What should I bid? (August 2020)
The best submission for August came from Mike Siford. He wins a voucher of $30 funded by TBIB, toward any purchase made at the Bridge Shop or Paul Lavings Bridgegear.
Nil Vul
N Dlr
North
♠ KQ62
♥ K765
♦ K6
♣ AJ7
South
♠ A5
♥ 984
♦ QJ42
♣ QT86
| West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1NT | Pass | 2♣ | |
| Pass | 2♥ | Pass | ? |
1 NT 15-17 no 5 Major. Simple Stayman; 2NT Transfer to Diamonds. South cannot bid 2NT because N will assume 8-9 HCP and 4Card Spades and with 17 Total Points will jump to 4♠. This problem only occurs when opener has both majors, and partner wants to show a 2NT response without a 4card major. S(he) cannot use the limit raise 2NT because this is a Transfer to diamonds
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Hi Mike,
When a partnership plays 1NT-2NT as a transfer to diamonds, you have two options that you can adopt to invite in NT’s without showing a major (you will have to discuss and choose with your partner).
1) 1NT-2♣ Non-promissory Stayman.
1NT-2♣; 2♦-2NT is invite, doesn’t guarantee a major
1NT-2♣; 2♠-2NT is invite, doesn’t promise four hearts
1NT-2♣; 2♥-… with this sequence, you will now have to play 2♠=4♠ and invite, 2NT=not 4♠, invite
2) 1NT-2♣ promises a major, but 1NT-2♠ is a range ask (invite in NT’s) or a transfer to clubs
1NT-2♠; ?
Opener assumes it’s invitation in NT’s and therefore bids 2NT with a minimum (15-16HCP), or 3♣ with a maximum (16-17HCP) — nothing to do with clubs. If responder does have clubs, he will then bid something else (e.g. 1NT-2♠; 2NT-3♥) which would then imply that he had clubs (or 1NT-2♠: 2NT-3♣ is a signoff in 3♣). Although note that 1NT-2♠; 3♣-3NT this sequence just means responder was only inviting in NT’s.
Hope that helps,
Andy
