Friday, August 05, 2005 4:00 AM

Stayman – Major Response

PITBULLS:

In standard bidding , the structure with Stayman after a major response or major fit identified is pretty weak. Usually a jump is a splinter and the other major is a general slam try in the agreed major. 4NT is confusing whether it is KCB or quantitative.

The best Stayman structure to announce a fit in our opinion is to use the other major. The other major announces a fit & further might show a splinter somewhere . All other bids means that we have not found a fit. In fact , the key to this structure is knowing when a bid does not imply a fit.

Diamonds bid after a major suit response to Stayman , does not show a fit , but shows 4 of the other major and diamonds ( 6-4) This is a slam try. 3♣ is always re-Stayman which is a “catch-all” with all the other non fit hands. 2♠ after a 2♦ Stayman response is a relay to 2NT to show 6-4 hands. 2♠ after a 2♥ Stayman response says we have found a fit and I may have a stiff somewhere. 2NT by the opener asks where the stiff is located or whether partner has a balanced hand.

OK the other major just means we have found a major fit. Opener can now ask if a stiff exists or the size of the flat hands. When partner asks ( 2NT after 2♠ & 3♠ after 3♥) , a bid of 3NT shows a minimum game going hand and 4NT is the quantitative jump with 4 trump & a balanced hand.

We do not need splinters anywhere so these jump bids are put to work with other meanings. Having an artificial bid ( other major) as showing a splinter somewhere is not a new concept. All you need is a series of step responses to identify where the splinter is located. The other major after your major fit is found is well suited for that bid. The structure after a major is shown with Stayman is shown below.

Here is a hand from the Bermuda Bowl .

♠AKQx ♥ Q10xx ♦ xx ♣Axx opposite

♠Jxxx ♥A ♦AKQ10xx ♣J10 1NT-P-2♣-P

2♠-P-3♥ (1)-P (1) ♠ support any stiff

3♠(2)-P-4♦(3)-P (2) where is your stiff ?

4NT-P-5♥-P (3) stiff ♥ ( steps )

5NT(4) -P-7♠(5)-P (4) all controls & trump queen

(5) conclusion

OK we have free use for the former splinters. Playing a jump to the 4 level ( like 4♣) after we have found a fit as KCB is a waste. Universally a direct 4NT is KCB after a major fit is found so why rock the boat ? The quantitative jump to 4NT is done via the other major asking bid sequence , so a direct quantitative 4NT bid is not necessary. So we could define the jumps as a suit showing a 6-4 with a fit or exclusion KCB. 6-4’s with a fit are partially described by the other major & asking for the stiff ( see example above) so we opt for Exclusion KCB.

Getting Exclusion KCB into your system after having found a fit is a decided advantage. Voids are more frequent that you imagine and exclusion KCB is a fine slam tool. Instead of just having 4♣ as KCB , we have 4♣, 4♦ & 4♥ , 3♠ as KCB but ignoring that suit. Know your Stayman agreements.