Responding to a no trump opening

A 1NT or 2NT opening bid is well defined and allows responder to instantly decide whether their ambitions are limited (a weak hand), game invitational, a force to game, slam invitational, or a force to slam.

Generally a 4-4 major fit will play better than no trump, so some of our responses are designed to discover whether we have a major fit. When we have a longer major, we show this and allow partner to make the decision by using transfer responses.

A ‘transfer’ is a bid in a suit, telling partner to bid another suit. It is normal that the transfer-suit is one below the suit required to be bid by partner. We shall consider ‘red suit transfers’ as distinct from full transfers – the major difference being in the meaning of the 2S bid (from http://www.bridgewebs.com/porthcawl/TRANSFERS%20RED%20SUIT%20OVER%201NT.htm)

There are two good articles by Bernard Magee I recommend for players new to transfers:

https://mrbridge.co.uk/assets/docs/library/articles/bidding/Transfers_1.pdf

https://mrbridge.co.uk/assets/docs/library/articles/bidding/Transfers_2.pdf

Responses to one no trump

We play the same responses after a strong 1NT overcall in 2nd [(1X) – 1NT] and 4th (live) [(1X) – P – (1Y) – 1NT] position, and after a balancing 1NT [(1X) – P – (P) – 1NT].

2C                Stayman, asking for a 4-card major
2D                Transfer to hearts, showing 5+ hearts
2H                Transfer to spades, showing 5+ spades
2S                Transfer to weak minor
2NT                Invitational without a 4-card major
3X                Natural, 1-suited slam try
3NT                To play
4C                Gerber, asking for aces
4D                5-5 majors, no slam interest
4H, 4S                Natural, to play
4NT                quantitative, inviting opener to bid 6NT with a maximum

Competition

Transfers and Stayman are OFF if the opponent doubles 1NT for PENALTY, so bids are NATURAL. Responder can REDOUBLE if they think 1NT will make.

If they double a transfer bid, then pass denies support, redouble suggests playing in the transfer suit, and other bids are unchanged.

2NT Responses

We play the same responses after a strong 2NT overcall (e.g., (2H) – 2NT and (1H) – Pass – (Pass) – 2NT), after a 2NT rebid following a 2C opener and negative response (2C – 2D – 2NT) but not after a positive response.

3C                Stayman

3D                Transfer to hearts, showing 5+ hearts

3H                Transfer to spades, showing 5+ spades

3S                Minor-suit Stayman

3NT                To play

4C                Gerber

4D                5-5 majors, no slam interest

4H, 4S                Natural, to play

Detailed agreements

Stayman is used with the following hands:

• weak hands with both majors (intend to pass response or bid 2M to play)
• invitational hands with one or two 4-card majors (bid 2NT or raise)
• invitational hand with five spades and four hearts (bid 2NT or raise)
• game-forcing hands with one or two 4-card majors
• game-forcing hands with a 5-4/4-5 in the majors
• a single-suited minor with a concern with about 3NT, game-forcing without slam interest (rare)

1NT                2C
2D                2NT is invitational, may have five spades and four hearts (can bid 3S w/ three spades if

                accepting)

3C is game-forcing and shows a 5+ club suit and concern about 3NT (if 5 clubs then 4cM)

                3D is game-forcing and shows a 5+ diamond suit and concern about 3NT (if 5 then 4cM)

                3H is game-forcing shows FOUR hearts and FIVE spades (so that opener can play a 5-3 spade

                fit)

                3S is game-forcing shows FOUR spades and FIVE hearts (so that opener can play a 5-3 heart

                fit)

1NT                2C

2H                2S is invitational with five spades and four hearts

                2NT is invitational with four spades

                3C is game-forcing and shows a 5+ club suit and concern about 3NT (if 5 then 4S too)

                3D is game-forcing and shows a 5+ diamond suit and concern about 3NT (if 5 then 4S too)

                3H is invitational

                3S is a cue bid agreeing hearts, slam interest

                3NT is to play, implying four spades (opener can pass, cue bid (max) or bid 4S holding 4

                spades)

                4C, 4D are cue bids agreeing hearts, slam interest

                4H is to play

                4NT is quantitative (implying four spades)

1NT                2C

2S                2NT        is invitational with four hearts

                3C is game-forcing and shows a 5+ club suit and concern about 3NT (if 5 then 4H too)

                3D is game-forcing and shows a 5+ diamond suit and concern about 3NT (if 5 then 4H too)

                3H is a cue bid agreeing spades, slam interest

                3S is invitational

                3NT is to play, implying four hearts

                4C, 4D are cue bids agreeing spades, slam interest

                4S is to play

                4NT is quantitative (implying four hearts)

Major suit transfers are used with the following hands:

• weak hand with a 5+ major (will pass response)
• invitational hands with a 5-card major (transfer and bid an invitational 2NT)
• invitational hands with a 5 hearts and 4 spades (transfer to hearts and then bid an invitational 2S)
• invitational hands with a 6-card major (transfer and make an invitational raise to 3M)
• game-forcing balanced hands with a 5-card major (transfer and bid 3NT)
• game-forcing hands with a 6+ card major with no slam interest (transfer and bid 4M)
• game-forcing hands with a 5-card major and a 4+ minor (transfer and bid 3m) – shows slam interest or doubt about 3NT.
• 5-5 majors with slam interest (transfer to spades and bid 3H)

1NT                2D

2H                Pass                weak hand with 5+ hearts

                2S                invitational with five hearts and four spades

                2NT                invitational with five hearts

                3C                game-forcing with 5+ hearts and 4+ clubs

                3D                game-forcing with 5+ hearts and 4+ diamonds

                3H                invitational with 6 hearts

                3S                cue bid setting hearts as trumps, slam interest

                3NT                choice of game showing five hearts

                4C, 4D                cue bid setting hearts as trumps, slam interest

                4H                to play (no slam interest)

                4NT                quantitative

1NT                2H

2S                Pass                weak hand with 5+ spades

                2NT                invitational with five spades

                3C                game-forcing with 5+ spades and 4+ clubs

                3D                game-forcing with 5+ spades and 4+ diamonds

                3H                5-5 majors with slam interest

                3S                invitational with 6 spades

                3NT                choice of game showing five spades

                4C, 4D                cue bid setting spades as trumps, slam interest

                4H                cue bid setting spades as trumps, slam interest

                4S                to play (no slam interest)                        

                4NT                quantitative

Transfer breaks

Opener can ‘break’ the transfer with 4-card support. After the transfer break, responder can ‘retransfer’ so the suit below is NEVER used as a transfer break.

Following a transfer break, responder can retransfer and then pass with weak hands or raise with hands not interested in slam. Other suit bids are natural or cue bids.

1NT                2D

2H                        Normal acceptance of transfer showing 2 or 3 hearts

2S, 3C                        Shows 4-card heart support and a good 4-card suit

2NT                        Shows 4-card heart support and a good 4-card DIAMOND suit

3H                        Four-card heart support with nothing else worth showing

1NT                2D

Break                3D        retransfer, asking opener to bid 3H (either to pass or raise)

1NT                2H

2S                        Normal acceptance of transfer showing 2 or 3 spades

2NT                        Shows 4-card spade support and a good 4-card HEART suit

3C, 3D                        Shows 4-card spade support and a good 4-card suit

3S                        Four-card spade support with nothing else worth showing

1NT                2H

Break                3H        retransfer, asking opener to bid 3S (either to pass or raise)

Competition

Transfers and Stayman are off if the opponent doubles 1NT, so bids are natural. If the 1NT opener redoubles a penalty double, this shows a 5-card suit and invites rescue.

If they double a transfer bid, then pass denies support, redouble suggests playing in the transfer suit, and other bids are unchanged.

1NT                Pass                2D                Dbl

Pass                        denies 3+ hearts

Rdbl                        denies 3+ hearts, probably 5-6 diamonds

2H                        3-card heart support

2S, 2NT                        Transfer breaks

3C                        Transfer breaks

Minor suit transfer is used with a weak 1-suited minor hand, typically a six-card suit. Opener bids 3C and responder passes or bids 3D to play.

In competition,

1NT                Pass                2S                Dbl

Pass                         5 spades, possible contract

3C                          pass or correct to 3D

2NT Responses

We play the same responses after a strong 2NT overcall (e.g., (2H) – 2NT and (1H) – Pass – (Pass) – 2NT), after a 2NT rebid following a 2C opener and negative response (2C – 2D – 2NT) but not after a positive response.

3C                Stayman

3D                Transfer to hearts, showing 5+ hearts

3H                Transfer to spades, showing 5+ spades

3S                Minor-suit Stayman

3NT                To play

4C                Gerber

4D                5-5 majors, no slam interest

4H, 4S                Natural, to play

Stayman is used with the following hands:

• hands with one or two 4-card majors
• hands with a 5-4/4-5 in the majors
• hands with a single-suited minor

2NT                3C
3D                3H is game-forcing shows FOUR hearts and FIVE spades (so that opener can play a 5-3 spade
                fit)
                3S is game-forcing shows FOUR spades and FIVE hearts (so that opener can play a 5-3 heart
                fit)
                4C is game-forcing and shows a 5+ club suit and slam interest
                4D is game-forcing and shows a 5+ diamond suit and slam interest

2NT                3C
3H                3S is a slam try agreeing hearts (it is the only slam try available and is not a spade cue bid)
                3NT is to play showing four spades
                4C is game-forcing and shows a 5+ club suit and slam interest
                4D is game-forcing and shows a 5+ diamond suit and slam interest
                4H is to play

2NT                3C
3S                3NT is to play showing four hearts
                4C is game-forcing and shows a 5+ club suit and slam interest
                4D is game-forcing and shows a 5+ diamond suit and slam interest
                4H is a slam try agreeing spades (it is the only slam try available and is not a heart cue bid)
                4S is to play

Major suit transfers are used with the following hands:

• weak hand with a 5+ major (will pass response)
• hands with a 5-card major that wish to offer choice of game (transfer and bid 3NT)
• slam-interest hands with a 5-card major and a 4+ minor (transfer and bid 4m) – shows slam interest
• 5-5 majors with slam interest (transfer to spades and bid 4H)

2NT                3D
3H                3S        cue bid, slam interest
                3NT        choice of game
                4C        game-forcing with 5+ hearts and 4+ clubs
                4D        game-forcing with 5+ hearts and 4+ diamonds
                4H        to play

2NT                3H
3S                3NT        choice of game
                4C        game-forcing with 5+ spades and 4+ clubs
                4D        game-forcing with 5+ spades and 4+ diamonds
                4H        5-5 majors, slam interest, FORCING to 4NT
                        4S        agrees spades, FORCING, now 4NT Blackwood and cue bids
                        4NT        sign off (probably 2-2 majors or no interest in slam)
                        5C        cue bid agreeing hearts
                        5D        cue bid agreeing hearts
                        5H        heart preference

Transfer breaks

Opener can ‘break’ the transfer with 4-card support. After the transfer break, responder can ‘retransfer’ so the suit below is NEVER used as a transfer break.

2NT                3D
3H                        Normal acceptance of transfer showing 2 or 3 hearts
3S, 4C                        Shows 4-card heart support and a good 4-card suit
3NT                        Shows 4-card heart support and a good 4-card DIAMOND suit
4H                        Four-card heart support with nothing else worth showing

2NT                3D
Break                4D        retransfer, asking opener to bid 4H (no slam interest)

2NT                3H
3S                        Normal acceptance of transfer showing 2 or 3 spades
3NT                        Shows 4-card spade support and a good 4-card HEART suit
4C, 4D                        Shows 4-card spade support and a good 4-card suit
4S                        Four-card spade support with nothing else worth showing

Competition

2NT                Pass                3D                Dbl
Pass                denies 3+ hearts
Rdbl                denies 3+ hearts, probably 5 diamonds
3H                3-card heart support
3S, 3NT                Transfer breaks
4C                Transfer breaks

Minor-suit Stayman

Minor suit Stayman is used on hands with at least 4-4 in the minors and promises slam interest.

2NT                3S
3NT                no 4-card minor-suit
4C                4+ clubs
4D                4+ diamonds
4NT                no fit, maximum, invitational

2NT                3S
3NT                4C shows 5+ clubs and slam interest (4NT is no fit or interest, suits are cue bids)
                4D shows 5+ diamonds and slam interest (4NT is no fit or interest, suits are cue bids)