♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ BRIDGE FOR BEGINNERS : LESSON 5 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ BRIDGE FOR BEGINNERS : LESSON 5 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
Finding the Best Contract
How does responder search for the best place to play?
What if there is no immediate fit?
Now we examine how the search for a suit fit continues when responder is not immediately sure where one exists, or whether the contract would be better played in notrumps.
Responding to a 1NT opening when unbalanced but with no 6-card suit
- With 0-7 HCP responder is not strong enough to search at any length for a suit fit that may not exist. And even if it does exist, the level of bidding might be too high for success.
The practical solution is to bid a 5/6- suit at the two level if very weak. You are guaranteed at least a 7-card fit and it will usually be better than 1NT.
You cannot bid 2C with 6Cs and a weak hand because you are about to learn your second bidding convention – Stayman.
- With 8‑9 HCP responder bids 2NT, even if not balanced, unless there is any chance of an 8+ fit in a major - remember that opener may easily have a four or five- card major. The best bid if a major suit fit is possible is the conventional response of 2§*, Stayman.
- With 10+ HCPand a 5-card Major responder should jump to three of the major unless she holds a second 3- or 4-card major as well, when 2§ Stayman should be used instead so that an 8-card fit in either major can be explored.
Since it shows 10+ HCP the jump to 3M by responder is forcing to game. It requires the 1NT opener to do one of two things, either:
- to raise responder's suit to the four level with 3 or more cards in support, and thus a trump fit, or
- to bid 3NT with only a doubleton
- With a 5-card minor, responder should bid 3m only with a shapely 14+, preferring the 9-trick 3NT game with less.
Thus a jump to 3m is stronger than many jumps to 3M, and is definitely suggestive of slam. With no slam in sight prefer to bid 3NT, even with an unbalanced hand, as you are likely to score better than in the minor suit game.
STAYMAN
Why play it?
An opening bid of 1NT or 2NT (or the sequence 2♣: 2♦ , 2NT to show an even stronger hand - to be treated in Lesson 9) may contain one or two 4-card majors, or quite possibly a 5-card major.
The conventional response of 2♣ (or 3♣ in the two latter cases) is a useful way for responder to uncover a possible eight-card major fit that may generate an extra trick or two by ruffing.
There are several versions of Stayman. Ours is Simple Stayman.
When do you use 2C Stayman?
- not with any 4-3-3-3 since you have no shortage and thus no ruffing value - you might as well stick with notrumps
- when you have enough strength for game and hold at least one 4-card major and a ruffing value
- whenever you have enough strength to invite game (8+ HCP) and at least one 4-card or 5-card major
- with a very weak hand of 0-5 HCP (aagh!) and an exact 3-3-5-2 shape where you hope to limit the possible damage by finding at least a 7-card fit in Ss/Hs/Ds
What are opener’s replies to 1NT-2♣?
2♣ by responder asks opener to give information about her major suit holdings. There are only three possible replies:
- 2♥/2♠ shows 4/5 cards in that major
e.g. You open 1NT with ♠AQxx ♥Kx ♦Kxxx ♣KJx and partner inquires with 2♣. Reply 2♠.
- 2♦ denies a 4/5-card major
e.g. Open 1NT with ♠KJxx ♥Kxx ♦Ax ♣KJxx, or with ♠Axx ♥Kxx ♦AKx ♣Kxxx, and in both cases reply 2♦ to a 2♣ Stayman inquiry.
Responder may have a good hand with a 5-card or even a 6-card minor as well as an interest in a major. That possibility can be explored after using Stayman. If no fit is discovered in the major, responder can introduce the minor at the three level.
e.g. Over partner's opening 1NT, inquire for a possible heart fit via 2♣ if you hold ♠Axx ♥KQxx ♦x ♣AQJxx.
If opener denies a major with 2♦, bid 3♣, looking for 3-card or better support. Opener raises to 4♣ with 3+ support, or bids 3NT with a doubleton.
What are the follow-up actions by responder after each of these replies?
After 1NT : 2♣
2♥/♠ (showing 4/5♥s/♠s)
How does responder show 8-9 HCP
i.e. only invitational values?
- by raising minimally to 3M with 4-card support for opener's major
e.g. Holding ♠xx ♥Kxxx ♦Qxx ♣KTxx, you inquire with 2♣ over partner's 1NT opening & hear a 2♥ reply. Bid 3♥ with your invitational 9 TP. - by bidding 2♠ over 2♥ The search for a fit continues with 5♠s but no heart fit
e.g. Holding ♠KJxxx ©Qx ♦Qxx ♣Jxx you bid 2♣ over partner's 1NT & continue with 2♠ over her 2♥ reply. Note that you are a little too strong for an original response of 2♠ to 1NT - this is the only way to show both 5 ♠s and invitational values. - by bidding 2NT without 4+ support for opener's major, or without 5♠s over specifically a 2♥ reply
e.g. Holding ♠AKxx ♥Jx ♦Jxxx ♣xxx, you bid 2♣ over partner's 1NT opening & with your minimum hand continue with 2NT over 2♥.
And opener's final move after responder's invitational sequence?
- Over responder's minimal raise of opener’s 4-card major to the three level, opener passes with only 15TP, bids four of the major with better.
- When responder has bid a non-forcing 2♠ over 2♥, opener passes with 3-card support and a minimum, raises to 4 with better, bids 2NT/3NT with min/better and only a doubleton in Ss.
Over responder’s 2NT, opener passes with a minimum and bids 3NT with better, just as she would have done if responder had originally bid 2NT over the opening 1NT.
What does responder bid with 10-15 TP
(i.e. game-forcing values) after opener's 2♥/♠ reply to the 2♣ inquiry?
Responder must accept responsibility for placement of the final contract by:
- raising to 4M with 4-card support
e.g. Holding ♠Kxx ♥Kxxx ♦QJxx ♣Ax you inquire with 2♣ over partner's 1NT opening. She replies 2♥, With your 14TP you jump to 4♥. - jumping to 3NT with no fit
e.g. After 1NT from partner, 2♣ from you buys a 2♠ response. Jump to 3NT with
♠Qx ♥AJxx ♦Qxx ♣Kxx. Opener must pass these terminal game bids - responder is in charge.
And when responder has 16+ TP (i.e. slam possibilities) after opener's 2♥/♠ reply to a 2♣ Stayman inquiry? - With a fit in the major, investigate slam(s) via Blackwood (the convention you learned last lesson) if the number of aces is all you need to know.
e.g. After using Stayman and hearing 2♥ from opener, you can envision slam with
♠Kx ♥AJxx ♦KJxxx ♣KQx. Bid 4NT Blackwood, planning to bid slam unless partner shows only one ace via 5♦, in which case you will 'sign off' in 5♥. - With no fit in the major, bid a new 5+card suit. Opener must raise with 3+ support or return to notrumps.
e.g. When opener responds 2♠ to your 2♣ inquiry, bid 3♣ with
♠Ax ♥Kxx ♦ Kxx ♣AQJxx. If partner raises to 4♣ or bids 3NT, use Blackwood and bid either 6♣ or 6NT as long as partner shows one ace at least.
After 1NT : 2♣, 2♦ showing no 4-card M
- Responder bids 2M with a 5-card suit & 8-9 HCP, or 2NT without. Opener bids 3NT with a maximum.
- Responder jumps to 3M with a 5-card suit & 10+TP or 3NT without. Opener bids 3NT without a fit, or passes 3NT.
- With 16+ TP, responder bids 3 of a 5+m and investigates suit slam with a fit or 6NT without.
- With a balanced 17+ invite or bid slam as the numbers compute.
I'm sure you think this is pretty advanced stuff for Beginners. Don't panic! As you play more, it will fall into place.
STAYMAN QUIZ (answers below)
- On which of the following hands do you not use 2♣ Stayman after partner opens 1NT? What do you bid instead?
- ♠x ♥KJxxx ♦Kx ♣AQJxx
- ♠x ♥KJxx ♦Kx ♣AQJxxx
- ♠Qxxxx ♥Qxxx ♦xx ♣xx
- ♠Axx ♥KJx ♦JTxxx ♣xx
- ♠Kxx ♥ATxxx ♦KJx ♣xx
- ♠Axxx ♥KJx ♦Kxx ♣QJx
2. What is your rebid as responder after the bidding has gone 1NT: 2♣, 2♥?
- ♠Kxxx ♥xx ♦xxx ♣AJxx
- ♠Ax ♥KJxx ♦Kxx ♣KQTx
- ♠Axxx ♥Kxxx ♦xx ♣xxx
- ♠ATxxx ♥xx ♦KJxx ♣xx
- ♠KQxx ♥xx ♦AQx ♣xxxx
- ♠AKxx ♥Qx ♦KQxxxx ♣x
3. And after 1NT: 2♣, 2♦?
- ♠AQxxx ♥Kxxx ♦Ax ♣xx
- ♠Kxx ♥Qxxx ♦xx ♣AQxx
Responding to opener's one of a suit opening with no fit
With 6 or more HCP responder must reply to an opening one of a suit bid by partner. Why? Because opener may have up to 21HCP and thus game is still a possibility.
Without a fit, responder is now limited to one of the two following options:
to shift (= introduce a new 4-card or longer suit) OR to bid notrumps
Strength requirements for shifts are:
A simple shift at the one level promises 6‑15 TP
e.g. 1♥ - 1♠
A simple shift at the two level promises a little more, 10‑15 TP
e.g. 1♠ - 2♣
A jump shift promises 16+ TP
e.g. 1♥ - 2♠ or 1♠ - 3♣
A simple shift is (1RF) forcing for one round & opener must bid again.
A jump shift is forcing to game (GF) and so neither partner can stop bidding until game is reached.
Strength shown by a notrump response:
1NT 6‑10 HCP any shape
2NT 12-15 balanced
3NT 16-17 HCP balanced
A 1NT response is non-forcing and thus may be passed by opener.
A 2NT response is game-forcing since it promises 12-15 HCP,& leaves room below game for further exploration. (Some people learn that it is only invitational – 11-12. Neither is right or wrong, a matter of partnership agreement.)
Which suit do you shift to?
When shifting, responder generally bids
- the longest suit
- or the higher ranked of two five- or six-card suits,
- or the cheapest suit with two or three four-card suits.
However, the rule that responder is not permitted to shift at the two-level with fewer than 10 points takes priority and may restrict responder's choice of bid.
With 6‑9 HCP responder will thus not be permitted to bid the longest suit if it is lower in rank than opener's. To do so would require bidding at the two level. Responder will have to either:
- bid at the one level in a shorter suit of at least four cards
e.g. After 1♥ bid 1♠ and definitely NOT 2♣ with ♠Kxxx ♥xx ♦x ♣KJxxxx - bid 1 NT if no higher-ranked four-card or longer suit can be bid at the one level. Thus the 1NT response need not be a balanced hand. It is often a way of saying that you have a hand too good to pass, but only just.
e.g. After 1♥/♠ bid 1NT, much as you hate it, with ♠x ♥Jx ♦KJxxxx ♣Qxxx
With 12-15 HCP responder bids 2NT only with a balanced hand that does not contain a 4+-card major biddable at the one level (or 5 hearts biddable over 1♠).
The same restriction applies to a 3NT response with 16-17 HCP.
e.g. After 1♦ bid 2NT with
♠Kx ♥QJx ♦KJxx ♣Axxx
and bid 3NT with
♠AQx ♥KQx ♦ATxx ♣Qxx
but bid 1♥ with
♠Kx ♥KJxx ♦Kxx ♣Axxx
Responding to one of a major with no fit
Do you shift or bid notrumps? Study the options below, set out in order of preference.
With 0‑5 HCP Pass - your hand is too weak.
With 6‑9 HCP You must reply but your hand is too weak to bid a new suit at the two level.
- Bid 1♠ over 1♥ with 4+ spades
e.g. with ♠Kxxx ♥xx ♦Axxxxx ♣x
- Bid 1NT otherwise
e.g. with ♠xx ♥Jx ♦Kxxxxx ♣Axx
With 10+ HCP You are now strong enough to bid your longest suit at the two level if need be, although the one level is fine.
- With a balanced 13-15 bid 2NT and with a balanced 16-17 bid 3NT unless you can bid 1♠ over 1♥ with 4+ spades.
e.g. Over 1♥
bid 2NT with
♠KQx ♥Kx ♦Axxxx ♣Qxx but
bid 1♠ with
♠KQxx ♥Kx ♦Axxx ♣Qxx
- Bid your longest suit, your higher-ranked of two five-card or six-card suits, or your cheapest bid with the other three four-card suits.
e.g. Over 1♠
bid 2♦ with
♠Jx ♥x ♦Axxxx ♣KQJxx
and 2♣ with
♠x ♥AQxx ♦Qxxx ♣KJxx
and 2♦ with
♠xx ♥KQJx ♦AKJxx ♣xx
With 16 or more TP
Jump shift to show partner that you have at least 16 TP unless you hold a balanced 16-17 suitable for a 3NT response.
Show your own long suit, or suit fit with partner, or balanced hand next time after opener's rebid.
e.g. Over 1♥ bid 3♣ with your 18 TP and
♠Kxx ♥AJxx ♦x ♣AQJxx You will support hearts next time.
Or jump to 2♠ with
♠AQJTxx ♥A ♦Kxx ♣Axx and rebid spades the next time.
Or jump to 2♠ with
♠AKJxx ♥Kx ♦KQx ♣Qxx and rebid notrumps the next time.
Responding to one of a minor
After 1♣ or 1♦ openings you cannot raise without at least 5-card support.
Even with such support, in your search for the best game, prefer to search for a major suit fit or 3NT rather than commit yourself to a minor suit fit.
Thus, raising partner's minor is one of your last, not first, choices - remember that the minors aren't called the minors for nothing.
To respond to one of a minor, use the following guide, in order of preference:
With 6‑9 TP
- Bid 1 of a 4+ major - longer major first, but the lower of two four-card majors and the higher of two five-card majors
e.g. Reply 1♥ to 1♣ with
♠Axxx ♥QTxx ♦xx ♣Qxx but
1♠ with
♠Kxxxx ♥QJxxx ♦Jx ♣x
- Respond 1NT unless you can bid 1♦ over 1♣ with an unbalanced hand and no four-card or longer major in preference
e.g. After 1♣ bid 1NT with
♠Qxx ♥KJx ♦Jxxx ♣xxx
but prefer 1♦ with
♠x ♥Kxx ♦KTxxx ♣Qxxx
- Simple-raise the minor with 5+ fit
e.g. Raise 1♣ to 2♣ with
♠x ♥Jxx ♦Qxxx ♣Kxxxx
With 10-15 TP
- Unbalanced, bid your longest 5+ card suit
e.g. Over 1♦ bid 2♣ with
♠Kxxx ♥xx ♦Ax ♣AJxxx, planning to bid spades next
- Bid 1 of a 4+ major with no longer suit
e.g. Over 1♣, holding
♠AQxx ♥Kx ♦Qxx ♣KTxx, go slowly with a 1♠ response
- Bid game-forcing 2NT with a balanced 12-15 and no 4-card or longer major
e.g. Over 1♦, holding ♠AJx ♥Kxx ♦Axxx ♣Qxx bid 2NT
- Bid 3NT with a balanced 16-17 and no 4+M
e.g. Over 1♣ bid 3NT with
♠Axx ♥KQx ♦Axxx ♣KJx - Jump raise with 10-12 TP 5+ fit
e.g. With ♠xx ♥Qxx ♦Qxxx ♣AQxxx raise 1♣ to 3♣
With 16+TP
Jump shift if unsuitable for a 3NT response showing 16-17 balanced with no major biddable at the one level
e.g Over 1♦ jump to 2♥ with
♠Axx ♥AKxxx ♦Kxx ♣Kx
QUIZ
1. What is your response to partner's 1♥?
a. ♠Kxxx ♥A
♦AQJx
♣Jxxx
b. ♠Kxx ♥Ax
♦Jxxx
♣KJxx
c. ♠Txx ♥Ax
♦Qxxxxx
♣Jx
d. ♠x ♥xxx
♦Qxxx
♣Axxxx
e. ♠Axxx ♥x
♦Kxx
♣AQJxx
f. ♠Kxx ♥Axxx ♦AQJxx
♣x
2.
What is your response to
partner's 1♦?
a. ♠Kxxx ♥Axxx ♦Ax
♣xxxb.
b. ♠Kxx ♥Ax
♦Jxxxx
♣Kxx
c. ♠Kxx ♥Axxx ♦AQJxx ♣x
d. ♠Axxx ♥x ♦Kxx ♣AQJxx
e. ♠Jxxx ♥x ♦Qx ♣AJxxxx
3. How do you respond to partner's 1NT?
a. ♠xxx ♥xxx ♦Jxxxxx
♣x
b. ♠AQxxx ♥KT ♦Txx ♣Qxx
c. ♠Tx ♥xxx ♦AKJxx
♣Qxx
4, How do you respond to partner's 2NT?
a. ♠- ♥Axxxxx ♦xxx ♣xxxx
b. ♠QJxxx ♥Jxxxx
♦xx
♣x
c. ♠xx ♥xx
♦KQxxx
♣xxxx
**********
Board 1 Dlr:N Nil Vul
NORTH
♠ AK93
♥ KQJ
♦ A72
♣ 962
WEST EAST
♠ QJT ♠ 754
♥ A82 ♥ 3
♦ KQJ6 ♦ T983
♣ 875 ♣ AKQT4
SOUTH
♠ 862
♥ T97654
♦ 54
♣ J3
Bidding: N E S W
1NT P 2♥
Despite holding only 1 HCP South must bid 2♥ - a terminal bid. Remember, the range for this bid is 0-7 TP. When opener bids notrumps, responder is in charge. 1NT is a horrible contract and should be defeated by four tricks on a club lead for a bad score of
4 x -50 = -200.
As declarer in 2♥ you win ♦K lead with dummy's ace and flush out West's trump ace. As soon as you regain the lead you draw the remaining trumps with two more rounds and end up with eight tricks for a score of
2x30 + 50 = 110.
Want to know how it might be possible to make nine tricks?
Let's say that West leads a top diamond as before, and wins ©A on the first round of trumps. If he plays two more top diamonds you will lose the first and ruff the next. A cunning play now might be to play a low spade from hand and when the ten (or jack or queen) appears from West, duck it in dummy (i.e. play a low one, decline to win it - after all, you will always have to lose a spade with this combined holding, and losing it early may make it harder for the defence to do what's best).
If West sensibly switches to clubs you will lose two club tricks and make only eight tricks as before. But if West does anything else, you will be able to throw a losing club on the fourth round of spades because the spade suit breaks 3-3. Play it out and see.
Board 2 Dlr:E NS Vul
NORTH
♠ T8
♥ JT8
♦ 764
♣ T9872
WEST EAST
♠ QJ753 ♠ K962
♥ K932 ♥ A5
♦ 3 ♦ A852
♣ KQ6 ♣ AJ4
SOUTH
♠ A4
♥ Q764
♦ KQJT9
♣ 53
Bidding: E S W N
1NT P 2♣* P
2♠ P 4♠ P
Opposite 15-17 West has enough for game, but with only a singleton diamond she would prefer to play in a major if there is a fit. Therefore she investigates via 2♣, Stayman. East's shows 4/5 spades and West bids game.
North leads ♣T. As declarer you can count ten easy tricks - four tricks in trumps after the ace has been taken, two top hearts, one diamond & three clubs.
Time to be greedy. How can you win more? You have to lose the trump ace, but you can do something about the two heart losers in your hand by making use of dummy's trumps.
Win ♣T lead in either hand and play low towards a spade honour. When South wins the trump ace and switches to ♦K, dummy's ace wins. Now one round of spades draws the remaining trumps.
Next play ♥AK and trump a heart in dummy. Return to hand with a club and ruff another heart in dummy, making 12 tricks for a score of 6x30 + 300 = 480.
This hand demonstrates a way of creating extra tricks in a trump contract by ruffing losers with trumps in the short trump hand. Declarer made four spade tricks in hand and two more by ruffing hearts with dummy's trumps.
3NT on the lead of ♦K will go one down because the defenders can win four diamonds and a spade.
Board 3 Dlr:S EW Vul
NORTH
♠ AK862
♥ QJ743
♦ A3
♣ 3
WEST EAST
♠ 4 ♠ QJT97
♥ 86 ♥ T5
♦ T8654 ♦ J92
♣ AQ975 ♣ T84
SOUTH
♠ 53
♥ AK92
♦ KQ7
♣ KJ62
Bidding: S W N E
1NT P 3♠ P
3NT P 6♥
Whenever partner opens in notrumps and you hold two five-card suits, you know you have a fit in at least one of them because a notrump opener, having a balanced hand, can hold no more than one doubleton. Although North's spades are stronger than the hearts, the best contract will nevertheless be in opener's longer major.
North has 18 TP in one of the majors, enough for slam. She checks for a fit in the higher-ranking suit first by jumping to 3♠ (forcing) and further jumping to 6© when South denies spade support with 3NT. 4© would be terminal!
East leads ♠Q. It is unusual to lead declarer's second suit because it is more likely to help declarer than cause problems for him - never a defender's dream! You need a very good reason - here an extremely long and strong sequence.
As declarer you form your plan. You have ten top tricks. Since dummy has only a doubleton spade, you can make two more tricks by trumping two spades in dummy, the short trump hand.
To trump two spades you obviously require only two trumps. Therefore it is sensible to win ♠A and play two rounds of trumps first to extract at least some of the enemy trumps. After all, why play in the traffic? The spade lead is more than a little suspicious.
Next play ♠K and ruff a spade in dummy. Return to hand with ♦A and trump another spade. Now with dummy's ♦K and ♦Q (on which you throw the losing club from your hand) there are twelve tricks and a score of 6x30 + 300 + 500 = 980.
But if you fail to draw trumps first, West will trump your high spade and cash ♣A for one down and -50.
Note that while declarer can throw her singleton club on one of the extra diamond winners, she will still have a spade loser in her hand. As long as East is not foolish enough to discard one of his spades! And since East knows first from the bidding and then from the play that declarer started with five spades, he will not be tempted to make such a mistake. A basic catchcry of defence is 'Keep equal length with dummy's long suit or with any long suit bid by declarer'.
Board 4 Dlr:W All Vul
NORTH
♠ A9
♥ T
♦ 87653
♣ A7542
WEST EAST
♠ J874 ♠ Q6532
♥ 32 ♥ AKQ84
♦ QJ94 ♦ AK2
♣ K86 ♣ -
SOUTH
♠ KT
♥ J9765
♦ T
♣ QJT93
Bidding: W N E S
P P 1♠ P
2♠ P 4♠
East must open the higher-ranking of two long suits. Again, no matter how much better the hearts look, the right trump suit will be partner's longer major.
When West raises spades showing 6-9 TP, East now revalues the hand in the light of the announced fit. It is worth 18HCP + 5DP = 23TP, enough for game.
As declarer you should duck (= not cover) ♣Q lead, since North must hold ♣A. Why? Because a good player never leads away from an ace against a suit contract i.e. never leads any other card in the suit when holding the ace.
You ruff in hand and play a trump. South rises with ♠K and continues with ♣J or imaginatively plays ♦T, hoping partner has ♦A and can return one for South to ruff.
You win and lead another spade. As the spades break (divide) 2-2, trumps are now drawn. The three trumps in your hand, four top diamonds, three top hearts and a heart ruff in dummy add up to eleven tricks. Your score is 5x30 + 500 = 650.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
ANSWERS TO STANDARD QUIZ
1.
a.
1♠ - shift to cheapest of three 4-card suits
b. 2NT - 12-15 not 4♠s or 3♥s
c. 1NT - 6-9 any shape but not
3♥s or 4♠s
d. 2♥ -
6-9 TP with 3+ ♥s
e. 2♣ - shift to longest
suit with 10-15, planning to bid ♠s next
f. 3♦ -
jump shift with 16+ TP, support ♥s
next
2. a. 1♥ -
lower of two 4-card suits
b. 3♦ 10-12
TP with 5+ ♦s
c. 2♥ -
jump shift with 17 TP, planning to show ♦ support next
d. 2♣ - shift to longest suit with 10-15
e. 1♠ - not strong enough to bid 2♣
3. a. 2♦ -
0-7 HCP unbalanced, 5+ ♦s, terminalb.
b. 3♠ - 5♠s,
10+HCP forcing, asking for a 3+ raise or a return to 3NT with doubleton ♠
c. 2♣ Stayman to check if partner has 5♥s,
planning to jump to 3NT if no ♥ fit
4. a. 4♥ -
must have a heart fit
b. 3♠ - looking for a fit. If partner
denies a fit with 3NT, bid 4♥ - fit
guaranteed as
opener can have only one doubleton.
c. 3NT - too balanced & too weak for 5 ♦
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
ANSWERS TO STAYMAN QUIZ
- (a) bid 3♥, planning to bid 6♥ if partner shows support, or else to bid 6♣. With a balanced hand, opener has to have at least 3 cards in one of your suits.
(c) bid 2♠ - you are too weak to do anythingmore than settle in your least 7-card fit. Bad luck if ♥s would be better.
(d) bid an invitational 2NT
(e) bid 3♥, forcing to game with 5/+ ♥s
(f) 4-3-3-3 bid 3NT - a. 2NT invitational, 4 ♠s, not 4 ♥s
b. 6♥ with your 17 TP (or 4NT to check on aces if you don’t like to take the risk)
c. 3♥ - invitational values only, with 4/+ ♥s
d. 2♠ - invitational values only, with 5 ♠s
e. 3NT – game values with 4♠s
f. 3♦ - slam interest in ♦s, no heart fit - a. 3♠ - a forcing bid asking: 'Do you have 3♠s, partner?’ I have 5♠s as well as 4♥s & enough for game
b. 3NT, since we don’t have a major suit fit and I have enough for game.
HOW’S MY PROGRESS AFTER LESSON FIVE?
- What is the minimum number of points for a response to one of a suit?
- What is the point range for a shift at the one level?
- And for a simple shift to the two level?
- And for a jump shift?
- How many points required to respond 1NT to one of a suit?
- What suit holdings does this response deny?
- Why is it not always balanced?
- How many points required to make a jump response to 2NT?
- What suit holdings does it deny?
- How many cards, exactly, does a jump response of 2NT promise in opener’s major?
- How many points required for a jump response to 3NT?
- What suit holdings does it deny?
- And how many cards does it promise in opener’s major?
- If you shift and hold two equally long 5+ suits, which do you bid first?
- And if you hold two or three 4-card suits, which do you shift to first?
- When is it correct not to respond in your longest suit even with 6+ TP?
- When is it correct not to raise opener’s minor with a fit even with 6+ TP?
- Apply the terms ‘terminal’, ‘invitational description’ or ‘forcing’ to the following bidding sequences by opener and responder:
- 1NT - 2♠
- 1NT - 3♥
- 1NT - 4♠
- 2NT - 3♥
- 1♥ - 2NT
- 1♦ - 3NT
- 1♥ -3♥
- 1♦ - 2♠
- 1♦ - 1♥
- 1♥ - 2♣
- 1NT – 3NT
- 1♥ - 4♥
- 1NT – 2NT
- 1♣ - 1NT
19. Which of the ‘forcing’ sequences are ‘forcing to game’?
20. If you decided to lead a heart, which card would you lead from the following heart holdings against a notrump contract?
And against a suit contract?
a. ♥AJ743
b. ♥KQ75
c. ♥ QJ975
d. ♥AQ85
e. ♥KJT93
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