1. 1 NT Opening Bid
Most balanced hands 4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2 and 5-3-3-2 hands will be opened 1NT.
Most 5-3-3-2 major suit hands with HCP in the appropriate range will be opened 1NT. Thus a 1 ♥ or 1 ♠ opening bid will either have a 2 nd 4+ card holding or be out of the 1NT opening range. I recommend using the Flannery 2 ♦ opening bid showing 4=5=x-x distribution and 11-15 HCP so 1H opening bids will either be strong enough to reverse into 2 ♠ with the 4=5-x-x distribution, have a lower ranking 4+ card suit, or be out of the 1NT opening range (15+ HCP when playing a 12-14 weak notrump).
It’s legal to open 4-4-4-1 hands where the singleton is an Ace, King, or Queen. Opening 1NT with 5-4-2-2 is also OK if most of the strength is in the short suits although this should be avoided as it can be a problem with Crawling Stayman where Responder expects no more than one 2-card suit.
The opening ranges may be 10-12 (Baby), 12-14 (Weak), and 15-17 (Strong). This discussion presumes the same response structure regardless of opening range.
Responder first needs to decide the range of their hand. The table below gives guidelines depending on the opening Notrump range.
|
Type/Range |
Baby |
Weak |
Strong |
Comments |
|
Range |
10-12 |
12-14 |
15-17 |
Open most balanced hands with 4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2, or 5-3-3-2 including major suits without a suitable rebid. |
|
Weak |
0-8 |
0-6 |
0-6 |
Get out of 1NT to some suit. |
|
Partial |
8-12 |
6-12 |
6-8 |
Pass when balanced including 4-3-3-3 with a 4-card major
|
|
Invite |
12-14 |
10-12 |
8-10 |
2
♣
Stayman
with 4 card major unless balanced 4-3-3-3.
|
|
Game |
15-21 |
13-19 |
11-16 |
2
♣
Stayman
with 4 card major unless balanced 4-3-3-3.
|
|
Slam |
21+ |
19+ |
16+ |
[rangeask2S]
with balanced hand and no 4-card major planning
to bid 6NT or 4
♣
Gerber
if Opener bids 3
♣
.
|
2. 2 ♣ Stayman
2 ♣ Stayman asks Opener to show 4-card major suits. Responder will have at least one 4-card major. Responder may use this without a 4-card major planning to use Garbage Stayman or Crawling Stayman as a runout to find at least a 4-3 fit. Responder may be planning a 3-level Smolen bid with 4-5 in the majors and game forcing values after Opener’s 2 ♦ response. Responder may have a very strong hand planning a Baze Slam Try after a 2 ♥ or 2 ♠ response.
2.1. Opener’s Responses to Stayman
2.2. Smolen
With 4-5 in the majors and a 2 ♦ response to Responder’s 2 ♣ Stayman Responder bids 3 of his 4-card major. Opener will then bid game in Responder’s longer major or sign off at 3NT.
2.3. 4 ♣ Gerber 1430
Opener must alert this saying the Responder may not have a 4-card major.
Responses are 1430 with the 3 rd and 4 th steps 2 aces weak and 2 aces with extra values including a source of tricks or as Barbara Nist puts it, 2 and I hate my hand, 2 and I love my hand.
NOTE A 4 ♣ bid by Responder after 2 ♦ response by Opener is Gerber 1430 and must be alerted. This doesn’t apply after 2 ♥ or 2 ♠ Responses as 4 ♣ is then Keycard ask for the major, see Baze Slam Try .
2.4. Baze Slam Try
Slam tries after 2 ♣ Stayman and Opener’s 2 ♥ or 2 ♠ response showing at least 4-cards in the major.
2.4.1. 2 ♣ - 2 ♥ Stayman Response
4 ♣ Keycard Ask for hearts, Baze Slam Try. 1430 Responses.
4 ♦ Balanced slam try in with heart fit.
Responder has 6½ losers or fewer.
3 ♠ Unbalanced Slam Try with heart fit,
6½ losers or fewer. Opener may then ask:
3NT What Shortness?
-
4 ♣ Clubs
-
4 ♦ Diamonds
-
4 ♥ Spades
4NT 16-17 HCP Balanced without 4 hearts.
2.4.2. 2 ♣ - 2 ♥ Stayman Response
4 ♣ Keycard Ask for spades, Baze Slam Try. 1430 Responses.
4 ♦ Balanced slam try in with spade fit.
Responder has 6½ losers or fewer.
3 ♥ Unbalanced Slam Try with spade fit.
3 ♠ What Shortness?
-
3N Responder has a void
-
4 ♣ What is the void?
-
4 ♦ Diamonds
-
4 ♥ Hearts
-
4 ♠ Clubs
-
-
-
4 ♣ Clubs
-
4 ♦ Diamonds
-
4 ♥ Hearts
3. Jacoby Transfers
2 ♦ and 2 ♥ Transfers to 5+ card majors.
3.1. 2 ♦ Jacoby Transfer to hearts
With a weak hand playing in a 5-2 fit may be the best you can do, or the opponents may get in in spades or a 3-level minor suit.
3.2. 2 ♥ Jacoby Transfer to spades
This is pretty much the same with a weak hand as the 2 ♥ , except that the opponents have to come in at the 3-level.
3.3. Super Accepts
With a minimal hand and 4-card support jump to 3 of Responder’s major.
If playing Fit Showing Super Accepts , then:
3.3.1. Fit Showing Super Accepts
After Responders 2 ♦ Jacoby Transfer to hearts or [jacoby2H] transfer:
-
2M Fewer than 4 cards in transferred major.
-
2 ♠ Honor doubleton in spades after 2 ♦ transfer
-
2NT with balanced maximum or honor doubleton in hearts if transfer to ♠ allowing Responder to retransfer with 3 ♥ .
-
3 ♣ Honor doubleton in clubs and game interest.
-
3 ♦ Honor doubleton in diamonds and game interest.
-
3 ♥ Honor doubleton in hearts after 2 ♥ Transfer to spades.
Opponents double 2 ♦ Jacoby Transfer to hearts or 2 ♥ Jacoby Transfer to spades
-
Pass shows 2 cards in transferred suit.
-
Redouble shows 3 cards in the transferred suit.
-
With 4-card support all responses are the same.
4. 2 ♠ Range Ask/Transfer to 3 ♣ .
This bid is used when responder has one of several hands:
-
Invitational with no 4-card major .
-
Weak hand with 6+ clubs.
-
Game forcing hand with 6+ clubs (any minor suit game has slam potential).
-
Quantitative slam interest which would require a 4NT bid without this range ask.
This asks Opener to bid 2NT if he would accept an invitation to 3NT or to bid 3 ♣ if he would.
After a 2NT response by Opener, Responder will bid:
-
Pass with a balanced invitational hand.
-
3 ♣ with a weak hand with 6+ clubs.
-
3NT To Play.
-
6NT Balanced hand that qualifies for a quantitative 4NT.
-
Hands with interest in club slam. Most of these show shortness. All of these responses apply over Opener’s positive 3 ♣ as well.
-
3 ♦ shortness in diamonds.
-
3 ♥ shortness in hearts.
-
3 ♠ shortness in spades.
-
4 ♦ Kickback key card ask for clubs.
-
4 ♥ Kickback key card ask for diamonds.
-
5. 2N Transfer to 3 ♦
2N Transfer to 3 ♦ . Responder may use this with 6+ diamonds regardless of strength. Opener will bid 3 ♣ as a Super Accept with Axx, Kxx or xxxx in diamonds or 3 ♦ with lesser diamonds Responder may pass or correct to 3 ♦ with less than game forcing values.
6. 3 ♣ Puppet Stayman
3 ♣ Puppet Stayman asking Opener to show a 4 or 5 card majors. Responses are:
6.1. Standard Puppet
This is the standard Blabbermount Puppet Stayman which may well give useful information to the opponents.
-
3 ♦ Opener has at least 1 4 card major. Responder’s bids are:
-
3 ♥ 4 hearts.
-
3 ♠ 4 spades.
-
3NT No 4 card major.
-
4 ♣ Both 4-card majors with slam interest.
-
4 ♦ Both 4-card majors.
-
-
3 ♥ Five card hearts.
-
3 ♠ Five card spades.
-
3NT No 4 or 5 card major.
6.2. Low Info Puppet Stayman
Responder has one or two three card majors, or one four card major with a possible three cards in the other major. His shape is not 4333. Opener bids a five card major or three diamonds After 3 ♦ , responder with a four card major bids three of the other major.
-
3 ♦ Opener has no 5-card major.
-
3 ♥ Responder has 4 spades
-
3 ♠ Responder has 4 hearts.
-
-
3 ♥ or 3 ♠ Opener has five card major
7. 3 ♦ 5-5 Minors GF
Opener may sign off in 3NT or chose suit by bidding 4 ♣ or 4 ♦ which allows Responder to ask for keycards using either Kickback or Exclusion (4NT is Exclusion in the Kickback suit). Responder’s bids after Opener’s responses are:
7.1. 3NT Response by Opener.
pass To Play
7.2. 4 ♣ Minorwood keycard ask for clubs.
7.3. 4 ♦ Minorwood keycard ask for diamonds.
7.4. 4 ♥ 6-keycard Ask for clubs and diamonds. Responder will set trump later.
7.5. 4 ♠ 0 or 3 Keycards in clubs and diamonds
7.6. Followups
Responder will sign off in 5m if Opener’s response is ambiguous. With 3 keycards, Opener may show his cheapest king.
-
4NT Relay Asks for Queens in clubs and diamonds.
-
5 ♣ No queens
-
5 ♦ Queen of clubs
-
5 ♥ Queen of diamonds
-
5 ♠ Queen of clubs and queen of diamonds
-
Responder may relay with the cheapest bid asking for Specific Kings or sign off in 6m.
8. 3 ♥ 3=1-(5-4) Mini Splinter
3 ♥ 3=1-5-4 mini-splinter in hearts, game forcing. Opener may then bid 3NT with hearts stopped, bid a 4-card minor, setting trump, or bid 4NT showing equal length in the minors.
9. 3 ♠ 1=3-(5-4) Mini Splinter
3 ♠ 1=3-5-4 mini-splinter in spades, game forcing. Opener’s responses are like the responses 3 ♥ above.
10. 3NT To Play
11. 4 ♣ Gerber 1430
Asking for Aces, Opener’s responses are 4 ♣ 1 or 4, 4 ♦ 0 or 3, 4 ♥ 2 I hate my hand, 4 ♥ 2 I love my hand
| This isn’t used if playing South African Texas or NAMYATS |
12. Texas Transfers
Game forcing transfers with 6+ cards in Responder’s major.
-
4 ♦ Transfer to hearts
-
4 ♥ Transfer to spades
13. South African Texas
These bids are all part of South African Texas Transfers which is a replacement for regular Texas Transfers . The primary advantage is that Responder may chose to be declarer if his hand has tenaces that should be protected on the opening lead.
These are used frequently when playing weak notrump opening bids, but I’ve found them useful when playing strong notrumps.
| Since the 4 ♣ bid is no longer available for Gerber , to use Gerber , one must first bid 2 ♣ Stayman , then jump to 4 ♣ after Opener’s 2-level response. |
-
4 ♣ Transfer to 4 ♥ . Normally a sign-off, but Responder may bid 4 ♠ Kickback keycard asking after Opener bids 4 ♥ . Opener may bid 4 ♦ with slam interest as also used with NAMYATS
-
4 ♦ Transfer to 4 ♠ . Normally a sign-off, but Responder may bid 4NT Kickback keycard after Opener bids 4 ♠ . Opener may bid 4 ♥ with slam interest as also used with NAMYATS
-
4 ♥ To play. Responder may want the lead coming up to his hand.
-
4 ♠ To Play. Responder may want the lead coming up to his hand.
14. Weak Responses
all options to get out of 1NT before the doubling begins.
14.1. Garbage Stayman
Weak hand with short clubs, 4-4-3=2, 4=4=4=1, 4=3=3=3, or 4=4=5=0. Garbage Stayman
Bid 2 ♣ passing any response by Opener.
14.2. Crawling Stayman
Crawling Stayman Weak hand with short diamonds. Responder bids 2 ♣ Stayman then bids 4-card suits up the line until finding at least a 4-3 fit.
14.3. Transfer and pass
Make [jacobytransfer] bid and pass response(s) at minimum level (may be at 3-level after Super Accepts ).
15. Major Two-Suited Hands
When responder has 5=5 or better in the majors, many prefer to use the 3 ♥ and 3 ♠ responses to 1NT to show 5-5 minimum and 5-5 game forcing, but this forces to the 3-level on the minimum hands. On the weak hand, I like to transfer to ♥ then bid 2 ♠ after Opener accepts the transfer unless he Super Accepts in hearts. With strong hands transfer to spades then bid 3 ♥ unless Opener Super Accepts . This allows you to stop at 2 ♠ if Opener is 3=2=x-x or play at 3 ♥ if 2=3=x-x.
15.1. Weak Responses
1N - 2 ♣ - 2 ♥ - 2 ♠
15.2. Strong Responses
1N - 2 ♥ - 2 ♠ - 3 ♥
16. Responses if Opponents Interfere
These are the actions depending on Opponent’s action. Doubles of Overcaller’s bid is generally for takeout, not penalty when playing strong NT.
Opponents bid:
16.1. 2 ♣ , Systems On Regardless of meaning or Double not for penalty
16.1.1. Pass, wait and see depending on meaning of 2 ♣ bid.
16.1.2. X Stayman
16.1.3. 2 ♦ Transfer to hearts
16.1.4. 2 ♥ Transfer to spades
16.1.5. 2 ♠ Range Ask/Transfer to 3 ♣
16.1.6. All other responses are as if there were no interference.
16.2. 2 ♦ may be both majors, ask for explanation
16.3. X Opponent Doubles for Penalty (DONT Runouts)
All Bids here must be alerted.
16.3.1. XX Business, forcing X through 2 ♠
16.3.2. 2 ♣ , 2 ♦ or 2 ♥ Suit bid and higher suit (like DONT )
Opener may pass or correct.
16.3.3. Pass — Forcing. Responder has single-suited hand.
Opener must bid 5-card suit or redouble asking for Responder’s suit.
16.4. 2 ♦ , 2 ♥ , 2 ♠ , or 2NT Rubensohl transfer responses.
There are several options depending on meaning of Overcaller’s bid. In particular the bids that show two-suited hands present challenges. This Article has some interesting. approaches.
16.4.1. 2 ♦ or 2 ♥ Natural or DONT showing second suit .
16.4.2. 2 ♥ , 2 ♠ To Play. These show at least 5 cards in the suit.
16.4.3. 2N Transfer to 3 ♣ , Responder has 5 or more clubs
16.4.4. 3 ♣ Transfer to diamonds, Ask/Stayman.
Opener should bid 3NT with a diamond stop or treat this as Stayman . If Responder doesn’t have at least one 4-card major, he will bid 3 ♠ asking for a diamond stop. Without a diamond stop Opener will bid a 4-card major as he would respond to a normal 2 ♣ Stayman by Responder. With no diamond stop or 4-card major, Opener will bid his cheapest 4+ card minor suit.
16.4.5. 3 ♦ Transfer to hearts over Overcaller’s 2 ♦ Bid.
Responder has 5 or more hearts at least invitational as Responder could bid 2 ♥ to play.
16.4.6. 3 ♦ If Overcaller has bid 2 ♥ this is Ask/Stayman.
Opener will accept the transfer to hearts without a stopper, bid 3 ♠ with a stopper, and 4 ♠ , or bid 3NT with a heart stopper.
16.4.7. 3 ♥ Transfer to spades, Responder has 5 or more spades, at least invitational.
16.4.8. 3 ♠ Asks for stop in Overcaller’s suit(s).
Opener will bid 3NT with a stop, or 4 ♣ looking for a minor suit fit.
16.4.9. 2 ♦ Overcaller shows both majors .
| In general, when Overcaller’s bid shows two suits, transfers into one of the known suits show stoppers in that suit. |
16.4.10. 2NT Transfer to 3 ♣ , Invitational or better.
16.4.11. 3 ♣ Transfer to 3 ♦ , Invitational or better.
16.4.12. 3 ♦ Transfer into hearts shows a heart stop, asks for spade stop.
16.4.13. 3 ♥ Transfer into spades shows spade stop, asks for heart stop.
16.4.14. 3 ♠ Asks for stops in both majors.
Opener will bid 3NT with stoppers, or 4 ♣ looking for a minor suit game.
16.4.15. 2 ♥ Natural or showing hearts or hearts and a minor.
16.4.16. 2 ♠ To play.
16.4.17. 2NT Transfer to 3 ♣ , Invitational or better.
16.4.18. 3 ♣ Transfer to 3 ♦ , Invitational or better.
16.4.19. 3 ♦ Ask/Stayman.
Opener will bid 3 ♥ accepting the transfer without a heart stop, bid 3S with a stop in hearts and 4 ♠ , bid 3N with a heart stop and fewer than 4 spades, or bid 4 ♣ looking for a minor suit game.