Friday, December 06, 2002 1:34 AM
 
Stayman

PITBULLS:

            I feel all flat hands with the appropriate HCP range should be opened NT regardless of the fact that you have a 5 card major . Coming with the territory is throwing out Stayman . Stayman invented his convention to ask the NT bidder if she has a 4 card major . It does not have to be that way . It works just as well if it is reversed , the NT opener asks responder for the 4 card major !!  Modified puppet Stayman does just that by a clever use of a relay . 1NT  2C or 2NT 3C asks for a 5 card major period . If the NT opener ( 1NT or 2NT ) does not have a 5 card major then she relays to 2D which now asks responder for the 4 card major !!  The invitational 2NT is not lost as 2H has the same effect . Taking the relay to 2H means exactly 4S or no majors with a 2NT invite . Partner bids 2S with 4S and you bail out to 2NT saying you were just kidding about he spades it’s a 2NT invite ! I invented some of the responses below so the Stans of the world might come up with better bids . The 2D relay opens up a number of possibilities ..

Puppet Stayman

The 2 C response to 1 NT is a modified version of “puppet” Stayman. Responder must have at least game interest unless he is able to pass opener’s rebid of 2 D, 2 H or 2 S.

 

West
1 NT
?

North
P

East
2 C

South
P

 

 

 

 

 

 

Call
2 D
2 H, 2 S

Meaning
relay (usually no 5-card major)
5 card suit

 

 

 

 

West
1 NT
2 D

North
P
P

East
2 C
?

South
P

 


•
•
•
•
•
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•

Call
2 H
2 S
2 NT
3 C
3 D
3 H
3 S
3 NT
4 C

Meaning
exactly 4 spades or no major interest
exactly 4 hearts
4-4 or 5-4 in majors; I
5-4 or 6-4 in majors; GF
4-4 in majors; GF

4-4 in majors , GF , stiff club
4-4 in majors; GF , stiff diamond
sign-off (was looking for 5 card major)
Gerber

 

 

 

 

Memory aid: After the 2 D relay responder’s next suit bid is always artificial. Note that a 2 H or 2 S bid denies interest in the major bid and denies five cards in the major shown.

 

West
1 NT
2 D
?

North
P
P

East
2 C
2 M

South
P
P

 

 

 

 

 




•

Call
2 S
2 NT
3 C
3 H
3 S
4 H

Meaning
spade fit*; minimum; NF
no fit; minimum; NF
no fit; maximum
heart fit; minimum; NF
spade fit*; maximum
heart fit; maximum

*if responder has 4 spades

West
1 NT
2 D
?

North
P
P

East
2 C
2 NT

South
P
P

 

 

 

 

 



•

Call
Pass
3 C

3 H, 3 S
3 NT
4 H, 4 S

Meaning
no major fit; minimum
relay; maximum; responder bids shorter
   major (Smolen) or 3 NT with 4-4
that fit; minimum
maximum (no interest in 5-3 fit)
that fit; maximum

 

*If responder has slam interest, he may continue with a minor-suit splinter, opposite major (natural) or key-card Blackwood.

West
1 NT
2 D
Fit

North
P
P
P

East
2 C
2 M
?

South
P
P

 

 

 

 

 




•

Call
2 NT, 3 NT
3 C, 3 D
Unfit major
3 S(fit)
4 C, 4 D
4 Hover 2 S
4 fit
4 NT

Meaning
corrective*; NF
5+ cards; slam try
ambiguous slam try
trump-quality concern; I
splinter; slam try
splinter; slam try
sign-off
key-card Blackwood (fit suit key)

*denies spade fit; 3 NT offers choice of game after heart fit

West
1 NT
2 D
No Fit

North
P
P
P

East
2 C
2 M
?

South
P
P

 

 

 

 

 



•
•

Call
3 C, 3 D
3 H*
3 S
3 NT
4 Cover 2 NT
4 NT

Meaning
5+ cards; 4 card major; GF
4 clubs; 4 card major; slam try
4 diamonds; 4 card major; slam try
sign-off
Gerber
quantitative

*If 3 C is not available (i.e., if opener bid 3 C) then 3 H shows 5+ clubs and 4 C shows exactly 4 clubs.