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The 2 spades and 2 NoTrump responses to 1NT |
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With the advent of transfers the 2♠ response to 1NT is not needed as a natural bid. There are various uses for this 2♠ bid (and also 2NT), here are a few of them: - |
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1) |
2♠ (8 pts) and 2NT (9 pts) are both balanced and invitational to 3NT |
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2) |
2♠ is natural and weak |
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3) |
2♠ shows a weak hand with a long minor suit |
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4) |
2♠ is Baron, seeking a 4-4 fit or invitational to 3NT |
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5) |
2♠ and 2NT (and 3♣ ) are as defined in Truppet Stayman |
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6) |
2NT is a puppet to 3♣ , either weak ♣ 's or a 3 suiter looking for slam |
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7) |
2♠ is Minor Suit Stayman |
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8) |
2♠ is either a limit 2NT type bid or a balanced slam try. |
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9) |
2♠ is a transfer to ♣ 's and 2NT is a transfer to ♦ 's. |
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| 1) |
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2♠ (8 pts) and 2NT (9 pts) are both balanced and invitational to 3NT. |
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This scheme is use by some less experienced players in the UK (they play a weak NT so it's actually 11 pts and 12 pts). I guess that this distinction may aid declarer in a borderline case but it really is squandering two bids for just one meaning and we need all the bids we can get. |
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| 2) |
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2♠ is natural and weak. |
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| Hand A |
Hand B |
Before the days of transfers both of these hands would simply respond with their major suit, fine. Nowadays we transfer; nothing is lost with Hand A but with Hand B if we transfer with 2♥ then there is a risk that LHO will double to show ♥ 's and the opponents will find a ♥ fit that may otherwise have been lost. A valid point, but not so important as to squander this otherwise very useful bid. |
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| ♠ |
7 |
♠ |
Q10972 |
| ♥ |
Q10972 |
♥ |
7 |
| ♦ |
Q76 |
♦ |
J76 |
| ♣ |
J652 |
♣ |
J652 |
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| 3) |
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2♠ shows a weak hand with a long minor suit. |
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This is a simple variation used by many less experienced players. 2♠ is simply a puppet to 3♣ and responder either passes or bids 3♦ which opener passes. 2NT directly over the opening 1NT is played as invitational. |
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| 4) |
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2♠ is Baron. Asking the range and seeking a 4-4 fit. |
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A Baron bid shows no 5 card suit and is generally looking for a 4-4 fit (usually a minor) for slam purposes. It is common in the UK to play 3♣ over an opening 2NT as Baron and this use of 2♠ over 1NT is gaining in popularity. Over 2♠ opener replies: - |
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| 2NT |
minimum, may have any shape. Responder will normally start bidding 4 card suits up the line until a fit is found. However, the 2♠ bid may also be used as a quantitative raise and responder will then pass the 2NT bid with an invitational hand. |
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| 3♣ - 3♠ |
with a maximum, 4 card suits are bid up the line. |
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If responder has just an invitational hand then he will pass 2NT and will convert a suit bid (showing a maximum) to 3NT. The Baron 2♠ bid denies a 4 card major if it is just invitational. |
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An initial 2NT bid is not needed as a natural invitation (the response to 2♠ tells responder if opener is maximum or not) and so may be used for what you wish, usually a puppet to 3♣ . |
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Now this all works, but it is nowhere near as efficient as the SARS sequences defined in the No Trump bidding book. Let's have a look at some other options: - |
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| 5) |
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2♠ and 2NT (and 3♣) are defined as Truppet Stayman. |
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Truppet Stayman is a convention involving Transfers and Puppets. 2♠ is game forcing and is a puppet to 2NT. After the forced 2NT responder then bids 3♣/♦ with a single suited hand or any other bid to show both minors. The direct 2NT over opener's 1NT is a transfer to ♣ 's and 3♣ is a transfer to ♦ 's. An invitational 2NT is bid via 2♣ . |
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I guess that this all works OK but we can do everything with simpler methods. We transfer into the minor with our single minor suited hand (weak, invitational or strong - see (9) below). With both minors and a game forcing or slam seeking hand SARS works fine. And is very convenient to have an in-between bid available when transferring to the minors. Another disadvantage of Truppet Stayman is that the direct 3♣ bid over 1NT is utilised. There are a number of useful possibilities for the direct 3♣ bid (see the No Trump bidding book) and so no Truppets for me. |
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| 6) |
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2NT is a puppet to 3♣, either weak with ♣ 's or a three-suiter looking for slam |
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You respond 2NT with either type of hand. With a ♣ bust you pass opener's 3♣ bid; with a three suiter you bid your singleton/void (or the suit below if you prefer that). This works fine but we can also do both of these using better methods; we transfer with the weak ♣ hand and we also have splinters which are defined in section 5.4 of the No trump bidding book. With this scheme there is no obvious mechanism for showing the weak ♦ hand. |
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| 7) |
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2♠ is Minor Suit Stayman |
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This is quite popular for those who do not use 4-way transfers, and there are different variations within Minor Suit Stayman. I'll cover two common variants: - |
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| 7a) |
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'Garbage' Minor Suit Stayman |
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With this variation, popular in the States, the 2♠ bid does not promise anything in the way of values and so opener cannot bid above 3♦ . The responses to 2♠ are: - |
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2NT |
no 4 card minor |
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3♣ |
4 (or 5) ♣'s |
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3♦ |
4 (or 5) ♦'s |
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With two 4 card minors, opener bids the better one. |
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What can I say? ‘Primitive' is apt, but this is popular, even with some experts. |
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Responder will bid 2♠ with any of three hand types: - |
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1. |
A weak hand with a long ♦ suit. |
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2. |
A weak hand with both minor suits. |
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3. |
A hand interested in slam, containing one or both minors. |
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Now this works (otherwise it would not be played by so many people) but it really is rather limited. Let's consider the three hand types: - |
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| 1. |
OK with ♦ 's, but there is no provision for a weak hand with ♣ 's. |
| 2. |
How often do you come across a weak hand that can play in either minor at the 3 level but not in 1NT? And since opener may have no 4 card minor, it may well have to play at the 3 level opposite 3 card support. |
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| 3. |
This is acceptable, but our SARS sequences are far superior as you can find out opener's exact minor suit holding rather than just establishing that he has a 4 card minor. And, with this scheme, when opener shows a 4 card minor responder does not know if it is a 4 or 5 carder or if opener also has 4 cards in the other minor. |
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So, not really very satisfactory. Let's look at another variant of Minor Suit Stayman: - |
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| 7a) |
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Game forcing Minor Suit Stayman |
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With this variant responder must have at least game going values and is usually looking for a minor suit slam. Responder may have just one or both minors. The responses to 2♠ are: |
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2NT |
no 4 card minor but slam interest |
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3♣ |
4 (or 5) ♣ 's |
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3♦ |
4 (or 5) ♦ 's |
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3♥ |
two 4 card minors with a ♥ control |
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3♠ |
two 4 card minors with a ♠ control |
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3NT |
no 4 card minor and no slam interest |
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I guess that this variation works but there are a few drawbacks: - |
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1. |
We have no bid to show our weak hand with a long minor suit. |
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2. |
The responses do not tell responder if opener has a 4 or 5 card minor. |
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3. |
What does responder do with a hand two 4 card minors but no ♥/♠ control? |
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And, of course, we can get all of this information and more with the SARS sequences. |
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Whichever variation of Minor Suit Stayman you use, 2NT is free for the conventional limit raise. |
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| 8) |
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2♠ is either a limit 2NT type bid or a balanced slam try |
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This system is popular in the UK , they use 2♠ to ask opener's strength and the direct 2NT is generally used to sign off with a weak hand and a long minor suit (a puppet to 3♣ which responder either passes or corrects to 3♦ ). |
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The responses to 2♠ are: - |
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2NT |
minimum |
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3♣ |
maximum |
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There are then various different subsequent bids to show all sorts of hand types. I shan't bother to list them as they can all be shown by other means and Baron 2♠ (4) seems simpler/better. |
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| 9) |
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2♠ is a transfer to ♣ 's and 2NT is a transfer to ♦ 's |
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Finally we come on to Transfers to the Minors, easily the best use of these bids. In combination with transfers to the majors (the combination is called 4-way transfers) and SARS this is undoubtedly the best use for these 2♠/2NT bids. 4-way transfers are used by many advanced pairs but SARS has yet to become well established. |
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_____________________________ |
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4-way transfers are described in detail in that document. |
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SARS (Shape Asking Relays after Stayman) are described in detail in that document. |
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A complete set of responses to partner's 1NT opening are given in the book |
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" The Definitive Guide to No Trump bidding, Stayman and Transfers". |
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Pattaya Bridge Club - |
www.pattayabridge.com |
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