Opening Hours Banner Detail 150Opening Hours Banner Detail 150

BMB turns 6 this June. To celebrate we’re running an anniversary members’ prize draw with a chance to win lots of goodies!
Click here to enter the 6th Anniversary Prize Draw

BMB LOGO HEADER
Bmb club white

Welcome

Bmb club white

Week 0309 : 25th May 2026

SWISS CONVENTION

An old convention whereby responses of 4♣ or 4 to an opening bid of one of a major show a good fit, sound values for game and some interest in a slam, thus releasing the direct raise to four of opener’s major as a pre-emptive action. There are many versions of Swiss. The two most popular were:

Singleton Swiss: 4♣ shows two aces and a singleton, after which 4 from partner asks responder to identify the singleton; 4 shows two aces without a singleton.

Fruit machine Swiss (Three-Way Swiss or Sussex Swiss): 4♣ shows either two aces and a singleton, or three aces, or two aces and the king of trumps. 4 from opener is then a relay requesting clarification. In reply, 4NT shows three aces, a bid of four of the agreed trump suit shows two aces and the trump king, and a new suit shows two aces and a singleton in the suit bid.

These days very few pairs play this convention, preferring instead to use Splinters, often in conjunction with the Jacoby 2NT raise.

Back to Glossary

Join the free Bidding Quiz Membership
For Access

The BMB Bidding Quiz is available for free by joining the BMB Bidding Quiz membership. Joining only takes a minute and is absolutely free - no card required.
Join Now