5-card major stayman

by RON KLINGER, Sydney

Whether you play weak 1NT or strong 1NT, there are several benefits to opening 1NT with the relevant strength when you have a 5-3-3-2 pattern and a 5-card major.

For a strong 1NT:
(a) You can stop in 1NT played by the strong hand instead of 2NT played by the weaker hand (after an auction such as 1H : 1NT, 2NT).
(b) If no major suit fit exists, you have not disclosed a key part of your hand. This may make the defence harder and you may receive a favourable lead.
(c) If a major suit fit does exist and responder has 6-7 points, a natural auction might go 1H : 2H, 3H : pass, while a 1NT opening will be passed by responder. Better to be in 1NT than in 3H or 3S on balanced hands.

For a weak 1NT:
(a) If no major suit fit exists, you have disclosed less of your hand.
(b) If a major suit fit does exist and the bidding by you starts 1H : 2H, pass or 1S : 2S, pass, strong opponents will compete and you then have to let them play or compete to the 3-level with minimum values.
(c) Opening 1NT solves many rebid problems that come after a 1H : 1S start.
(d) Opening 1NT allows responder to transfer to 2H and play there, which you could not do after a 1S opening. A 1S opening may lose a heart fit entirely.

Once you have decided to include the possibility of a 5-card major in your 1NT, you will want some method of locating the 5-card major. A highly effective bidding structure can be found in Bid Better, Much Better (available from 'Modern Bridge' or The Bridge Shop of Paul Lavings Postfree Books in Acol and Standard American versions).

The following is an alternative and simple structure, which will do the job for you, too. This use of 1NT : 2C does not affect your other 2-level responses, such as transfers, etc.

This method can also locate whether opener is 4-3-3-3 (see below), very useful when responder is also 4-3-3-3 so that you can play in 3NT, usually superior than 4H or 4S with these hand patterns.

Simple version
1NT : 2C = 'Do you have a 5-major?'
Replies (simple version):
2D No
2H/2S 5 cards in the major bid
After 2D, responder bids 2H or 2S with a 4-card major and invitational values. Opener can pass with support and a minimum, raise with support and a maximum, bid cheaply without support and a minimum, or jump to the 3-level (3S over 2H or 3NT over 2H/2S) with a maximum and no support.
After 2D, 3C by responder asks, 'Do you have a 4-card major?'
3H/3S 4-major + a doubleton
3NT no major
3D a major in a 4333 hand

Over 3D, responder can sign off in 3NT or bid a 4-card major.

Extended version
In reply to 2C, opener bids
2H/2S 5-major minimum
3H/3S 5-major, maximum
2D no 5-major and minimum
Continue at the 2-level with game-invitational hands or with 3C as above to locate a 4-4 major fit or find out whether opener is 4-3-3-3 when you have enough for game or slam.
2NT no 5-major and maximum
Continue with 3C as above to locate a 4-4 major fit or find out whether opener is 4-3-3-3.

Every good idea has some negatives. First is that you will sometimes play in 1NT instead of a 5-3 major fit. Second is that you can no longer use Stayman on weak hands with both majors. This is more of a problem with a weak notrump. - Ed.