallMeaning
1NTDoubletwo suits of the same color, i.e. either the black suits (+) or the red suits (+)
2two suits of the same rank, i.e. either the majors (+) or the minors (+)
2two suits of the same shape, i.e. either the rounded suits (+) or the pointed suits (+) 
2a natural heart suit
2a natural spade suit

Following the two-suited overcalls, advancer will bid taking into account that out of the two possible two-suited hands of intervenor, the likely holding is in advancer's shortest suits. The responses are therefore convertible. For instance, following a CRASH double, an advancer holding 1075 Q9842KJ6 K3 will start from the assumption that intervenor holds length in the black suits in which advancer's maximum length is three cards, rather than in the red suits in which his maximum length is five cards. Advancer will therefore bid 2, his best black suit. Intervenor will pass holding the black suits, or bid 3 holding the red suits. In case of the latter, advancer will correct to 3 since that is his best red suit.

In the card game bridge a pass-or-correct bid, is a non-forcing bid that asks partner to pass or bid differently based on her/his holding. Pass-or-correct bids are generally used as responses to multiway bids.

Variations

Other defenses similar to CRASH, with the bids in a different order, include KOSHER and SHAKER.

In the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) General Convention Chart, [4] the double and the 2 overcall are allowed, but the 2 overcall must promise at least one known suit. In these events, pairs may use a CRASH variation with 2 showing the majors, such as either "CHASM" (color, shape, majors) or "SCUM" (shape, color, majors).

American Contract Bridge League Sports governing body for contract bridge in North America

The American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) is the governing body for contract bridge in the United States, Mexico, Bermuda and Canada and is a member of the World Bridge Federation, the international bridge governing body. It is the largest such organization in North America having the stated mission "to promote, grow and sustain the game of bridge and serve the bridge-related interests of our Members." Its major activities are:

See also

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References

  1. Kit Woolsey (March 1976). Edgar Kaplan, ed. "Robinson Over Strong Club". The Bridge World. Scarsdale, NY: Bridge World Magazine Inc. 47 (6): 22. ISSN   0006-9876.
  2. The hearts-clubs pair are referred to as the 'rounded' suits and the spades-diamonds pair as the 'pointed' suits owing to the shape of the tops of their pips.
  3. In the description of competitive bidding, players are referred to as either the Opener (the first to make a bid), the Intervenor (the opponent who makes his side’s first call other than Pass), the Responder (partner of the Opener) or the Advancer (partner of the Intervenor).
  4. ACBL General Convention Chart