Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Stayman or Jacoby?


Of course you know that with a 4-card major you respond 2 and with a 5+ card major use Jacoby.
What about a hand with a 4 and a 5-card major? Look at East:

1.     West                       East
        ♠ K J 10                 ♠ Q 9 8 6
        Q 10                    K J 8 6 5
        Q J 10 6 5            A 8 7
        ♣ A K 7                 ♣ 5

        West                      East
        1 NT                     2♣
        2                         3
        3 NT                     Pass


Bid Stayman with a 4 and a 5-card major so both suits are on the table.

If West bids either major, that’s the trump suit. If West bids 2 showing no major, East will bid hearts (2 with 8 or 9 points; 3 with 10+). West will then know everything and will either bid 4 with three hearts or 3 NT with only two hearts. In this example, West has only two hearts, so he bids 3 NT.

© 2013 Roberta Salob