[gambolero]

What exactly is a picture bid?
Can you provide an example?

[Winstonm]

A picture bid is what the name implies: a bid that gives a quite precise description of your hand. This bid is normally used in conjunction with a 2/1 forcing system.
For example, in 2/1, the auction: 1S-2C-2S-3s is forcing, so jumping to 4S instead of bidding 3S could be used as a picture bid, showing values concentrated in spades and clubs: KQx, xx, Jxx, AQJxx.

[Cyberyeti]

Not sure if there's a precise definition, and I'm not a 2/1 expert, but I think we're talking about say in a 2/1 auction where you have lots of other raise options:

1♠-2♣
2♥-4♠

implies basically lots of goodies in spades and clubs and nothing much worthwhile elsewhere, KQx, xx, xx, AKJxxx maybe.

Playing the bent version of Acol I play we have an even more extreme example:

We play 1♣-1♥-2N as GF unbalanced and including some 4 card heart raises with ways to shape out the 4+♥/5+♣ over the 3♣ relay.
We use 1♣-1♥-4♣ as "only cue me aces, I don't care about kings" so 1417, 1516, 15Kx5 type hands as a form of picture bid.

[Free]

A picture bid basically draws a very accurate picture of your hand. This is afaik always some sort of jump, usually in a GF auction while it hasn't been determined if you should investigate slam or not. Jumps needlessly waste space, and when you're in a GF auction with an unlimited partner you need to have a good reason to throw away space.

An example that hasn't yet been given is: 1♦-1♠-4♦. Many people play 4♦ as a minimum but offensive hand with 6m-4M (for example Axxx-xx-AKJxxx-x, although some might prefer a splinter with this). You know you want to play 4♠ opposite a random 6 count, but compared to a balanced GF raise this hand has a completely different trick potential opposite a stronger partner. Partner only needs ♠KQ and controls in ♥ to give slam a fair chance (KQxxx-Axx-xx-xxx is on ♦ finesse, while opposite a random balanced 18-19 count you might not even investigate slam). Jumping wastes lots of space, but your partner immediately has a very good idea about the potential of the hand and can bid accordingly.

[Cyberyeti]

Free, on 2013-July-18, 06:44, said:

A picture bid basically draws a very accurate picture of your hand. This is afaik always some sort of jump, usually in a GF auction while it hasn't been determined if you should investigate slam or not. Jumps needlessly waste space, and when you're in a GF auction with an unlimited partner you need to have a good reason to throw away space.

An example that hasn't yet been given is: 1♦-1♠-4♦. Many people play 4♦ as a minimum but offensive hand with 6m-4M (for example Axxx-xx-AKJxxx-x, although some might prefer a splinter with this). You know you want to play 4♠ opposite a random 6 count, but compared to a balanced GF raise this hand has a completely different trick potential opposite a stronger partner. Partner only needs ♠KQ and controls in ♥ to give slam a fair chance (KQxxx-Axx-xx-xxx is on ♦ finesse, while opposite a random balanced 18-19 count you might not even investigate slam). Jumping wastes lots of space, but your partner immediately has a very good idea about the potential of the hand and can bid accordingly.

I mentioned the equivalent of your second sequence, but for something different as we use 1♦-1♠-4♠ for that hand as we bid in other ways with the big balanced hand.