| How to bid with both majors over partner's 1NT? |
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'The most interesting questions from visitors to the Dutch sister site (Bridgevaria.nl)'. Dear Ed and Peter, I'm looking for a system to bid 4-4, 5-4 and 5-5 hands in the majors after partner has opened 1NT, using Stayman and Jacoby. Paul van de Putte Answer Ed Hoogenkamp (South) Dear Paul, I myself follow a simple principle:
South's sequence is game forcing and shows at least 5-4 in hearts and spades (the heart suit is longer).
Here too South's sequence is game forcing and shows at least 5-4 in spades and hearts (either the spade suit is longer or the suits have equal length). Suppose that North now bids 3NT over South's 3♥. 3NT denies a fit and shows in principle 2-3 in spades and hearts, since he must have at least three cards in one major suit: he cannot have two doubletons — in principle. If South has 5-5 in the majors, he will continue with 4♥ over 3NT therefore. However, just now I wrote 'in principle' twice: the reason is that off-shape 1NT openings are becoming more and more accepted these days. These are 1NT openings on 2-2-4-5, 2-2-5-4, 2-2-6-3 en 2-2-3-6 hands. Responder should not take the possibility of such an opening into consideration, since it would make the bidding too complicated. If we have 5-4 or longer in the majors and a weak hand or a hand with invitational strength we do not use transfer bids but Stayman:
South shows a weak hand with 5-4 in hearts and spades (many pairs bid likewise on a weak hand and 4-4 in the majors if South doesn't want to play 1NT).
South shows a weak hand with 5-4 in spades and hearts.
South shows a hand of invitational strength with 5-4 (not 5-5) in hearts and spades.
South shows a hand of invitational strength with 5-4 (possibly 5-5) in spades and hearts.. I have heard it's been done quite differently in Norway. I think they only show 5-4 in the minors over partner's 1NT... Un saludo desde Barcelona Answer Peter van der Linden (North) Dear Paul, Our man from Barcelona lives dangerously. The last daredevil who was condescending about Norwegian bidding, lived on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, in the Eighth Century and we all know what that island looked like after that first Viking raid on Britain... (and for those who don't: click here for information) Ed has described the more or less common agreements (to be honest: we did most of it together; after all we don't squabble all the time...). Some adjustments: 1. About hands with 5-5 in the majors that qualify for game. Ed says these are to be bid as follows:
However, this is not commonly accepted. Many pairs consider this sequence to be invitational to 6♥ (not 6♠: North's 3NT bid in principle shows 2-3 in spades and hearts; unless of course he has opened an off-shape 1NT but as Ed said: do not take this into consideration).
And what about:
Most pairs have agreed that 4♣ or 4♦ do not show a five card suit (whereas 4♥ does) but a control in the bid minor, establishing spades as trumps (in many partnerships 4♣/♦ even show a very specific control: a singleton or void, this is called an Auto-Splinter). The conclusion must be: take your pick and make solid agreements with partner! 2. About the Stayman-sequences (with weak or invitational strength hands): Ed has described the most common, modern approach. It's called Weak (or: Crawling) Stayman. 'Weak', since after Stayman and opener's 2♦ reply a 2♥/♠ rebid by the Stayman-bidder is weak (and a jump to 3♥/♠ shows invitational strength). However, still many prefer Classical Stayman: over opener's 2♦ reply a 2♥/♠ rebid by the Stayman-bidder shows invitational strength. 3. How to distinguish between 5-4 and 5-5 in the weak and invitational (Stayman-)sequences? This is a real weakness in the agreements shown. Not here:
Clearly South shows a longer spade suit and North should not correct to hearts: But here is a tricky situation in Weak Stayman:
If South may bid like this on 4-4, North should correct to 2♠ if he has 3-2 in spades and hearts. But if South shows 5-4 in hearts and spades, North does better to pass with 3-2 in spades and hearts (usually a 5-2 fit is superior to a 4-3 fit). There are more situations like this one in weak and invitational sequences. Therefore the final conclusion must be: there are many different 'natural' methods available. We have described the most common ones. No doubt many will not agree... PS: Barry Rigal, one of our three US correspondents and English correctors (click here to see all three names; Barry is actually English, but lives in the US; he is well known as a top player, bridge journalist and VuGraph commentator), mentions the very practical convention Smolen (-transfers). You use it with 5-4/4-5 in the majors and game-forcing strength. Smolen is very popular in the USA, but somehow never really made it on the other side of the Atlantic.
1 5-4 in spades and hearts, game forcing If North has two spades he signs-off in 3NT. If he has three spades he now bids 3♠ (or 4♠ with a bad hand: Fast Arrival). The first advantage of Smolen is clear: it is both Stayman and a transfer, so the 1NT opener will always become declarer. Here is the second advantage. Assuming NS have agreed upon using Smolen:
1 5-5 in spades and hearts Why 5-5? Since South didn't apply Smolen! Yes, Smolen solves a lot of problems with game-forcing hands. Hilsen fra Orkanger. |