The response structure to one no trump is one area where a partnership can agree to play their own methods. If there were a ‘best’ set of responses, we’d all be playing them and the truth is that most partnerships are playing their own flavour. What is important is that you know what you are playing.
The response structure given would be familiar to most American experts (but not Scottish ones) and is quite different from the simple Stayman and transfers that you will have been taught. It includes 5-card Stayman, because we happily open one no trump with a 5-card major.
The basic responses are:
2C Stayman. We use Stayman when we have
(i) a weak hand with both majors
(ii) an invitational hand with one or two four-card majors
(iii) a game-forcing hand with two four-card majors
(iv) a game-forcing hand with one four-card major and a longer minor
(v) a game-forcing hand with a 5+ major AND a four-card major
We do not use Stayman with a game-forcing hand with one 4-card major when we are just looking for a major fit - use 5-card Stayman with this hand
2D Transfer to hearts. A new suit at the three-level is game forcing.
2H Transfer to spades. A new suit at the three-level is game forcing.
2S Range enquiry or transfer to clubs with any strength
We use the 2S response when we have an invitational hand without a 4-card major, essentially the same as the traditional 1NT-2NT sequence. The opener bids 2NT with a minimum opener or 3C with a maximum.
We also use the 2S response when we have a weak hand with clubs and when we have a strong hand with clubs, typically slam interest with a strong one-suited hand in clubs. You can show this hand by bidding SHORTAGE over opener’s response.
2NT 5-card Stayman
Opener bids his 5-card major or bids 3C without one. If responder has one four-card major, then you bid the OTHER MAJOR so that opener always plays the contract. For example, 1NT-2NT-3C-3S shows 4 hearts and denies 4 spades.
The advantage of this method is that opener does not reveal his major suit holdings when you do not have a major-suit fit. For example, traditionally the auction may go 1NT-2C-2D-3NT and opener has denied both 4-card majors.
3C Transfer to diamonds. This is either weak (you will pass 3D) or a strong one-suited hand with some slam interest (you will bid major shortage or 3NT next)
3D 5-5 or better in the minors, game forcing. A rare bid but a difficult hand to show. If opener bids a major, it shows a stop and concern about the other major for no trump.
3H 1444 - exactly a singleton spade with a game forcing hand. Opener chooses best game.
3S 4144 - exactly a singleton heart with a game forcing hand. Opener chooses best game.
3NT To play
4C Gerber. Asks for aces with 4D=0 or 4, 4D=1, 4H=2, 4S=3
4D 5-5 majors. Opener chooses best game.
4H/4S To play
1NT 2C
2D Pass I was looking to escape from one no trump
2H, 2S To play. Normally shows a weak hand with 5M and 4OM
2NT Invitational, guarantees a 4-card major
3C, 3D Natural, 5+ suit and 4-card major. Normally some concern
about 3NT being the best contract
3M Game forcing with 5OM and 4M (known as Smolen)
3NT To play, normally has two four-card majors
1NT 2C
2H 2S Invitational with 5 spades (rare)
2NT Invitational with 4 spades
3m Natural, 5+ suit and 4-card spades. Normally some concern
about 3NT being the best contract
3H Invitational
3S SLAM try in hearts, expecting opener to cue bid
3NT Natural
4m Splinter with 4+ hearts, slam invitational
4H To play
4S Splinter with 4+ hearts, slam invitational
4NT Quantitative. If you want to bid key-card, start with 3S.
1NT 2C
2S 2NT Invitational with 4 hearts
3m Natural, 5+ suit and 4-card hearts. Normally some concern
about 3NT being the best contract
3H SLAM try in spades, expecting opener to cue bid
3S Invitational
3NT Natural
4m Splinter with 4+ spades, slam invitational
4H Splinter with 4+ spades, slam invitational
4S To play
4NT Quantitative. If you want to bid key-card, start with 3H.
Transfer breaks should be made on all hands with 4-card support. There are many ways of doing this but I recommend just breaking to the suit above. For example,
1NT 2D
2S 4-card heart support, any range
2NT Any game invitation
3C Natural, game forcing, mild slam try
3D Retransfer to hearts, either to play or raise to game
3H 4+ diamonds, game forcing, mild slam try
3S Splinter in spades, slam try
3NT Roman Key Card Blackwood (we do not play in no trump with a 9-card major
fit)
4m Splinter, slam try
4H To play, does not really exist
1NT 2H
2NT 4-card heart support, any range
3m Natural, game forcing, mild slam try
3H Retransfer to spades, either to play or raise to game
3S 4+ hearts, slam try
3NT Roman Key Card Blackwood (we do not play in no trump with a 9-card major
fit)
4m Splinter, slam try
4H Splinter, slam try
4S To play, does not really exist
When opener has denied a five-card major, responder bids the major he does not hold to show a 4-card major and allow opener to play the 4-4 major suit fit when one exists.
Responder can bid 3D to show a (31)(45) hand, that is a hand with nine cards in the minors and major shortage. If opener is worried, he can relay to discover the singleton.
1NT 2NT
3C 3H Four spades, not four hearts (would have used 2C Stayman instead)
3S Four hearts, not four spades (would have used 2C Stayman instead)
1NT 2NT
3C 3D (I have 54/45 in the minors and a major shortage)
3NT I don’t care!
3H Which singleton do you have
3S Heart singleton - 31(54)
3NT Spade singleton - 13(45)
1NT (P) 2C (Dbl)
Over a double, opener passes without a club stop and makes his normal response with a club stop. A redouble shows 5+ clubs and suggests playing in 2C-XX.
If opener passes, then responder can restart Stayman by redoubling.
Over a suit bid, double is takeout. Bidding a major directly shows a 5-card suit.
If the transfer is doubled, then opener passes with two-card support, bids the transfer suit with 3-card support, and breaks with 4-card support. A redouble shows 5+ in the doubled suit and suggests playing the redoubled contract.
Over a suit bid, double is takeout.
If the 2S enquiry is doubled, then:
1NT (P) 2S (Dbl)
Pass Nothing to say, typically no or poor spade stop
Redouble 5+ spades and interest in playing 2S-XX
2NT Minimum, good spade stop
3C Maximum, good spade stop