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Responding to partner's 2NT opening. |
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When partner opens 2NT (or it goes 2♣ - 2♦ - 2NT etc.) then we need a mechanism to find our 4-4 or 5-3 major suit fits etc. as over a 1NT opening. Now over 1NT everything is pretty easy, but over 2NT there is not so much room and it really is important to play a combination of things that actually works! For example, with hands that want to go no further than game we need to be able to locate 4-4 and 5-3 major suit fits. And there are a few problems. For example, suppose partner of the 2NT bidder has 5 ♠ 's and 4 ♥ 's – should he bid 3♣ Stayman or transfer? |
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There are numerous combinations around. Some of the most popular are: - |
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| 1- |
Stayman and Transfers. |
| 2- |
Puppet Stayman, Transfers and an artificial 3NT bid. In Holland this whole scheme is known as Niemeijer. |
| 3- |
Baron 3♣ together with Flint 3♦ . |
| 4- |
Baron 3♣ together with Transfers. |
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1- Stayman and Transfers. |
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Very basic. |
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| 3♣ |
asks for 4 card majors. |
| 3♦/♥ |
are transfers. |
| 3♠ |
can be used as a transfer to 4♣. |
| 3NT |
is to play. |
| 4♣ |
asks for aces (Gerber). |
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This really is rather rudimentary and players past the beginner's stage should really move on to something like Niemeijer that is described next. British players may prefer Baron and transfers. |
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There are in fact many variations on the Neimeijer scheme of responding to 2NT and I give a fairly basic but very good one here. |
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| 3♣ |
Puppet Stayman , asks for 4 and 5 card majors, reply is as follows: - |
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| a) |
3♦ : |
no 5 card major, but 4 ♥ 's and/or 4 ♠ 's. |
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The 3♣ bidder then shows his major suit holding as follows: - |
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| 3♥ |
shows 4 ♠'s |
* note 1 |
| 3♠ |
shows 3 ♥'s |
* note 1 |
| 3NT |
shows no 4 card major, and is to play |
* note 2 |
| 4♣ |
shows both majors and interest in slam |
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| 4♦ |
shows both majors and no slam interest |
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| Note 1: |
These responses allow opener to be declarer. |
| Note 2: |
The 3♣ bidder may have gone this route because the direct 3NT bid is needed conventionally. Alternatively, he may have a 3 card major and a weak doubleton elsewhere and was hoping to find the 5-3 major suit fit. |
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| b) |
3♥/♠ : |
5 card suit. |
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| c) |
3NT: |
no 4 or 5 card major. |
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| 3♦ |
Transfer to 3♥ |
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| 3♥ |
Transfer to 3♠ |
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| 3♠ |
Minor suit Stayman or a transfer to 4♣. Up to you. |
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| 3NT |
shows 5 ♠'s and 4 ♥ 's (there is not enough room to show this with a transfer sequence). |
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Note that if 3♣ were ‘normal' Stayman then you could bid 3♣ followed by 3♥/♠ to show 5-4 or 4-5 in the majors after a 3♦ response, but when playing Puppet Stayman that is no longer possible. With 5 ♥ 's and 4 ♠ 's you simply bid 3♦ to transfer into ♥ 's and then bid 3♠'s of course. |
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| 4♣ |
Gerber |
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where it's up to you what the higher bids mean and some players |
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prefer 4♣ as a transfer to 4♦. |
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3- Baron 3 clubs together with Flint 3 diamonds. |
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Baron 3♣ asks for 4 card suits and they are bid up the line. If the 2NT bidder bid 3NT directly over the Baron 3♣ then he denies a 4 card ♦ / ♥ / ♠ suit and so he must have a ♣ suit. Flint 3♦ was basically a fore-runner of Jacoby transfers. It was a weak bid which asked the 2NT bidder to bid 3♥ which the Flint bidder would either pass or correct to 3♠ . There really is no point in playing Flint these days and transfers are to be preferred. |
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4- Baron 3 clubs together with Transfers. |
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| 3♣ is Baron. |
Baron 3♣ asks for 4 card suits and they are bid up the line. If the 2NT bidder bid 3NT directly over the Baron 3♣ then he denies a 4 card ♦ / ♥ / ♠ suit and so he must have a ♣ suit. |
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| 3♦ |
transfer to 3♥ |
| 3♥ |
transfer to 3♠ |
| 3♠ |
Minor suit Stayman or a transfer to 4♣. Up to you. |
| 3NT |
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| 4♣ |
Gerber |
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| Note 3: |
There is the problem with a hand with 4 ♥ 's and 5 ♠ 's. If you start with Baron 3♣ then you you cannot subsequently show a 5 card ♠ suit. And if you transfer with 3♥ into 3♠ then you are up at the four level when you show your ♥ suit. |
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With Puppet Stayman we solved this problem by using a direct 3NT to show 4-5 and to play in 3NT we went via 3♣ . You can also adopt this philosophy here (so go via 3♣ Baron) even though you have no intention of finding a 4-4 fit. |
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Thus with this alternative approach we have: - |
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| 3NT |
shows 5 ♠ 's and 4 ♥ 's |
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Pattaya Bridge Club - |
www.pattayabridge.com |
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