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2NT OPENING
The 2NT opening obey the same discipline of the 1NT opening and so
should be balanced 4333 4432 5332 and always must have at least 3-2 in
the majors. Therefore, with 5422 the hand is recommended to be open in
the 5-cards suit even with 20-21 hcp.
2NT Responses to Search for Fit
After 2NT opening Responder
is the captain.
Responder Opener
2NT
3♣
<= search for major suit (Stayman/Puppet/...)
3♦
<= transfer to 3♥
- Opener bid 4♥
with 4♥
cards
3♥
<= transfer to 3♠
- Opener bid 4♠
with 4♠
cards
3♠
<= Stayman for minors
Opener bids 3NT = no minors
Opener bids 4♣
= 4♣+
cards
Opener bids 4♦
= 4♦+
cards
3NT <= to play
4♣
<= Gerber asking for Aces
4♦
<= transfer to 4♥
4♥
<= transfer to 4♠
4♠
<= transfer to 5♣
4NT <= quantitative -
Opener with 21 hcp or 5332 bid 6NT
5♣
<= transfer to 5♦
6NT<= 13-15 hcp balanced
7NT<= 16+ hcp balanced
1-STAYMAN after 2NT
Traditional Stayman
convention to search for major suit after an opening of 1NT is also used
in the opening of 2NT.
The Responder bids 3♣
asking if Opener have a major suit and this shows that Responder has
major to bid 3♣.
Opener has only 3 answers:
Opener Responder
2NT 3♣
?
3♦
=> no major suit;
3♥
=> 4♥
means 4♥
cards and can have also 4♠
cards;
3♠
=> 4♠
means 4♠
cards and deny 4♥
cards;
3NT => not use anymore, but some partnership still uses it to show both
majors despite the modern understanding in transfer importance for
strong hand receive the lead.
So, Responder should not try to be the declarer and after 3♥
if Responder bids 3NT then Opener having both majors can bid 4♠.
SMOLEN after Stayman
If Opener bid 3♦
Responder having 5-4 in the majors must bid his 4th card suit to invite
Opener be the declarer in his 5th card suit if declarer has 3 cards.
Opener Responder
2NT 3♣
3♦
?
3♥
=
♠QJxxx
♥Kxxx
♦xx
♣Qx
3♠
=
♠Qxxx
♥Kxxxx
♦xx
♣xx
Trying Slam after a implicit fit is found:
Opener Responder
2NT 3♣
<Stayman
3♥/3♠
4♣/4♦
<= bidding a minor is a cuebid showing support in the major bided by
Opener and 10-11 hcp and Slam interesting.
In this case Opener must evaluate his hand:
- Opener denies good hand to Slam when rebids his suit and transfer to
Responder the decision to continue;
- Opener bids another suit take the responsibility in Slam try
accordingly his hand. This is a cooperative auction.
2-GAROZZO
Used by the Italian Team in 60's, this convention allow us to search for
major and for a minors at same time, but not allow 5 card major in 2NT
opening and need good memorization:
Opener Responder
2NT 3♣
=> ask for suit distribution
?
3♦
=> shows 1 or 2 majors - denies minor;
3♥
=> shows 4♥
and a minor suit;
3♠
=> shows 4♠
and a minor suit;
3NT => shows 1 or 2 minors suit and denies major;
After Opener's second bid Responder can sign-off the bidding in a major
game / 3NT / or ask for clarify more the hand bidding a relay (next
suit).
Opener Responder
2NT 3♣
=> ask suit distribution
3♦
3♥
=> relay for clarification of distribution
?
3♠
=> 4333 with 4♠;
3NT => 3433 with 4♥;
4♣
=> 4423 with 4♠=4♥=2♦=3♣;
4♦
=> 4432 with 4♠=4♥=3♦=2♣;
Opener Responder
2NT 3♣
=> ask suit distribution
3♥
3♠
=> relay ask minor suit 3NT => means 4♥-4♣
4♦
=> means 4♥-4♦
allow open be the declarer
Opener Responder
2NT 3♣
=> ask suit distribution
3♠
4♣
=> relay ask minor suit
4♦=>
means 4♠-4♦
4♥=>
means 4♠-4♣
with Ace
♥
4♠=>
means 4♠-4♣
denies Ace
♥
Opener Responder
2NT 3♣
=> ask suit distribution
3NT 4♣
=> relay ask for the minor suit
4♦
=> means 3343 with only 4♦
4♥
=> means 2344 with 2♠=3♥=4♦=4♣;
4♠
=> means 3244 with 3♠=2♥=4♦=4♣;
4NT=> means 3334 with only 4♣;
5♣ =>
means 5332 with 5♣;
5♦ =>
means 5332 with 5♦.
3-PUPPET STAYMAN
An opening in 1NT or in 2NT normally don't give a simple way to
Responder search for 5-cards major suit (5332). Thus, the "puppet
Stayman convention" was developed to resolve this problem.
This convention was published in April/1977 in Bridge World where
Christopher Woolsey and Steve W. Robinson talk about the idea of Neil
Silbermann from New York in use Five Card Stayman for search 5-cards
major suit after Notrump opening.
In 1978 Jeff Rubens, Bridge Word's editor, in a complementary
publication used the name Puppet (doll that is manipulated by hands or
strings - marionette) for this convention.
So this convention can be used after 1NT or 2NT opening but is usually
used only in 2NT opening to search for a 5-cards major.
Puppet Stayman
after 1NT opening
Not recommended for 2/1 system
Opener Responder
1NT 2♣
<= puppet Stayman
?
2♦
<= 1 or 2 majors
2♥
<= has 5♥
2♠
<= has 5♠
2NT <= no major 15 hcp
3NT <= no major 17 hcp
--------------------------------
Opener Responder
1NT 2♣
<= puppet Stayman
2♦
?
2♥
<= has 4♠
(trf) 8-9 HCP
2♠
<= has 4♥
(trf) 8-9 HCP
2NT <= has both majors 8-9 HCP
3♥
<= has 4♠
(trf) GF 10+ HCP
3♠
<= has 4♥
(trf) GF 10+ HCP
3NT<= has both majors 10+ HCP
Note: some partnership use puppet bidding 3♣
GF and use 2♣
to find a fit for sign-off. But this loses part of level 3 that we use
to bid when Responder has 4-5 or 5-5 minors suit
------------------------------------
Opener Responder
1NT 2♣
<= puppet
2♦
2♥
<= 4♠
minimum
?
2♠ <=
sign-off if Opener has 4♠
2NT <= sign-off (Opener has 4♥)
4♠ <=
maximum
--------------------------------------
Opener Responder
1NT 2♣
<=puppet
2♦
2♠
<= 4♥
minimum
?
2NT <= sign-off (Opener 4♠)
3♥ <=
sign-off
4♥ <=
maximum
-----------------------------------
Searching for a good
sign-off:
Considering Opener has only 3 bids possible (2♦/2♥/2♠)
Responder having a very weak hand with a distribution type: 5♦-4♠-3♥-1♣
or 5♦-4♥-3♠-1♣
or ideally 5♦-4♠-4♥,
6♦-4♠-3♥,
6♦-4♥-3♠
should bid Stayman and pass in Opener second bid.
Puppet Stayman
after 2NT opening
recommended for 2/1 system
Opener Responder
2NT 3♣
<= puppet Stayman
?
3♦ <=
1 or 2 majors 4 cards
3♥ <=
has 5♥
3♠ <=
has 5♠
3NT < = denies major
--------------------------
Opener Responder
2NT 3♣
<= puppet Stayman
3♦
?
..... 3♥ <=
has 4♠
GF
..... 3♠
<= has 4♥
GF
..... 4♦ <=
has 4♥+4♠
GF
3NT <= denies major
Note: Some partnerships
have a convention that a non-accept of the transfer from their partner
means that the Opener has the other major with 5 cards:
Opener Responder
2NT 3♦
<= transfer for 3♥
3NT <= 5♠=2♥=3♦=3♣
---------------------------------
Opener Responder
2NT 3♥
<= transfer para
♠
3NT <= 2♠=5♥=3♦=3♣
In principle, after the Opener clarify his hand, the captain to bid the
final contract is the Responder.
MUPPET
As we see in
Puppet convention there are no room to Responder shows a hand with 5-4
in the majors like in Stayman conventions where we use the Smolen
convention, thus Muppet is a modern Puppet modification develop to allow
Smolen:
Opener Responder
2NT 3♣
<= Muppet
?
3♦
<= one or two majors
3♥
<= no majors, then Responder bids 3♠
to show his 5♠
cards asking for 3♠
support and If Opener bids 3NT that denies 3♠
support if Responder has 5♠-5♥
and knowing
that Opener must have 3♥
cards may bid 4♥
with 5♥+
cards
3♠
<= 5♠
cards - Responder with 3♠+
bids 4♠
or cuebid for try Slam
3NT <= 5♥
cards - Responder with 3♥+
bids 4♥ or
cuebid for try Slam
Note: Opening in 1NT or 2NT
must have 3-2 in the majors suit by convention it is forbidden an
opening in NT with 2♠2♥4♦5♣
or 2♠2♥5♦4♣
Example:
Opener:
♠Ax
♥AJx
♦KQJx
♣AQ74
Responder:
♠Qxxxx
♥Kxxxx
♦xx
♣x
Opener Responder
2NT 3♣
<= Muppet Stayman
?
3♥ <=
no major
3♠
ask for support of 3 cards
3NT <= doubleton in Spades
. 4♥
sign-off - Opener will receive the lead
pass
So, Muppet is recommended for regular partnership
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2NT
AFTER RESPONSE 3♠
(both minors)
Considering that Opener does not know how strong is Responder we need
establish a minimum strength to Responder bid 3♠.
Rule#1 - Responder
bidding 3♠
promises both minors suit with a minimum strength of 10 points (hcp +
length) in the following distributions: 5-4=+1, 5-5=+2, 6-4=+2, 6-5=+3
4♦-4♣
=> 10+ hcp;
5♦-4♣
or 4♦-5♣
=> 9+ hcp;
5♦-5♣
=> 8+ hcp;
6♦-4♣
or 4♦-6♣
=> 8+ hcp;
6♦-5♣
or 5♦-6♣
=> 7+ hcp;
All these strength are eligible to try slam.
But Opener bidding 3NT denies minor suit.
Opener Responder
2NT 3♠
<= 10+ points
3NT ?
pass <= less than 11 hcp
4NT <= 11-12 invitation
6NT <= 13-15 hcp
7NT <= 16+ hcp
Rule#2 In case
Opener have Ace in both majors and support with 2 top honors in a minor
could Opener can take charge of the bidding asking for keycards with
RKB1430 including both minors King bidding 4♥
with implicit agreement for Clubs / bidding 4♠
with implicit agreement for Diamonds:
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CLUBS AGREEMENT
Opener Responder
2NT 3♠
<= both minors
4♥
<= RKB1430 for Clubs for
6 Keycards 4A+2Kminors
.
?
. 4♠
<= 1 Keycard
. 4NT <= 3 Keycards
. 5♣
<= 2 Keycards no Q♣
. 5♦
<= 2 Keycards with Q♣
After Response in
4♠
=
1 Keycard
Opener sign-off bidding
5♣
or
ask for Queen bidding 4NT
4NT ?
. 5♣
<= no Q♣
. 5♦
<= Q♣
. 5♥
<= Q♣
+ Q♦
After Response in
4NT = 3 Keycards
Opener ask for Queens bidding 5♥
5♥
?
. 5♠
<= no Queen
. 5NT <= Q♣
. 6♣
<= Q♣
+ Q♦
-----------------------------
DIAMONDS AGREEMENT
Opener Responder
2NT 3♠
<= both minors
4♠<=
RKB1430 for Diamonds
6 Keycards 4A+2Kminors
.
?
. 4NT <= 1 or 4 Keycards
. 5♣
<= 3 Keycards
. 5♦
<= 2 Keycards no Q♦
. 5♥
<= 2 Keycards with Q♦
After Response in
4NT = 1 Keycard
Opener sign-off bidding
5♦
or
ask for Queen bidding
5♣
5♣
?
. 5♦
<= no Q♦
. 5♥
<= Q♦
. 5♠
<= Q♣
+ Q♦
After Response in 5♣
= 3 Keycards
Opener ask for Queens bidding 5♥
5♥
?
. 5♠
<= no Q♦
....... 5NT <= Q♦
. 6♣
<= Q♣
+ Q♦
Rule#3
If Opener bid 4♦
with 4+ cards in Diamonds, or bid 4♣
with 4+ cards in Clubs (could also have 4 cards in Diamonds) Responder
bidding a major 4♥
or 4♠
shows a splinter and inquiry Opener if hand fits.
So, Opener may bid 4NT 1430 for minor agreed if hand fits or may
sign-off bidding the agreed suit. Responder bidding agreed suit makes
also a sign-off denying singleton/void.
Opener Responder
2NT
3♠
<= both minors
4♣/4♦
<= make agreement
. ?
. 4♥/4♠
<=
shorter suit
. 5♣/5♦
<= sign-off
. 4NT <= RKB0314
Rule#4
For the very rare situations after Responder bids
3♠
showing both minors if Opener bids 3NT if Responder jump to 5♣
showing two weak minors less than 6 hcp in distribution 5-5 or 6-5
Opener must pass or correct to 5♦
with same length in both minors.
Opener Responder
2NT
3♠
<= both minors
3NT 5♣
<= pass or correct
?
5♦
pass
pass
2NT
opening and Responder has 5M-(4/5)m
Rule#5 - After 2NT
opening if Responder has 5Major-(4/5)minor with a minimum of 10 points
5M-4m with a minimum of 9 hcp or 5M-5m with a minimum of 8 hcp and 5M-6m
with a minimum of 7 hcp) Responder should make transfer for the major
and after for the minor. In case Responder has less than 7 hcp he should
transfer only for the major and bid 3NT.
Rule#6 - After 2NT
opening if Responder shows 5M-(4/5)m Opener 4NT is RKB1430 including the
2 Kings of Responders suit.
Opener Responder
2NT 3♦/3♥
<= transfer
3♥/3♠
4♣/4♦
<= 5M-(4/5)m
4NT <= RKB1430 6 steps (4A+2K+2Q)
?
. 5♣
<= 1 or 4 Keycards
. 5♦
<= 3 Keycards
.
5♥
<= 2 Keycards no Queen
.
5♠
<= 2 Keycards + Qminor
.
5NT <= 2 Keycards + QMajor
. 6♣
<= 2 Keycards + 2Queens
Rule#7 In case
Opener accept to play in the major showing 3 cards support then
Responder might continue the bidding with 11+ hcp and first/second
control in the other unbid suits bidding 4NT RKB0314 to try slam. Of
course, the bidding may stop in the agreed major at level 5.
AGAINST 6NT THE LEAD UNDER A QUEEN ISNT NORMAL
This
interesting hand occurs many years ago and was correctly interpreted.
When the strong hand is playing a contract in 6NT we should avoid a lead
under an honor like Queen unless the bidding shows a long suit in dummy
without explicit support.
North South West North East
♠
K102 2NT pass 4NT* pass
♥
J8 6NT all pass * quantitative
♦
KJ83 Contract: 6NT Declarer: South
♣
K52 Lead from West:
♥10
West East
♠ Q86
N
♠
9753
♥ Q1095
O E ♥
7642
♦ Q76
S
♦
854
♣ Q63 ♣
974
South
♠
AJ4
♥
AK3
♦
A102
♣
AJ108
Analyses: After 2NT opening (2021 hcp) North with 11 hcp may try slam.
North has no Aces and the bid to search Aces after 2NT is 4♣
Gerber, but North has 3 Kings and so Opener should have at least 3
Aces. Then, North makes an invitation to 6NT bidding 4NT because 6NT
needs 32-33 hcp to make with his balanced hand. The invitation was
accepted by South with 21 hcp and 4 Aces and 2 tens that are important
middle card for finesse. If South has 20 hcp but has also a 5-card suit
with 4 Aces (value 17 hcp) he should accept the invitation.
West has the 4 Queens and not has a solid lead and then chooses his best
lead in
♥10.
After
♥10
if dummy has
♥J8xx
normally Declarer play low hoping find a
♥Qx
with East but dummy with
♥J8
force Declarer to play the
♥J
that for declarer surprise makes the trick. Declarer then plays Diamond
to his A♦
in second trick and another Diamond to finesse with success the
♦Q.
In trick 4 Declarer plays Clubs to his A♣.
This is an incorrect play because when missing Q9xx the finesse should
be made against East having
♣AJ108.
Against West this works only if
♣Qxx
or
♣Qx,
but Declarer was playing supposing West with 3 or 4 Queens at this
moment. So, Declarer plays
♣Q
and let run to make the tricks. After play
♣A
and
♦K
both suits divide 3-3 and Declarer claims 13 tricks without the need to
finesse Spades.
Understanding what is going on table is fundamental for good hand play!
Searching minors after 2NT try for slam
North South West North East
♠
1042 2NT pass 3♠*
pass
♥
8 4♣
pass 6♣
all pass
♦
KJ983 Contract: 6♣
♣
AQ52 Declarer: South
West East Lead from West:
♥Q
♠ Q863
N
♠
975 * Stayman for minors
♥ QJ109
O E ♥
K7642
♦ 76
S
♦
Q54
♣ 643
♣
97
South
♠
AKJ
♥
A53
♦
A102
♣
KJ108
Analysis: After 2NT opening North with 10 hcp and a singleton consider
his hand not adequate to play in NT due to his singleton that will
upgrade the hand in 3 points in case a fit is minor is found. So, he
asks opener for a 4-cards minor bidding 3♠.
South despite his 4333 cant deny his Clubs suit and bid 4♣.
Now North sigh-off the bidding in 6♣.
West leads his natural
♥Q
and South was pleasure in been playing this slam.
Declarer makes the A♥Q
Play J♣
and after Clubs to the A♣.
receiving the information of trump 4-1. So, now Declarer must first
establish the minors suit before drawing the last 2 trumps. When a fit
has 9 cards like 6-3 or 5-4 probability table recommend a play for A and
K in Diamonds. Culbertson in his pseudo symmetry law recommended to play
for 3-1 the 9 cards fit missing the Queen always there is a singleton or
void in one hand. This is the case here and Vacant Places after Clubs be
4-1 shows 12 places in East against 9 places in West to have the Q♦.
That means 9/21 vs 12/21 or 3/7 vs 4/7 or 43% x 57% in favor of the Q♦
finesse. So, Declarer plays low Diamond from dummy and serve the
♦10
making the trick to now ruff a Hearts in dummy and play 2 times trump to
claim 7♣.
Bottom Line:
In popular conventions for searching for major suit after 2NT opening
the Muppet is the modern convention used by advance players, but 98% use
Stayman or Puppet. The forgotten Garozzos convention, like Stayman,
doesnt allow Responder to ask for 5-card major, but of course it is
better than Stayman because can search all Openers hand. The search for
slam in minors needs some agreements by partnership.
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