[InTime]

Is it compulsory when you make a skip bid that you should say stop or use the Stop Card?
If you don't do it, is the opps allowed to take advantage of it?
Regards

[Jlall]

No and No.

[PeterE]

Yes and No.

Another time it's a matter of regulation.
In Germany it's compulsory to "stop" and you might even get a DP when refusing to do so. Not stopping forfeits your own rights and gives LHO a few more seconds to think (he still has to wait 10 second at least and the UI problems will start a little bit later). So, not stopping might end in a split score.

[Rossoneri]

Different Regulating Authorities will have different guidance on the Stop card. For example, you will find almost everyone using the Stop card in the UK, but I rarely see anyone else using it in Singapore.

And no, you are not allowed to take advantage. I think PeterE has explained it pretty well.

[helene_t]

If the local rules do not make the stop card mandatory, you should adopt either of these two policies:
- always use the stop card
- never use the stop card

Otherwise opps might suspect that you are conveying information to your partner by the way you use the stop card. I have come across some pairs who had the agreement to use the stop card for weak jumps but not for strong jumps. Or to use it for alertable jumps only. Of course they were just ignorant of the laws, not cheating.

[bluejak]

It is important that opening posters say what jurisdiction under which the problem they are mentioning occurred.

If a player does not use the Stop card in England or Wales he will find the TD is not sympathetic to claims of a break in tempo unless it was way out from normal. So while opponents are not allowed to take advantage they will get some leeway that does not occur if the Stop card is used.

And in England and Wales the use of the Stop card is mandatory.