See Responding to a 1NT opening for an explanation of the Stayman convention and Jacoby transfers.
Without interference[edit]
Meanings of partner's responses
| The following response to 1NT... |
means...
|
| 2♣
|
The Stayman convention, showing invitational or greater strength and asking for a 4 card major. To respond, see the table below.
|
| 2♦
|
A Jacoby transfer, showing 5+ hearts and asking you to bid hearts so you become declarer. Announce "transfer", then respond according to the table below.
|
| 2♥
|
A Jacoby transfer, showing 5+ spades and asking you to bid spades so you become declarer. Announce "transfer", then respond according to the table below.
|
| 2NT or a higher notrump
|
A quantitative raise; respond accordingly or pass.
|
| 4♣
|
Gerber, asking for aces.
|
| 4♦
|
6+ hearts and game-forcing strength, asking you to bid hearts so you become declarer. Announce "transfer", then bid 4♥.
- Most of the time, partner will pass.
- If partner bids again, it is a slam try: either a control bid or Blackwood.
|
| 4♥
|
Like 4♦, but a transfer to spades instead.
|
Responses to Stayman
| If... |
then...
|
| I have 4+ hearts
|
Bid 2♥.
- If partner responds 2♠, it means they have 4 spades, 3- hearts, and invitational strength. Sign off in 2NT, 3♠, 3NT, or 4♠, depending on your strength and whether you have 4-card spade support.
- If partner responds 2NT, it means they have no 4-card major (the Stayman was "fake") but invitational strength. Pass or sign off in 3NT.
- If partner responds 3♥, it means they have 4+ hearts and invitational strength. Pass or sign off by raising to 4♥.
- If partner responds 3♠, it is a slam try showing agreement in hearts. Alert partner's bid. With a minimum, respond 4♥. If partner bids again, it is a control bid or Blackwood. With a better hand, initiate control bidding or bid 4NT, Blackwood.
- If partner responds 3NT, it means they have game-forcing strength, 4 spades, and 3- hearts. Pass or sign off in 4&spades.
- If partner responds 4♥, it is a sign-off.
- If partner responds 4NT, 5NT, 6NT, or 7NT, it is quantitative and shows 4 spades. Pass or make a sign-off either in notrump or spades.
|
| I have 4+ spades
|
Bid 2♠.
- If partner responds 2NT, they show invitational strength without 4-card spade support. Pass or sign off in 3NT.
- If partner responds 3NT, they show game-forcing strength without 4-card spade support. Pass.
- In all other cases, the subsequent bidding is the same as in the previous paragraph, but exchange "spades" and "hearts".
|
| I have no 4-card major
|
Bid 2♦.
- If partner responds 2M, they show invitational strength with 5 of the bid major and 4 of the unbid major. Sign off in 2NT, 3M, 3NT, or 4M, depending on your strength and whether you have 3-card support for partner's 5-card major.
- If partner responds 2NT, they have invitational strength. Pass or sign off in 3NT.
- If partner responds 3M, they show game-forcing strength with 5 of the other major (oM) and 4 of the bid major. Alert partner's bid. With 3-card support for oM, raise to 4oM; if partner bids again, it is a control bid or Blackwood. Otherwise, rebid 3NT; if partner bids again, it is a quantitative raise.
- If partner responds 3NT, it is a sign-off. Pass.
- If partner responds 4NT, 5NT, 6NT, or 7NT, it is quantitative.
|
Rebids after a Jacoby transfer
| If... |
then...
|
| I have 17 HCP with 4+-card support for partner's major
|
Superaccept by bidding 3 of the major.
- If partner responds 4 of the major, it is a sign-off.
- Any other response by partner is a slam try: either a control bid or Blackwood.
|
| Partner's bid was 2♦, showing hearts
|
Accept by bidding 2♥.
- If partner responds 2♠, they have invitational strength with 5-5 in the majors. Pass with a minimum, sign off in 2NT or 3NT to deny 3-card support for both majors, or support either major if possible by signing off in 3 or 4 of the major you want to support.
- If partner responds 3♥, they have invitational strength with 6 hearts. Pass or sign off by raising to 4♥.
- If partner responds with notrump, it is quantitative and shows exactly 5 hearts. With 3-card support, sign off in hearts at the appropriate level. Without 3-card support, pass or sign off in notrump at the appropriate level.
- One common case is that the response is 2NT, showing invitational strength and exactly 5 hearts. Pass or sign off in 3♥, 3NT, or 4♥.
- Another common case is 3NT, showing game-forcing strength and exactly 5 hearts. Pass or sign off in 4♥.
|
| Partner's bid was 2♥, showing spades
|
Accept by bidding 2♠.
- If partner responds 3♥, they have game-forcing strength with 5-5 in the majors. With 3-card support for either major, raise to 4 of the major; any subsequent bid by partner is either a control bid or Blackwood. If you can't support either major, rebid 3NT; any subsequent bid by partner is quantitative.
- For all other responses, see the previous paragraph, but exchange "spades" and "hearts".
|
