When you are about to make a "jump" bid (an unusual bid) - whether it is an opening bid, a response to your partner, or an overcall – you place the stop card on the table first. This warns your LHO that you are about to take an unusual action. LHO is required to hesitate. If LHO were to pass or take action at lightning speed, it may be sending unauthorized information to his partner. You should pause for several seconds and then remove the stop card. The auction then resumes at a normal tempo.

Use of the stop card is optional, but whatever your style you must be consistent. You should always use the stop card when you are about to make a jump or never use the stop card when you bid. It is a violation to use it sometimes and not use it at other times.

The alert card should be displayed whenever you say "alert". This is an ACBL requirement, but it is generally ignored. Some opponents have hearing impairments and displaying the alert card is a courtesy to them. If you do not display the alert card, an opponent may claim later that they did not hear the alert. According to the rules, they will win the argument. If the alert flag or strip is attached to the bidding box, it is sufficient for you to tap the flag/strip while you say "alert". Most of the flags have been discarded because they are "in the way", so perhaps you have never seen one.

Your partner opens the bidding, RHO opponent makes a takeout double, and you "redouble". This is the most common use for the redouble. It says: " Partner I have 10+ h.c.p… this hand belongs to us… or we may consider "punishing" them for the best score". The redouble suggests or implies that you may not care for partner’s first-bid suit. There are so many variables for what may happen next. Pay close attention to the vulnerability and positional factors, e.g. who will be the declarer, who will make the opening lead, etc. The opponents will be scrambling to find a fit.

Another common use for the redouble is to "rescue" your partner… also called the S.O.S. redouble. Here is an example: Partner opens one spade, RHO passes, you pass (with a void in spades and very few h.c.p.), and LHO opponent doubles. Partner and RHO opponent pass. The opponents are expecting a good result with your partner in 1 spade doubled. They expect to set your partner several tricks. This may be good for them, therefore not good for your side. You redouble for partner to pick another suit. Obviously, you have support for any suit but spades.

There are other uses for the redouble that are too advanced to mention here. Most are conventions and partnership agreements that would require an alert.

* * * A Final Caution! * * * Never make any movement toward the bidding box, until you are ready to pull out a card. Hesitations, "double-clutching", touching one card and then changing it, etc. are all bidding box violations and may get the director called.