BETTER BIDDING by BERNARD MAGEE

Stayman and Transfers

n the last issue of BRIDGE I showed at its secondary use later. Remember, as With Hand A, in response to 1NT you how red-suit transfers work in with any convention, you must always have four hearts and 11 points, so you can Iresponse to 1NT. Now I will try to make a plan before you use it. There are use Stayman (2♣). Let us see what complete an outline of this method by two basic types of hands in category A: happens over each response from opener. discussing ‘Stayman’ and then looking at ways to bid hands with length in both (i) Invitational Hands 1NT – 2♣ – ? majors. Finally, we will take a look at the (11-12 points) – game might, 2♠ response to 1NT, and also discuss the or might not, be on. (a) 2♦: we have not found a fit, so we responses to other no- bids. (ii) Strong Hands rebid 2NT in order to suggest the Let us start with Stayman. (13+ points) – game should be on. chance of game in no-trumps; it is the same as responding 2NT What Is Stayman? So let us make a plan with these two directly. types of hand in mind. (b) 2♥: we have found a fit, so we Stayman is a conventional response of rebid 3♥, suggesting the possibility 2♣ to a 1NT opening bid; it asks the (i) Invitational Hands of game in hearts. opening bidder whether he holds a four- (11-12 points) (c) 2♠: we have not found a fit, so card major. we rebid 2NT – just as in case (a) The responses to 2♣ are: Our plan is to try to find a fit in a major above. suit and then invite our partner to game, 2♦ No four-card major so we bid Stayman, and over the 2♥ Four hearts (does not deny four response we bid half-way to game either Hand B spades). in an agreed major or in no-trumps: ♠ K Q 8 2 2♠ Four spades but not four hearts. ♥ A3 e.g. 1NT – 2♣ – 2♦ – 2NT ♦ K Q 9 6 These are the only three responses. or: 1NT – 2♣ – 2♥ – 3♥ ♣ J 10 4

Why Use Stayman? Both these sequences invite the opener to bid game. Responding to 1NT, you have plenty of To locate a 4-4 fit in a . Acol’s points and so can be sure of game, but structure is based around the idea that (ii) Strong Hands (13+ points) with a four-card major, perhaps 4♠ whenever we have an eight-card fit in a might be better than 3NT, so you should major we would like to play in it, thus it Our plan is to try to find a fit in a major start by using Stayman. Once again we is important to try to find a fit even after suit and then jump to game, so we bid will see how we might bid over each a 1NT opening. Stayman and over the response we bid response from our partner, the opener. game, either in an agreed major or no- When to Use trumps. 1NT – 2♣ – ? Stayman e.g. 1NT – 2♣ – 2♦ – 3NT (d) 2♦: we have not found a fit, so we After a 1NT opening bid, when you or: 1NT – 2♣ – 2♥ – 4♥ rebid 3NT, the best game. have at least one four-card major and: (e) 2♥: we might have a fit (partner Examples has not denied four spades), but A. You have 11 or more points; we should rebid 3NT. Our partner or: will know that we have four spades B. You are weak but can cope with Hand A because we used Stayman and any response. ♠ 10 6 then denied four hearts by not ♥ K Q 8 2 supporting them (see later). Stayman was designed with option A in ♦ K Q 9 6 (f) 2♠: we have found a fit, so we mind and this is the aspect we will focus ♣ J 10 4 rebid 4♠, the best game. on to begin with; however, we will look Continued on page 8

Page 7 TRANSFERS AND STAYMAN continued from page 7 Deals 3 and 4 show opening hands with 13 points, so judging whether to bid game is not so easy; however, the Losing Trick Count (see BRIDGE issues 50 and Opener’s Second Bid West East 51) will help you. An opening 1NT will after the 2♣ Enquiry 1NT 2♣ generally have 7 or 8 losers. With 8 2♥ 3NT losers you should pass 3♥ and with 7 The responses to 2♣ are straightforward, 4♠ End losers raise to game. as shown above; there are only three When judging whether to bid game in possible responses, and when you have The West hand in Deal 2 is the tricky one no-trumps, you should look for tens and both majors you should respond 2♥. to get right. nines to bolster your evaluation. However, when it comes to your rebid You open 1NT and when your partner there are two things to bear in mind: bids Stayman you respond with 2♥, but Stayman you should remember that when you hold on Weak Hands (a) Partner’s rebid of 2NT or raise to both majors in response to Stayman you three-of-a-major invite game, so you should always end the auction in either must decide whether to go for game; hearts or spades. With 11 or more points you can use 12 points: no; 14 points: yes. So when your partner rebids 3NT Stayman because you will always have (b) If you have both majors, then the (implying that he does not have a fit for a place to go when you do not find a fit: final contract should be in either hearts), you must convert this to 4♠. 2NT or 3NT. However, on weaker spades or hearts. You should ask yourself: “Why has my hands you do not have this luxury. For partner used Stayman?” The answer, of example, consider: Let us see the hands above in complete course, is because he has at least one auctions. four-card major; if it is not hearts then it must be spades. Hand C ♠ K Q 8 2 Deal 1 ♥ Q 9 6 3 ♠ A3 2 ♠ 10 6 Deal 3 ♦ 9 6 ♥ N ♥ ♠ ♠ ♣ A J 5 4 W E K Q 8 2 K Q 7 6 A J 9 4 8 7 4 ♦ 8 2 S ♦ K Q 9 6 ♥ AJ 8 N ♥ K 2 ♣ ♣ ♦ W E ♦ K Q 5 2 J 10 4 7 6 S 8 4 2 ♣ K 4 3 2 ♣ A 9 7 6 It is tempting to use Stayman on Hand C, but what would you do over a 2♦ West East response? You would be stuck and thus 1NT 2♣ West East you should pass a 1NT opening. 2♥ 3♥ 1NT 2♣ Remember, you must be able to cope 4♥ End 2♠ 3♠ with all three possible responses from 4♠ End partner. You open 1NT and then respond 2♥ to However, there are two types of weak East’s Stayman enquiry. Then, over 3♥, hand on which you can use Stayman: you accept the invitation (as you are Deal 4 maximum, with your 14 points) by ♠ K Q 7 6 ♠ A J 9 4 (a) Hands with two four-card majors bidding game. ♥ AJ 8 N ♥ K 2 and at least four diamonds. ♦ W E ♦ 7 6 3 S 8 4 2 ♣ K 4 3 ♣ A 9 7 6 (b) Hands with a four-card and a five- Deal 2 card major. ♠ A 9 4 3 ♠ K Q 8 2 ♥ N ♥ K 7 5 4 W E A3 West East (a) Weak Hands with Two Four- ♦ 8 2 S ♦ K Q 9 6 1NT 2♣ Card Majors ♣ K Q 5 ♣ J 10 4 2♠ 3♠ End Hand D ♠ Q 7 8 2 HALLMARKED PENCILS ♥ Q 9 6 3 ♦ J 9 6 5 3 Boxed set of four (Silver) £125 ♣ Boxed set of four (9 carat Gold) £299 Boxed set of four (18 carat Gold) £399 If your diamond suit is long enough to allow you reasonably to pass the 2♦ from the Mail Order Service response, then you can use Stayman. On Continued on page 9

Page 8 TRANSFERS AND STAYMAN continued from page 8 account that no-trumps scores more than the minors and thus, given that you will be two levels higher, it is often worth leaving the contract in 1NT. Hand D, 2♣ is a good response to 1NT: However, with strong hands it is easy: How does this bid work? you will pass whatever your partner transfer, and then show your second suit. Very similarly to the other transfers. bids. Note that if you have two five-card Over the 2♠ response the 1NT opener majors, it is best to transfer to spades and simply closes his eyes and bids the next (b) Hands with a four-card and a then rebid in hearts, twice if necessary. step up: 2NT. Now the responder can five-card major. bid his minor. It is as simple as that:

Deal 5 Hand E ♠ K 4 ♠ A 9 8 6 3 Deal 6 ♠ K 9 8 7 2 ♥ AJ 8 N ♥ K Q 9 5 2 ♠ Q J 4 2 ♠ 8 6 3 W E ♥ Q 9 6 3 ♦ Q 8 7 6 S ♦ 2 ♥ A 9 8 3 N ♥ 7 5 ♦ ♣ ♣ ♦ W E ♦ 9 K 4 3 2 A9 K 6 S Q J 9 8 7 5 2 ♣ 8 7 4 ♣ A4 3 ♣ 9

West East On Hand E you can also use Stayman. 1NT 2♥ West East You can pass a major-suit response and 2♠ 3♥ 1NT 2♠ over 2♦ you can rebid 2♠. This gives 3NT 4♥ 2NT 3♦ you the chance to find the best fit. End End It is worth noting that after Stayman, a rebid below 2NT by the 2♣ bidder West opens 1NT and East wants to bid On Deal 6, East can see that his hand is shows a weak hand, and should be game and wants to play in one of his likely to be worthless in 1NT but in passed. majors (partner is sure to have three- diamonds he might even make five card support for at least one of them). tricks, so he wants to make a weak take- Hands East starts by showing the higher suit out to diamonds. Remember, though, ♥ ♦ with Both Majors with a transfer bid of 2 , and then that 2 would show hearts, so that bid rebids the hearts, bidding them a second is no good. Use the 2♠ response: this You might remember the very useful time over 3NT – sure that his partner forces your partner to rebid 2NT and ditty quoted in BRIDGE 52: will choose the better major-suit game. allows you to bid your minor – 3♦. In 1NT you might only make three tricks, Stayman is used for four, The 2♠ Response whereas in 3♦ you might well make Transfers for five or more. nine. As mentioned in the last issue of The most important thing about But what do we do when you have BRIDGE, playing Transfers the 2♠ responding to 1NT is to understand length in both majors? response to 1NT is redundant (we now your system; it is going to come up so With weak hands, as we saw above, use 2♥ to show spades). There is an often that you will need to know it well. you can use Stayman – provided you are enormous variety of uses for this bid, the Having said that, it is worth putting a not embarrassed by a 2♦ response. With choice of definition being very much up little work in to learn the system I have invitational hands there are ways to show to individual partnerships. Perhaps when outlined, because the flexibility it gives two majors, but this is more complicated you are used to the system of transfers, you will reward you in the long run. and a matter for partnership agreement. I you will play a more complicated variety, would recommend leaving these ideas or when you are just starting you need not And Finally . . . aside, but one method is to use Stayman use it at all, but I prefer to use a relatively and with no fit found, jump in your simple method. The way I look at it is: A few extra little pointers to finish: longer major: what have we lost by playing Stayman and Transfers? (1) When RHO (or doubles) The weak take-outs in clubs and your side’s 1NT, then your systems Hand F diamonds – that is pretty much it. Hence are ‘switched off’, that is all your ♠ K Q 8 7 2 I use the 2♠ response to 1NT to show bids are natural again. ♥ A Q 6 3 the equivalent of a hand that would ♦ 9 have made a weak take-out in a minor, (2) I advise using red suit transfers ♣ 8 7 4 that is, a weak hand with a long minor. and Stayman over 1NT and 2NT There is one difference, though: I only openings (including strong balanced make a weak take-out into a minor on a hands that are opened with 2♣, Opener Responder six-card suit. The reason for this is that e.g. 2♣ – 2♦ – 2NT). (Partner) (You) you will be playing at the three level, 1NT 2♣ and if you are weak, then a five-card (3) You can also use the same system 2♦ 3♠ suit is not enough. Also, take into in response to a 1NT .

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