Remember that the four suits in ascending order of value are

Clubs ♣ (TREFLES),

Diamonds ♦ (CARREAUX),

Hearts ♥(COEURS)

and Spades ♠ (PIQUES).

In this article we will look at the One No Trump Rebid (LA REDEMANDE A SANS ATOUT) in both Acol and Standard French bidding systems. This will emphasise the basic difference in approach between the two methods. So let us look at two balanced hands without a five card major (SANS MAJEUR CINQUIEME) -

HAND A ♠. A 8 5 ♥. K J 8 ♦. Q 9 2 ♣. K 8 3 2 (13 points)

HAND B ♠. K J 7 ♥. Q 9 8 ♦. A K 6 2 ♣ . Q J 6 (16 points)

With Hand A if you are using Acol you will open 1 NT (1 SA). This describes your relatively weak hand in one bid and you will only bid again in response to a Stayman or Transfer bid from your partner. If using Standard French (SF) you will open one Club (UN TREFLE) as your point count is below the 15 needed for a No Trump bid and you do not have a five card major. If your partner bids you will bid 1 NT to show you have 12-14 points.

With Hand B using Acol you will open 1C (UN TREFLE) as you are too strong for 1 NT but over a bid from your partner you will bid 1 NT to show you have 15-16 points.

Using SF you will open 1 NT to show a balanced hand of 15-17 points.

Finally here are two useful French bridge terms. A discard is UNE DEFAUSSE and a revoke is UNE RENONCE. The verbs are DEFAUSSER (to discard) and RENONCER (to revoke).