1NT FOR 5 CARDS MAJOR ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
This adapted 1NT opening uses the Barrelled Stayman conventions also
known as Two Way Stayman where 2♣
is a Stayman not forcing and 2
is
game force.
This convention is mostly used with weak 1nt 13-15 hcp but may also be
used with strong nt opening. Let’s assume that our 1nt opening is 15-17
hcp and the allowed distribution are: 4333, 4432, 5332 so it is not
recommended the open of 1nt with 5422.
The advantage of this convention is allow the opening of 1nt with 5
cards major and also know when Opener has a 5 card minor.
The drawback in this convention is not to use transfers at level 2 to
make the strong hand be the declarer.
Opener Responder (action without interference)
1NT pass <= 7 or less hcp (exclude 6/7 cards suit)
2♣
<= Two Way Stayman - not forcing asks for major
Opener bids:
2♦
<= no major;
2♥
<= 4♥/5♥
cards in Hearts - can also have 4♠
cards;
2♠
<= 4♠/5♠
cards denies 4♥
Responder can pass in 2♦
or he bids sign-off in 2♥
or 2♠
2♦
<= Two Way Stayman GF with 10+ hcp
Opener bids:
2♥
<= 4♥
cards and may have 4♠
cards;
2♠
<= 4♠
cards;
2NT <= 4♣
+ 4♦
have both minors
3♣
by Responder asks distribution
Opener bids:
3♥
=> 2♠+3♥+4♦+4♣
or
3♠
= 3♠+3♥+4♦+4♣
Responder decide: 3ST / 5 in a
minor / try Slam
3♣
<= 5♣
cards
3♦
<= 5♦
cards
3♥
<= 5♥
cards
3♠
<= 5♠
cards
3NT <= 4333 distribution with one minor suit
2♥
<= to play - sign-off (there are no transfer)
2♠
<= to play - sign-off
2NT <= invitation to 3ST showing 8-9 hcp
3♣
<= 5♣-4♦
with 10-14 hcp in 5431 distribution
Opener bids:
3♦
relay asking for the singleton
Responder bids up the line:
3♥
=> singleton
♥
3♠
=> singleton
♠
4♣
=> singleton
♥with
6♣4♦2♠1♥
max 5+ controls
4♦
=> singleton
♥with
6♣4♦2♥1♠
max 5+ controls
4♥
=> singleton
♥with
5♦5♣2♠1♥
max 5+ controls
4♠
=> singleton
♠with
5♦5♣2♥1♠
max 5+ controls
3NT to play - good stoppers in majors
3♦
<= 5♦-4♣
with 10-14 hcp in 5431 distribution
Opener bids:
3♥
relay asking for the singleton
Responder bids up the line:
3♠
=> singleton
♥
3NT => singleton
♠
4♣
=> singleton
♥
with 6♦4♣2♠1♥
max 5+ controls
4♦
=> singleton
♠with
6♦4♣2♥1♠
max 5+ controls
4♥
=> singleton
♥with
5♦5♣2
1♥
max 5+ controls
4♠
=> singleton
♠with
5♦5♣2♥1♠
max 5+ controls
3NT to play - good stoppers in majors
3♥
<= 5♥
cards and asks for support -
Opener bids 3nt with 2♥
Opener bids 4♥
without a top honor or minimum 15 hcp
Opener cuebid (3♠/4♣/4♦)
with a top honor and 16-17 hcp
3♠
<= 5♠
cards and asks for support -
Opener bids 3NT with 2♠
Opener bids 4♠
without a top honor or minimum 15 hcp
Opener cuebid (4♣/4♦/4♥)
with a top honor and 16-17 hcp
3NT <= to play
Responder may continue bidding his singleton
with specials
distribution 6-4 bidding 4♣
or 4or
in 5-5 bidding 4♥
or 4♠
4♣
<= Gerber - asks for aces (4=0/4;
4♥=1;
4♠=2;
4nt=3)
4<=
6♥+
cards Transfer for 4♥
sign-off
4♥
<= 6♠+
cards Transfer for 4♠
sign-off
4♠
<= 6♣+
cards Transfer for 5♣
sign-off
5♣
<= 6+
cards Transfer for 5sign-off
4NT <= quantitative - invitation to 6nt with maximum
5NT <= quantitative - invitation to 7nt with maximum
maximum means 17 hcp or 16 hcp with 5332
with 4333 distribution 17 hcp is minimum
In case of interference the partnership need a convention to establish
when Responder bids sign-off or is trying to find fit in a major for
game.
Suggestion
Lebensohl.
After a 1NT opening and a penalty double we may use:
pass => nothing to do but Opener having a 5 cards suit must bid it
redouble => asks for Opener bid 2♣
and that may be corrected to 2
2♣
=> Stayman - shows both majors
2=>
transfer to 2♥
2♥
=> transfer to 2♠
/ / /