Lesson 5 (b) - What are opener’s replies to Stayman?

What are opener’s replies to 1NT-2♣?

2♣ by responder asks opener to give information about her major suit holdings.  There are only three possible replies:

• 2♥/2♠ shows 4/5 cards in that major
  e.g.   You open 1NT with ♠AQxx  ♥Kx  ♦Kxxx  ♣KJx and partner inquires with 2♣.    Reply 2♠.

• 2♦ denies a 4/5-card major
  e.g.  Open 1NT with   ♠KJxx  ♥Kxx  ♦Ax  ♣KJxx, or with   ♠Axx  ♥Kxx  ♦AKx  ♣Kxxx, and in both cases reply 2♦ to a 2♣ Stayman inquiry.

Responder may have a good hand with a 5-card or even a 6-card minor as well as an interest in a major.  That possibility can be explored after using Stayman.  If no fit is discovered in the major, responder can introduce the minor at the three level.

e.g. Over partner's opening 1NT, inquire for a possible heart fit via 2♣ if you hold ♠Axx  ♥KQxx ♦x  ♣AQJxx.

If opener denies a major with 2♦, bid 3♣, looking for 3-card or better support. Opener raises to 4♣ with 3+ support, or bids 3NT with a doubleton.

What are the follow-up actions by responder after each of these replies?

After 1NT : 2♣
2♥/♠ (showing 4/5♥s/♠s)

How does responder show 8-9 HCP
       i.e. only invitational values?

1. by raising minimally to 3M with 4-card support for opener's major
   e.g.   Holding  ♠xx ♥Kxxx ♦Qxx ♣KTxx, you inquire with 2♣ over partner's 1NT opening & hear a 2♥ reply.  Bid 3♥ with your invitational 9 TP.
   
   
2. by bidding 2♠ over 2♥ The search for a fit continues with 5♠s but no heart fit
   e.g.  Holding ♠KJxxx ©Qx ♦Qxx ♣Jxx you bid 2♣ over partner's 1NT & continue with 2♠ over her 2♥ reply.  Note that you are a little too strong for an original response of 2♠ to 1NT - this is the only way to show both 5 ♠s and invitational values.
   
   
3. by bidding 2NT without 4+ support for opener's major, or without 5♠s over specifically a 2♥ reply
   e.g.  Holding ♠AKxx ♥Jx ♦Jxxx ♣xxx, you bid 2♣ over partner's 1NT opening & with your minimum hand continue with 2NT over 2♥.

And opener's final move after responder's invitational sequence?

• Over responder's minimal raise of opener’s 4-card major to the three level, opener passes with only 15TP, bids four of the major with better.

• When responder has bid a non-forcing 2♠ over 2♥, opener passes with 3-card support and a minimum, raises to 4 with better, bids 2NT/3NT with min/better and only a doubleton in Ss.

Over responder’s 2NT, opener passes with a minimum and bids 3NT with better, just as she would have done if responder had originally bid 2NT over the opening 1NT.

What does responder bid with 10-15 TP

    (i.e. game-forcing values) after opener's 2♥/♠ reply to the 2♣ inquiry?

Responder must accept responsibility for placement of the final contract by:

1. raising to 4M with 4-card support
   e.g.  Holding ♠Kxx  ♥Kxxx  ♦QJxx  ♣Ax you inquire with 2♣ over partner's 1NT opening.  She replies 2♥, With your 14TP you jump to 4♥.
   
   
2. jumping to 3NT with no fit
   e.g.  After 1NT from partner, 2♣ from you buys a 2♠ response.  Jump to 3NT with
   ♠Qx ♥AJxx ♦Qxx ♣Kxx. Opener must pass these terminal game bids - responder is in charge. 
   
   And when responder has 16+ TP (i.e. slam possibilities) after opener's 2♥/♠ reply to a 2♣ Stayman inquiry?
   
   
3. With a fit in the major, investigate slam(s) via Blackwood (the convention you learned last lesson) if the number of aces is all you need to know.
   e.g.  After using Stayman and hearing 2♥ from opener, you can envision slam with
   ♠Kx ♥AJxx  ♦KJxxx ♣KQx.   Bid 4NT Blackwood, planning to bid slam unless partner shows only one ace via 5♦, in which case you will 'sign off' in 5♥.
   
   
4. With no fit in the major, bid a new 5+card suit.  Opener must raise with 3+ support or return to notrumps.
   e.g.  When opener responds 2♠ to your 2♣ inquiry, bid 3♣ with
   ♠Ax  ♥Kxx  ♦ Kxx  ♣AQJxx. If partner raises to 4♣ or bids 3NT, use Blackwood and bid either 6♣ or 6NT as long as partner shows one ace at least.

After 1NT : 2♣, 2♦ showing no 4-card M

1. Responder bids 2M with a 5-card suit & 8-9 HCP, or 2NT without.  Opener bids 3NT with a maximum.
2. Responder jumps to 3M with a 5-card suit & 10+TP or 3NT without.  Opener bids 3NT without a fit, or passes 3NT.
3. With 16+ TP, responder bids 3 of a 5+m and investigates suit slam with a fit or 6NT without.
4. With a balanced 17+ invite or bid slam as the numbers compute.

I'm sure you think this is pretty advanced stuff for Beginners.  Don't panic!  As you play more, it will fall into place.

STAYMAN QUIZ (answers in Lesson 5(f))

1. On which of the following hands do you not use 2♣ Stayman after partner opens 1NT?  What do you bid instead?

1. ♠x           ♥KJxxx  ♦Kx       ♣AQJxx
2. ♠x           ♥KJxx    ♦Kx       ♣AQJxxx
3. ♠Qxxxx  ♥Qxxx    ♦xx        ♣xx
4. ♠Axx      ♥KJx       ♦JTxxx  ♣xx
5. ♠Kxx      ♥ATxxx   ♦KJx     ♣xx
6. ♠Axxx    ♥KJx       ♦Kxx     ♣QJx
   
   2. What is your rebid as responder after the bidding has gone 1NT: 2♣, 2♥?

1. ♠Kxxx    ♥xx       ♦xxx        ♣AJxx
2. ♠Ax        ♥KJxx  ♦Kxx        ♣KQTx
3. ♠Axxx    ♥Kxxx  ♦xx           ♣xxx
4. ♠ATxxx  ♥xx       ♦KJxx       ♣xx
5. ♠KQxx   ♥xx       ♦AQx        ♣xxxx
6. ♠AKxx   ♥Qx      ♦KQxxxx  ♣x
   
   3. And after 1NT: 2♣, 2♦?

1. ♠AQxxx  ♥Kxxx  ♦Ax  ♣xx
2. ♠Kxx       ♥Qxxx  ♦xx   ♣AQxx