Highly unusual methods (also HUM) is a class of
contract bridge
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 o ...
bidding system
A bidding system in contract bridge is the set of agreements and understandings assigned to calls and sequences of calls used by a partnership, and includes a full description of the meaning of each treatment and convention. The purpose of bid ...
s defined by the
World Bridge Federation
The World Bridge Federation (WBF) is the international governing body of contract bridge. The WBF is responsible for world championship competitions, most of which are conducted at a few multi-event meets on a four-year cycle. The most prestigiou ...
. Usually these are artificial systems that require advance preparation to contend with, and are restricted to the highest levels of tournament play in most locations. These systems are designated by a yellow sticker, and are more regulated than
brown sticker
Brown sticker is a category of contract bridge conventional agreements defined by the World Bridge Federation (WBF).The World Bridge Federation (WBF) definition of Brown sticker conventions in itSystems Policy manual, page 3 Brown sticker conventi ...
conventions.
The current definition of the WBF lists the following HUM:
# a pass in the opening position shows at least the values generally accepted for an opening bid of one, even if there are alternative weak possibilities (a
strong pass system),
# by partnership agreement an opening bid at the one level may be weaker than pass,
# by partnership agreement an opening bid at the one level may be made with values a king or more below average strength,
# by partnership agreement an opening bid at the one level shows either length or shortage in a specified suit, or
# by partnership agreement an opening bid at the one level shows either length in one specified suit or length in another.
With the exception to the above being an opening of one of a minor in a
strong club or strong diamond system.
See also
*
Bridge convention
A bridge convention is an agreement about an artificial or a set of related artificial calls. Calls made during the auction phase of a contract bridge game convey information about the player's card holdings. Calls may be "natural" (that is, are b ...
References
Regulations and definition from World Bridge Federation
{{WPCBIndex
Bridge systems