Saturday, August 27, 2005 3:10 PM

NT Sequences – Trump Fits

 

PITBULLS:

 

          Modern Bridge theorists have come up with a new angle after Stayman , Transfers and systemic NT bids for giving preference or announcing a good fit. This assumes that responder shows distribution with her bid and a game force is on so slam is a possibility.  They allow the NT opener to assume control and ask for shortness or responders shape just by announcing a fit !! The NT opener taking control needs getting used to. Lets see how this is done with Stayman sequences.  We use the other major for this purpose if we have made a Stayman bid and connected. With the Smolen 2♠  relay to 2NT after a 2♦ response to Stayman , if we connect with partners minor , the 1NT opener can ask for shape.

 

          If slam is investigated via KCB , dual suit KCB is applicable when responder shows two suits.

 

With Stayman & a fit , the other major is any splinter

 

Stayman

 

1NT-P-2♣-P

2♥-P-3♠-P   any splinter with heart fit & slam interest

3NT             asks for step responses to identify stiff  4♥= ♠x

 

1NT-P-2♣-P

2♠-P-3♥-P    any splinter with spade fit & slam interest

3♠                asks for stiff  with step responses

 

1NT-P-2♣-P

2♦-P-2♠-P       Smolen or 4 major & 5/6 of a minor game force

2NT

            3§             4♥ or 4ª, 5/6§’s, GF

                   3♦ asks for 4 card major

                          3♥ = ♥’s

                          3♠ = ♠’s

                             

            3¨             4♥ or 4ª, 5/6¨’s, GF

                   3♥ asks for 4 card major

                          3♠=♠’s

                          3NT=♥’s

                             

  

Transfers

 

          With transfers, after partner has shown the forcing to game two suiter , the NT opener has the option of taking preference at the 3 level or an assuming Q bid ( next step) to accept the 2nd suit . Both these actions ask for partner to identify her stiff. Additional steps specify the 6-5 exactly.

 

 

1NT     2¨      

2©       3§        5-5  clubs & hearts

3¨                   § fit, max (asks shortness: 3♥=♦; 3♠=♠; 3NT= both min, 4§/© both & showing longer suit)

3©                   © fit, max (asks shortness: 3♠=♦; 3nt=♠; 4§/©= both & longer suit)

1NT     2¨      

2©       3¨       5-5 hearts & diamonds

3©                   ♥ fit - asks shortness: 3♠=♣; 3nt=♠; 4♦ = both long ♦ 4© = both long ©)

3ª                   ♦ fit - asks shortness: 3NT=♣; 4♣=♠; 4♦ = both long ♦ 4© = both long ©)

 

  

1NT     2♥                                                                                                                   

2♠        3§        5-5 spades and clubs

3¨                   § fit, max asks short: 3♥=♦; 3♠=©; 3NT= both min 4§= both long § 4♠ = long ♠

3♠                    ♠ fit, maximum (asks shortness: 3nt=♦ 4¨=♥ 4§= both long § 4♠ = long ♠

 

1NT     2♥

2♠        3¨       5-5  spades & diamonds                                                                   

3©                   ♦ fit- asks shortness: 3NT=♣; 4♣=♥; 3ª = both , longer ª , 4♦ = both , longer ♦

3ª                   ♠ fit - asks shortness: 3NT=♣; 4♣=♥; 4♦ = both ,  longer ♦ , 4ª = both , longer ª

 

 

1NT     2♥       

2♠        3♥       5 spades & 5 hearts

3ª                   (max ♠ fit - asks shortness: 3NT=♣; 4♣=♦; 4♥ both  , longer ♥  ;4ª = both  , longer ª)

3nt                   to play

4§                   fit for ♥  , asks shortness 4♦=♣  , 4♥=♦ , 4ª = both (slam try)

 

 

Systemic Bid

 

         We play 1NT-P-3♦-P as showing a strong two suiter in the minors. This is an opportunity to simultaneously give preference & ask for the stiff. Of course , the stiff must be a major but we can show voids also.  This scheme designed by BJ Trelford.

 

1NT – 3♦ strong 5-5 minors game forcing (has at least 2 keycards excluding queens).

          3©           asks for stiff and confirms clubs as trump (must have 3+ keycards to ask)

                          3ª = stiff heart

                               3nt = play

                               4♣ = KCB for clubs

                          3nt = stiff spade

                               4♣ = KCB for clubs

                               4nt = to play (wastage in spades, courtesy, partner may not care)

                          4♣ = heart void

                               4♣ = KCB for clubs

                               4nt to play

                          4¨= spade void

                               4© = KCB for clubs

                               4nt = to play

                          4© = void in ©s exclusion BW (has 2 kc’s to ask) (3 A’s, 2 K’s and 2 Q’s)

                               4ª = 2 has ace of hearts (must have 3+ keycards to ask)

                               4nt = 3

                               5♣ = 4

                               5© = 5

                               6♣ = 4 with a doubleton diamond

                          4ª = void in ªs exclusion BW (has 2 kc’s to ask) (3 A’s, 2 K’s and 2 Q’s)

                               4nt = 2 has ace of spades (must have 3+ keycards to ask)

                               5♣ = 3

                               5¨ = 4

                               5© = 5         

                               6♣ = 4 with a doubleton diamond

 

          3ª       asks for stiff and confirms diamonds as trump (must have 3+ keycards to ask)

                          3nt = stiff heart

                               4♦ = KCB for diamonds

                               4nt = to play (wastage in hearts, courtesy, partner may not care)

                          4♣ = stiff spade

                               4♦ = KCB for diamonds

                               4nt to play

                          4¨= void in hearts

                               4© = KCB for diamonds

                               4nt to play

                          4© = void in spades

                               4ª = KCB for diamonds

                               4nt to play

                          4ª = exclusion BW, heart void (3 A’s, 2 K’s and 2 Q’s)

                               4nt = 2 has ace of hearts (must have 3+ keycards to ask)

                               5♣ = 3

                               5¨= 4

                               5© = 2 has ace of spades (must have 3+ keycards to ask)

                               6¨= 4 with a doubleton club

                          4nt = exclusion BW, spade void (3 A’s, 2 K’s and 2 Q’s)

                               5♣ = 2 has ace of spades (must have 3+ keycards to ask)

                               5¨ = 3

                               5© = 4

                               5ª = 5

                               6¨= 4 with a doubleton club