Version 2.1
(c) 2001, 2008 Glen Ashton BridgeMatters
2C: Stayman,
might not have a four card major.
2C can be bid with weak hand and both majors.
2D,2H: Jacoby Transfers showing five
or longer in next major suit.
2S: Transfer
to clubs.
2NT: Transfer to
diamonds. Can have a weak hand
with both minors.
3C: 5-4
or better in the minors and game forcing.
3D: Asks
for a five card major. Use this
first if wanting to ask for aces (Gerber).
3H: 4-1-4-4
or 4-0-5-4 or 4-0-4-5, game forcing.
3S: 1-4-4-4
or 0-4-5-4 or 0-4-4-5 game forcing.
Game: These
game bids to play: 3NT, 4H, 4S, 5C, 5D.
4C: Transfer
to 4H.
4D: Transfer
to 4S.
4NT: Quantitative,
non-forcing but slam invitational.
[1NT-2C
Stayman]
2D: No
four card major. After this:
2H: Both
majors, up to GI with at least 5Hs and 4+Ss. Responder passes with a minimum & 3Hs, bids 3Ss with
three spades, and bids 2NT with a maximum, 3Hs & only 2Ss.
2S: Five
spades, GI values, distributional or 4Hs (otherwise 1NT-2H-2S-2NT).
2NT: GI,
may or may not have a four card major.
3m: Natural
& forcing.
3M: Four
in this major, five or longer in OM. Game forcing.
3NT: To
play.
4C: Gerber.
4D: Delayed
Texas transfer to 4H.
4H: Delayed
Texas transfer to 4S.
4NT: Quantitative,
non-forcing but slam invitational.
2H: Four
hearts, may have four spades if not minimum. After this:
2S: Five
spades, GI values.
2NT: GI, may
have four spades.
3m: Natural
& forcing.
3H: GI.
3S,4C;4D: Singleton
or void, heart support, slam try.
3NT,
4H: To
play.
4NT: RKCB for
hearts.
2S: Four
spades, may have four hearts if not minimum. After this:
2NT:
GI, may have four hearts.
3m: Natural
& forcing.
3H: Slam
try in Ss.
3S: GI
3NT,
4S: To play.
4C,
4D, 4H: Singleton
or void, spade support, slam try.
4NT: RKCB for
spades.
2NT: Both
majors, minimum. After this, all
suit bids at the three level are transfers (3S shows clubs), 4C is Gerber, and
4M is to play.
[1NT-2D
& 1NT-2H Jacoby transfers]
Standard
Jacoby transfers. Use 2D followed
by 2S to show 5-5 in the majors, GI or game going. Use 2H followed by 3H to show 5-5 in the majors, slam try.
[1NT-2S
transfer to Clubs]
Opener is
to bid 2NT with a bad hand for clubs, 3C with a good hand for clubs. Now 3C is a signoff bid, 3NT is to
play, and new suit bids show location of values & some length (3 or longer
in suit).
[1NT-2NT
transfer to Diamonds, can be weak with both minors]
Opener is
to bid 3C with a bad hand for diamonds, 3D with a good hand for diamonds. Now 3D is a signoff bid, 3NT is to
play, and new suit bids show location of values & some length (3 or longer
in suit).
[1NT-3C
both minors, at least 5-4, game forcing]
Opener bids
3D to ask, 3M with weakness in OM, and 3NT with values in the majors,
not interested in the minors unless responder has a slam try. After 3D, responder rebids:
3H: singleton
or void in Hs. 3S asks: 3NT shows
3-1-5-4 or 3-1-4-5, 4C shows 5-5 in minors.
3S: 5-5
in minors, singleton or void in spades.
3NT: 1-3-5-4 or
1-3-4-5.
4C: 6Cs,
5Ds, singletons in both majors.
4D: 6Ds,
5Ds, singletons in both majors.
4M: void
in M, singleton in OM, 6-6 or 7-5 in the minors.
[1NT-3D
asking five card major]
Opener
rebids 3M with five, 3NT without
five. Now 4C is always Gerber (asking
for aces , 4D showing none), and over 3M
4D is RKCB for the major suit.
[1NT-3M singleton/void in major, 4 in the OM, game forcing]
3NT is to
play, 4OM or 4m shows that opener thinks best spot is that suit with four of the minor
, 3S/3H or 4S/3S shows slam interest in OM.
[1NT-4C
Transfer to Hearts]
Opener bids
4H or unless holding three aces and either a king with an ace, or the king or
queen of hearts, or all four aces.
If holding those type hands opener bids 4D, after which 4H is a signoff
by responder.
[1NT-4D
Transfer to Spades]
Opener bids
4S unless holding three aces and either a king with an ace, or the king or
queen of spades, or all four aces.
If holding those type hands opener bids 4H, after which 4S is a signoff
by responder.
[1NT-4NT
quantitative]
Opener
accepts by showing number of aces.
Now immediate 5NT is signoff and cheapest suit bid asks opener to bid
four card suits up-the-line looking for a 4-4 fit.
[Choice in
use 4m transfers or Jacoby]
Responder has
two ways of transferring to a major and bidding game in the suit – either the
four of a minor transfer or the two level Jacoby transfer. Responder can choose which sequence to
use based on whether a lead directional double is wanted or not, or the type of
information the transfer will obtain from opener.
[Overview]
The
advanced version of the ETM Structure makes three significant changes:
1)
Uses
the Jacoby transfer to hearts with some game invitational and game going hands
without five hearts - hands that want to play in notrump or perhaps hearts.
2)
Uses
second round transfers by responder after a Jacoby transfer to provide better
bidding sequences.
3)
Increases
the use of the 3D response to 1NT to include additional hand types.
The method
gives up on playing 2H if responder has five and opener four, but good
opponents will rarely let you play 2H on a 5-4 fits and only about half the
points.
[Advanced
Jacoby 2D]
Several new
hand types can use the advanced Jacoby 2D. These are:
a)
GI
raise to 2NT, with or without four hearts – so a hand that would bid 1NT-2NT in
standard or a hand that would bid Stayman over 1NT, and then not finding opener
with four hearts would bid 2NT.
b)
Game
going with four hearts, wanting to play in 3NT or 4H if a 4-4 fit is found.
c)
Game
going with three hearts, wanting to play in 3NT or 4H if a 5-3 fit is found.
The
Advanced Jacoby 2D is never used when holding four or longer spades.
Opener
replies to the Jacoby 2D transfer with this bidding schedule:
2H: denies 4Hs,
any strength
2S: 5Hs,
minimum
2NT: 4Hs,
minimum
3C: 5Hs,
maximum
3H: 4Hs,
maximum
After
opener’s rebids of 2S, 2NT, or 3C, 3D is a retransfer to 3H.
After
opener’s rebids of 2S, 2NT, 3C, or 3H then responder can place the contract by bidding
2NT, 3NT, 3H or 4H. All other bids
show Hs. 3C over 2S or 2NT is an
artificial game try, asking opener to bid game with a useful minimum.
After 2H,
responder rebids according to this scheme:
Pass: To play.
2S: GI
with 5Hs, can be unbalanced, or Transfer GF with 5+Hs & Cs.
2NT: GI without
5Hs, can have 4Hs but maybe not
3C: Transfer,
GF with 5+Hs & Ds.
3D: Transfer,
can be GI or stronger with 6+Hs.
3H: 5Hs,
GF, first offers choice of game for opener. Opener can bid 3S to offer responder the choice back, asking
responder to bid 3NT with 5-3-3-2 or 5-4-2-2 & spread out values, and to
bid 4Hs otherwise.
3S, 4C, 4D: singleton
or void in suit bid, 6+Hs, slam try.
3NT: To play,
usually without 5Hs.
4H: To
play.
4NT: RKCB for
Hs.
After
1NT-2D-2H-2S, opener bids as follows:
2NT: wants
to play in 2NT opposite GI with 5Hs.
3C: maximum
with 2Hs.
3D: maximum
with 3Hs.
3H: wants
to play in 3H opposite GI in Hs.
Then
opposite all these bids, responder can bid:
-
3NT or
4Hs to play.
-
4NT as
RKCB for Hs.
-
3S or
4D show singleton/voids in the suit bid and Hs & Cs.
-
3H to
show Hs & Cs and no other good bid.
-
4C to
show Hs & Cs, at least a good 5-5.
-
3m to show a GI with Hs & five card
suit.
[Changes to
Jacoby 2H Transfer]
Jacoby 2H
denies 4+Hs. With both majors bid Stayman
or 3D.
After
1NT-2H-2S, responder rebids:
Pass: To play.
2NT: GI with
5Ss. With 5S and another five card
minor suit bid Stayman first.
3C: Transfer
to Ds with GF.
3D: Transfer
to Cs with GF.
3H: Transfer
to Ss, 6+Ss, GI or better. Opener
first assumes the GI hand.
3S: 5Ss,
game going or better. If just game
going shows a hand more distributional than just bidding 1NT-2H-2S-3NT, which
suggests 5-3-3-2 or 5-4-2-2 with spread out values.
3NT: Choice
of games, flat hand.
4C,4D,4H: slam
try, 6+Ss. singleton or void in bid suit.
4S: To
play.
4NT: RKCB
for Ss.
[1NT-3D
Extended Use]
The
sequence 1NT-3D is used to ask for a five card major or 4Ss, and is also used
to show 5-5 in the majors game going or to bid Gerber afterwards.
After
1NT-3D, opener rebids:
3H: not
4+Ss, can have 5Hs. 3S then asks
if 5Hs, 3NT says no.
3S: 4Ss.
3NT: 5Ss.
After
opener’s rebid:
4C: Gerber,
asks for aces.
4D: Shows
both majors, slam try.
4H: Shows
both majors, game going, but implies mild slam try values over 3S or 3NT since
could have just bid 4S.
4S: To
play over 3S or 4S.
[Modified
Smolen 3H]
The
sequence 1NT-2C-2D-3H shows 5Ss, 4+Hs – instead in normal Smolen 3H shows
exactly 4Hs. If 5-5 in the majors,
opener has a hand that wants to give opener the opportunity to play 3NT,
usually with not good major suits, and does not have slam interest. With good suits the sequence 1NT-3D is
used with game going hand with both majors.
After
1NT-2C-2D-3H, 3S asks hand type.
3NT shows 4H&5Ss, 4H shows 5-5 in the majors, 4S shows 6+S, to play,
and 4m are cuebids with 5+Ss, 4Hs
and slam interest.
[Stayman
Flexibility]
Responder,
with a balanced or semi-balanced hand, has options other than Stayman. Responder can decide whether or not to
use Stayman based on lead directional concerns, a desire to withhold certain
information from the opponents, or considering what other players will do
playing traditional methods. The
following table shows what is possible:
|
Hand |
Standard Option |
Other ETM Option(s) |
|
No four
card major, GI |
2C
Stayman |
2D
ask/transfer |
|
No four
card major, GF |
3NT |
3D ask,
2D ask/transfer |
|
4Hs, GI |
2C
Stayman |
2D
ask/transfer |
|
4Hs, GF |
2C
Stayman |
2D
ask/transfer |
|
4Ss, GI |
2C
Stayman |
None |
|
4Ss, GF |
2C
Stayman |
3D ask |
|
Both
Majors, GI |
2C
Stayman |
None |
|
Both
Majors, GF |
2C
Stayman |
None |
[Choice of
Contract]
ETM offers
more choice of contract auctions than most structures. Many good results can be obtained by
playing in the better contract between four of a major (4H or 4S) or 3NT. Here are some common choice
bidding sequences:
1NT-2D-2H-2S-2NT-3C:
5Hs & 5+Cs, GI.
1NT-2C-2H-2S: 5Ss, distributional,
GI. If opener now bids 2NT, 3C
then shows 5Ss & 5+Cs GI.
1NT-2D-2H-3H-3S:
Responder bids 3H to show five, opener offers responder choice of game.
1NT-2H-2S-3S:
Responder shows 5Ss and some distribution.
1NT-2H-2S-3NT:
A flat hand and 5Ss.
1NT-2D-2H-3D-3H-3NT:
The 3D bid was a transfer to 3H showing 6+Hs. Now 3NT offers choice.
1NT-2D-2H-3D-3NT:
Opener bids above 3H with a hand that would accept GI. 3NT offers choice.
1NT-2H-2S-3H-3S-3NT:
The 3H bid was a transfer to 3S showing 6+Ss. Now 3NT offers choice.
1NT-2H-2S-3H-3NT:
Opener bids above 3S with a hand that would accept GI. 3NT offers choice.
[Overview]
The complex
version of the ETM 1NT structure adds second round transfers by responder after
using Stayman. In addition the
transfer sequence is designed to reveal opener’s strength and longest suits.
[GI
balanced and semi-balanced hands without spades]
When
holding a GI hand without four or longer spades, or a six card or longer minor,
responder must use the 2D ask/transfer bid instead of using Stayman. The following shows the bids that must
be used:
|
Hand |
ETM Complex Bid |
|
No four
card major, GI |
2D
asks/transfer |
|
4Hs, GI |
2D
asks/transfer |
|
4Ss, GI |
2C
Stayman |
|
Both
Majors, GI |
2C
Stayman |
This
permits a sequence like 1NT-2C-2S-2NT to be a transfer, since responder if
holding GI values will either have four spades, in which case can raise spades,
or a long minor to transfer to.
[ETM
Complex Stayman – Opener’s Reply]
After
1NT-2C, opener replies as follows:
2D: No
four card major.
2H: 4
or 5Hs, not 4Ss.
2S: 4
or 5Ss, can have 4Hs if 4Ss & maximum.
2NT: 4-4 in the
majors, minimum.
[ETM
Complex Stayman – Overview of Responder’s Rebid]
After
opener’s reply to Stayman, this general structure is used for bids 2S to 3S:
2S: Range
ask and is used as well to transfer to Cs.
2NT: If
2S is available, this shows 5Ss & GI.
After 1NT-2C-2S, this is a club transfer but can be a hand that wants to
re-ask after opener bids 3C.
3C: Transfer
to Ds.
3D: Minor
suit singleton, major suit length but not 4 in a major opener showed.
3H/3S: If
opener replied 2M, 3M is GI and 3OM is artificial with 4 in M,
either 4-3-3-3 offering choice of game or a slam try. If opener replied 2D, 3H and 3S are Smolen like, with 5+ in
the other major.
[ETM
Complex Stayman – Responder’s Rebid]
After
1NT-2C-2D, responder rebids as follows:
2D: No
four card major. After this:
2H: Both
majors, up to GI with at least 5Hs and 4+Ss. Responder passes with a minimum & 3Hs, bids 3Ss with
three spades, and bids 2NT with a maximum, 3Hs & only 2Ss.
2S: Range
check with GI, or transfer to Cs, or used to find out more about opener’s hand.
2NT: 5Ss,
GI, distributional, may have a five card or longer minor or 4Hs.
3C: Transfer
to Ds.
3D: Singleton/void
in a minor, 4 or 5 in other minor.
4-4/4-3/3-4 in the majors.
3H asks:
3S:
singleton/void in Cs.
3NT:
singleton/void in Ds, no slam interest unless opener finds singleton is
working.
4C:
5Cs, singleton/void in Ds, slam interest.
4D:
4-4-1-4 exactly, slam interest.
3H: Transfer
to Ss with 5+Ss, GF, usually 4Hs but can have 5-5 in majors, GF, but not great
suits . 3S asks hand type:
3NT: 4H&5Ss
4H: 5-5 in the majors
4m:
cuebids with 5+Ss, 4Hs and slam interest.
4S: 6+S, mild slam interest.
3S: 5+Hs,
4Ss. If 6+Hs has slam interest
(otherwise just bid 3D Delayed Texas transfer).
3NT: To
play.
4C: Gerber.
4D: Delayed
Texas transfer to 4H.
4H: Delayed
Texas transfer to 4S.
4NT: Quantitative,
non-forcing but slam invitational.
2H: Four
or five hearts, not four spades.
After this:
2S: Range
check with GI, or transfer to Cs, or used to find out more about opener’s hand.
2NT: 5Ss & a
five card or longer minor, GI.
3C: Transfer
to Ds.
3D: 3Hs
& 4Ss & a minor suit singleton, 3H asks for minor suit singleton, 3S
showing Cs.
3H: 4Hs,
GI.
3S: 4Hs,
either choice of game with 3-4-3-3 or slam try without minor suit
singleton/void.
3NT,
4H: To
play.
4C;4D: Singleton
or void, heart support, slam try.
4NT: RKCB
for hearts.
2S: Four
or five spades, may have four hearts if four spades & not a minimum. After this:
2NT: Transfer to
clubs, or used to find out more about opener’s hand.
3C: Transfer
to Ds.
3D: 3Ss
& 4Hs & a minor suit singleton, 3H asks for minor suit singleton, 3S
showing Cs.
3H: 4Ss,
either choice of game with 4-3-3-3 or slam try without singleton/void.
3S: 4Ss,
GI.
3NT: Exactly
3Ss & 4Hs, offers choice between 3NT, 4H and 4S. With 4Hs and 2Ss use 2D asking bid or use 1NT-2C-2S-2NT-3C-3D
ask sequence.
4C,
4D, 4H: Singleton
or void, spade support, slam try.
4S: To
play.
4NT: RKCB for
spades.
2NT: 4-4 in the
majors, minimum.
3C: Asks
openers shape or transfer to Ds.
3D: 4-4-2-3
3H: 4-4-3-2
Now
game bids are to play, 4m is
natural, and other suit bids show Ds & suit bid.
3D: Transfer
to Hs.
3H: Transfer
to Ss.
3S: Transfer
to Cs.
[Minor suit
transfers after Stayman reply]
After
opener’s reply to Stayman, 3C is always a transfer to diamonds. After 1NT-2C-2D or 2H, 2S is a range
ask and is also used by the club transfer hands. After 1NT-2C-2S, 2NT is the club transfer, and is also used
by hands that want to re-ask.
After 2S
range check, opener rebids either 2NT with a minimum, 3C with a maximum. Also after 1NT-2C-2S-2NT, opener
usually rebids 3C. After either
sequence then:
Pass: To
play there.
3C: To
play in 3C unless opener has great fit.
3D: Re-ask,
see below.
3H/3S: See below.
3NT: To
play.
4C: RKCB
for Cs.
After the
3C transfer to Ds, opener rebids usually rebids 3D. Then:
Pass: To
play there.
3H/3S: See below.
3NT: Non-forcing
slam try with Ds.
4D: RKCB
for Ds.
After
1NT-2C-2S-2NT(transfer)-3C, these are responder’s rebids:
Pass: To play
there.
3D: Re-ask,
see-below.
3H/3S: See below.
3NT: Non-forcing
slam try with Cs.
4C: RKCB
for Cs.
After the
transfers 1NT-2C-2S-2NT, and 1NT-2C-2S-3C, opener might have both majors and a
maximum. Then opener rebids 3H
with 4-4 in the majors, after which responder can bid 3S to ask for three cards
in the minor that was transferred to, with 3NT showing only two in the
suit. For example
1NT-2C-2S-2NT(transfer to C)-3H(4-4 in majors)-3S(asks)-4C shows 4-4-2-3. Also over 3H, responder can signoff in
4H, 4S or 3NT. 3NT is a signoff
when holding length in the minors and was looking for a minor suit fit.
After
1NT-2C-2D then a minor suit transfer and opener’s rebid, responder bids:
3H: 4Hs
& 5+ in the minor, GF, either a singleton or extra values, and less than
3Ss (so if singleton in other minor will have 6+ in minor). 3S asks for singleton:
3NT:
singleton in other minor, no extra values.
4m: singleton in Ss, no extra values.
4om: singleton in other minor, extra
values.
4H:
no singleton, extra values.
4S:
singleton in Ss, extra values.
3S: 4Ss
& 5+ in the minor, GF, either a singleton or extra values, and less than
3Hs (so if singleton in other minor will have 6+ in minor). 4C asks for singleton, with:
4D:
singleton in other minor, may have extra values.
4H:
singleton in Hs, may have extra values.
4S:
no singleton, extra values.
After
1NT-2C-2H, then a minor suit transfer and opener’s rebid, responder can bid:
3H: 4Ss
& 5+ in the minor, GF, singleton in Hs or no singleton & extra
values. 3S asks:
3NT:
singleton H, no extra values.
4m: no singleton, extra values.
other:
singleton H, extra values.
3S: 4Ss
& 6+ in the minor, and singleton or void in the other minor.
After
1NT-2C-2S, then a minor suit transfer and opener’s rebid, responder can bid:
3H: 4Hs
& 5+ in the minor, GF, singleton in Ss or no singleton & extra
values. 3S asks:
3NT:
singleton S, no extra values.
4m: no singleton, extra values.
other:
singleton S, extra values.
3S: 4Hs
& 6+ in the minor, and singleton or void in the other minor.
[Stayman
Suit Re-ask]
There are
three sequences used to find out more of opener’s shape. Two of them first find out if opener is
minimum or maximum, but there is no range ask available over the 2S bid.
1NT-2C-2D-2S(range
asks)-2NT or 3C-3D re-asks:
3H: 4+Cs,
can have 4Ds. 3S asks for 4Ds, 3NT
is no.
3S: 5+Ds,
not 4Cs
3NT: 3-3-4-3 or
3-3-3-4
1NT-2C-2D-2H-2S(range
asks)-2NT or 3C-3D re-asks:
3H:
4+Cs
or 3-4-3-3. 3S asks if 4+Cs, 3NT
is no.
3S: 4+Ds.
3NT: 5Hs.
1NT-2C-2D-2NT-3C-3D(asks):
3H: 4+Cs
or 4-3-3-3. 3S asks if 4+Cs, 3NT
is no.
3S: 4+Ds.
3NT: 5Ss.
After these
bids, 4m is RKCB for that minor suit
if both minors are available: if only 4D is available it is RKCB the minor
opener last showed. 4NT is slam
invitational, not-forcing. If opener
has shown one major (and denied the other), the other major is RKCB for the
major suit. Responder can choose
to use RKCB in one suit, and then later correct to a different suit at the slam
level, using RKCB to find out the holding in a suit.
[Choice of
game with 4-3-3-3 major fit]
When
responder has 4-3-3-3 and game force then a choice can be offered opener. 1NT-2C-2M-3OM shows either a
slam try or 4-3-3-3 with 4 in M. Opener should bid 3NT if would want to
play in notrump opposite the 4-3-3-3.
If responder has a GI and opener will accept, opener should give
responder the chance to get out in 3NT if holding 4-3-3-3 by this sequence:
1NT-2C-2M-3M-3NT.
[4 card
major & six or longer in minor]
ETM Complex
Stayman is used by used with any hand with a 4 card major, and a six card
minor, regardless of strength. If
holding minimum values, responder can signoff if no major suit fit is found via
Stayman, by using the minor suit transfers. For example 1NT-2C-2S-3C-3D-Pass would show a hand with 4Hs,
6+Ds, and not enough values for game.
[4-4-4-1
GF]
Holding
4-4-4-1 shape GF, respond 3M to 1NT
with a singleton in a major suit.
With a minor suit singleton respond 2C, and if opener bids one the
majors, jump to 4m to show the minor
suit singleton and the major suit bid.
Instead if opener replies 2D, use the 3D bid to show a minor suit
singleton.
[Responder
shows singleton]
With ETM
Complex Stayman, responder with five or longer in a minor, and a four card
major, can show the singleton held, including showing a singleton in the major
suit opener replied in. Note these
two powerful sequences:
1NT-2C-2M-3D: singleton/void
in a minor, 3 in M. Now the partnership can find 4-3 or 5-3
major fits, minor suit games & slams etc.
1NT-2C-2M-transfer-reply-3S: singleton/void in other minor, 2 or less in M, 6+ in minor.
[Flat hands
use re-ask]
Holding a
flat balanced hand, with no singleton or six card minor, responder can use the
re-ask to investigate for fits and often determine minimum/maximum
strength. Responder uses Stayman,
then re-asks with 2S or bids 2NT if 2S not available, then re-asks with
3D. For example holding 2-3-4-4
(4-4 minors) with slam interest, responder might have a sequence like this:
1NT-2C-2H-2S(range?)-3C(max)-3D(ask)-3H(not five Hs or 4Ds)-3S(ask)-4C(4Cs)-4D(RKCB
for Cs).
[Spade
showing 2NT]
The
sequences 1NT-2C-2D-2NT and 1NT-2C-2H-2NT show 5Ss and GI values. The sequence must have some
distribution for without 4Hs or a five card minor, responder can simply
transfer to Ss with Jacoby 2H, then rebid 2NT. The 2NT bid over 2H promises 5Ss and a five card or longer
minor, since with 5Ss and 4+Hs responder would just raise Hs. The 2NT sequence does get the partnership
beyond 2S, but in return it allows opener to play the hand, acting as a transfer. The corresponding sequence in the ETM
Advanced 1NT Structure is 1NT-2C-2D-2S or 1NT-2C-2H-2S, which allows the
partnership to play in 2S, but has responder play the hand if spades will be
trump.
[Should You
Use Complex Stayman]
Hands where
ETM Complex Stayman delivers a win over standard methods occur, but not very
frequently. One should only use
the method for serious competition, with plenty of beforehand practice, and
good memories of both partners.
[Overview]
This 1NT
structure is designed for weak notrumps (12-14/13-15 normally) where a five
card major is unlikely to be held.
What is different from other structures is 2D JS – Jacoby Stayman, which
is a combination of Jacoby transfer and Game Forcing Stayman.
[Structure]
2C: Stayman,
promises a four card major if balanced.
2C can be bid with a weak hand.
2D: Jacoby
Stayman, both a transfer to hearts and Game Forcing Stayman.
2H: Jacoby
transfer showing 5+Ss.
2S: Range
ask, or both minors GI+, or planning to use Gerber next.
2NT: Transfer to
clubs, can have a four card major.
3C: Transfer
to diamonds, no four card major.
3D: Transfer
to Hs showing Hs & a five+ card minor, GF. 3H asks for minor, 3S showing Cs.
3H: 4-1-4-4
or 4-0-5-4 or 4-0-4-5, game forcing.
3S: 1-4-4-4
or 0-4-5-4 or 0-4-4-5 game forcing.
Game: These
game bids to play: 3NT, 4H, 4S, 5C, 5D.
4C: Transfer
to 4H.
4D: Transfer
to 4S.
4NT: Both
minors, to play in game, opener picks minor to play in. With quantitative slam try bid 2S.
[1NT-2C
Stayman]
2D: No
four card major. After this:
2H: Signoff
with both majors. Opener passes or
bids 2S.
2S: 5Ss,
GI values, distributional or 4Hs (otherwise 1NT-2H-2S-2NT).
2NT: GI.
3m: GI
(or close to GI values if 3C), usually 6+ suit, does not promise four card
major.
3H: GI,
5 or 6 in suit, usually 4Ss.
3S: GI,
6Ss, 4Hs.
3NT: To
play.
4C: Gerber.
4D: Delayed
Texas transfer to 4H.
4H: Delayed
Texas transfer to 4S.
4NT: Quantitative,
non-forcing but slam invitational.
2H: Four
hearts, may have four spades.
After this:
2S: Four
spades, GI values, NF, may have six card or longer minor. Opener bids 2NT to deny 4Ss and show a
minimum. With a maximum and not
4Ss, opener usually bids 3NT, but can bid 3C or 3D as pass or correct in case
responder has a long minor there and not good GI values. With 4Ss opener can pass 2S with bare
minimum, raise to 3S with an average minimum, and bid 4S with any maximum.
2NT: Five
spades, distributional hand, usually with a five card or longer minor, GI.
3m is now pass or correct – pass if
holding the minor, bid otherwise.
3m: GI,
6+ suit, no four card major.
3H: GI.
3S,4C;4D: Singleton
or void, heart support, slam try.
3NT,
4H: To
play.
4NT: RKCB for
hearts.
2S: Four
spades. After this:
2NT: GI with
four hearts.
3m: GI
or close to GI values, usually 6+ suit, does not promise four hearts.
3H: Slam
try in Ss.
3S: GI
3NT,
4S: To play.
4C,
4D, 4H: Singleton
or void, spade support, slam try.
4NT: RKCB for
spades.
[1NT-2D
& 1NT-2H Jacoby transfers]
1NT-2H is a
Standard Jacoby transfer.
With distributional hand with 5Ss and a five card minor or 4sH use
Stayman. Use 2H Jacoby transfer
followed by 3H to show 5-5 in the majors, GI. Use 2D with game going or stronger values and both
majors. See below for more details
on 2D JS – Jacoby Stayman.
[1NT-2S
Range ask/Both minors GI+/Gerber Planned]
The first
use of 1NT-2S is like 1NT-2NT in standard, a GI hand with no four card
major. 2S can also be used with a
hand with both minors, at least GI values, or planning on using Gerber next (or
planning on using it if opener shows a maximum). After 2S opener rebids:
2NT: minimum,
not both minors. Over 2NT:
3C: shows
both minors to play (had GI values)
3D: both
minors & slam interest,
3M: a singleton or void
& no slam interest, forcing to 3NT or 4m
3NT: to
play.
4m: natural, 6+
suit, 4 in other minor, slam try.
3C: 4-4
or 5-4/4-5 in the minors, minimum.
3D: to
play.
3M: singleton
or void in suit, forcing to 3NT or 4m,
but can be a slam try.
3NT: to play.
4m: set
trumps, invites cuebidding.
5m: to
play.
3D: maximum,
wants to know if responder has a major suit singleton. 3M
shows singleton/void, 3NT says no & and no slam interest, 4m says no singleton, shows longer minor
& slam interest.
3M: maximum,
GF, some minor suit length and weakness in the other major.
3NT: maximum,
no interest in a minor suit contract.
With slam interest responder continues by bidding better minor, 4C with equal
length.
After any
of opener’s rebids, 4C or 4D is natural.
4H or 4S are always types of Gerber. 4H asks for number of aces, 4S showing none, 4NT showing 1
etc. 4S asks for three aces, 4NT
showing less than three, 5C showing three (and 5D showing four if not playing
weak notrump). A bid of 5NT over
the Gerber reply asks for number of kings, and all slam bids and non-jump bids
other than 5NT are signoffs.
[1NT-2NT
transfer to Clubs]
Opener bids
3C unless holding 5Cs or a great hand with 4Cs, in which shows opener shows
location of values. After 3C, 3NT
is mild slam try, and major suit bids show location of values & some length
(often 3 in the suit). Jump bids
are splinter slam tries, with 4NT being an attempted signoff by opener if made
directly over the splinter. The 3D
rebid is Stayman with clubs: opener rebids 3M with four in the suit (3H with both majors), or 3NT if no four
card major and not a good club fit, 4C with no four card major and a good club
fit.
[1NT-3C
transfer to Diamonds]
Opener bids
3D unless holding 5Ds or a great hand with 4Ds, in which shows opener shows
location of values. After 3D, 3NT
is mild slam try, and new suit bids show location of values & some length
(3 often in the suit). Jump
bids are splinter slam tries, with 4NT being an attempted signoff by opener if
made directly over the splinter.
[1NT-3D
showing 5+Hs, a five card or longer minor, GF]
Using this
bid allows 1NT-2D-2H-3m to just show
GI values. After 3D opener with a
great heart fit can cuebid or bid 4H.
With no desire to play anything but 3NT opener bids it. Otherwise opener bids 3H, and responder
then bids 3S with Cs, and any other bid with Ds, showing the nature of the
hand.
[1NT-3M singleton/void in major, 4 in the OM, game forcing]
3NT is to
play, 4OM or 4m shows that opener thinks best spot is that suit with four of the
minor , 3S/3H or 4S/3S shows slam interest in OM.
[1NT-4C
Transfer to Hearts]
Opener bids
4H unless holding three aces. If
holding three aces opener bids 4D, after which 4H is a signoff by responder.
[1NT-4D
Transfer to Spades]
Opener bids
4S unless holding three aces. If
holding three aces opener bids 4H, after which 4S is a signoff by responder.
[2D JS –
Jacoby Stayman]
The 2D response
to 1NT is used as a two way bid, both a Jacoby transfer to hearts, and as a
version of Game Forcing Stayman.
Game Forcing Stayman can be used to find out opener’s exact shape. With a shapely hand with five or longer
in a major, prefer to describe the hand instead of asking. The bidding scheme is designed so that
responder usually plays any suit contract after finding out opener’s shape –
declarer’s hand remains unknown.
After
1NT-2D, opener bids:
2H: denies
4+Hs
2S: 4+Hs,
denies 4Ss
2NT: 4Hs
& 4Ss
3C: 6Ds
& 3Hs
3D: 6Cs
& 3Hs, max
3H: 6Cs
& 3Hs, min
After
1NT-2D-2H:
2S: The
GF Stayman re-ask, all other bids show 5+Hs, including 3NT.
2NT: GI
with 5Hs, not with a five card minor or 4Ss.
3m: GI with 5Hs
& usually 5+ in the minor.
3H: GI
with 6+Hs
3S, 4C, 4D: Slam
try with 6+Hs, singleton/void in suit bid.
3NT: Game
choice with 5Hs.
4H: To
play, but implies mild slam interest since could have bid 4C or 4H to just play
in 4H.
4NT: RKCB
for Hs.
After
1NT-2D-2H-2S, Game Forcing Stayman re-ask:
2NT: 4+Cs,
not 3-3-3-4, 3C asks:
3C: 5+Ds,
not 4+Cs, 3D asks doubleton:
3D: 4Cs
& 4Ss. 3H asks, 3S shows
4-2-3-4, 3NT 4-3-2-4.
3H: 4-3-4-2
or 4-3-3-3, 3S asks, 3NT shows 4-3-3-3.
3S: 4-2-4-3
3NT: 3-3-3-4
or 3-3-4-3, 4C asks minor, 4H showing Cs.
4D is relay used for RKCB sequences, see below, with opener’s #1 suit
considered Cs.
1NT-2D-2H-2S-2NT-3C
re-asks:
3D: 4-4
or better in minors, 3H asks:
3S: 2-3-4-4
3NT: 3-2-4-4
4C: 2-2-5-4
4D: 2-2-4-5
3H: 5+Cs,
doubleton H. 3S asks:
3NT: no other
doubleton, so 3-2-3-5
4C: 2-2-3-6
4D: 3-2-2-6
4H: 2-2-2-7
3S: 2-3-3-5
3NT: 3-3-2-5
1NT-2D-2H-2S-3C-3D
re-asks:
3H: 5+Ds,
doubleton H. 3S asks:
3NT: no other
doubleton, so 3-2-5-3
4C: 3-2-6-2
4D: 2-2-6-3
4H: 2-2-2-7
3S: 2-3-5-3
3NT: 3-3-5-2
After
1NT-2D-2S & 1NT-2D-2NT, the following is used.
Cheapest Bid: Game
Forcing Stayman Re-ask.
New suits (not 3D): Game
Forcing hand with suit, does not promise Hs. 3C over 2NT is re-ask since cheapest bid.
3D: Retransfer
to Hs showing 5+Hs. Then new suit
shows a singleton or void slam try, 3NT shows balanced slam try.
3H: GI
in Hs.
3NT, 4H, 4S: To
play.
4NT: RKCB
for Hs.
1NT-2D-2S-2NT re-asks:
3C: 4+Ds,
3D asks:
3H: 3-4-4-2
3S: 2-4-4-3
3NT: 2-4-5-2
3D: 3-4-2-4
3H: 3-4-3-3
3S: 2-4-3-4
3NT: 2-4-2-5
1NT-2D-2NT-3C
re-asks:
3D: 4-4-2-3
3H: 4-4-3-2
After
1NT-2D-3C or 3D or 3H:
3D/3C: Transfer
to Hs.
3H/3C: GI
in Hs.
3H/3D: To
play, since knows what is minimum and maximum.
Game
bids: To
play.
3S: Natural,
forcing.
4C,4D: See
after opener’s shape is known.
[Jacoby
Stayman – After opener’s shape is known]
After
1NT-2D and asks and re-asks are used to find out opener’s shape, various
approaches can be used to find out key card holdings. ETM suggests this relatively simple approach here. First line up opener’s suits in order
by length, and if suits are of equal length, place lower suit first. Next, responder’s cheapest suit bid
after opener’s shape is known is a relay to the cheapest bid – we will call the
suit that responder’s relay bid was made in the relay suit. The cheapest suit bid is always
at least 4C, we use suit bids below 3NT as natural.
To play in
game, bid a game that is not the relay bid, or the bid directly above it. To play in the bid directly above the
relay bid, simply relay to it with the cheapest bid, then pass.
To bid RKCB
(Roman Key-Card Blackwood) for opener’s number one suit, directly bid the suit
above the relay bid.
To bid RKCB
for the other three suits, make the relay bid, and then after opener bids, the
next three bids are RKCB for suits in order of opener’s other three suits.
Some
examples will make this clear:
1NT-2D-2H-2S-2NT-3C-3D-3H-4D(2-2-5-4):
4H
relay to 4S, then:
Pass: To play in
Ss.
4NT: RKCB for
Cs, opener’s number two suit.
5C: RKCB
for Hs, opener’s number three suit.
5D: RKCB
for Ss, opener’s number four suit.
4S: RKCB
in Ds, opener’s number one suit.
4NT,
5C, 5D, 5H: To play.
1NT-2D-2S-2NT-3C-3D-3S(2-4-4-3):
4C
relay to 4D:
4H: RKCB
for Hs, opener’s number two suit.
4S: RKCB
for Cs, opener’s number three suit.
4NT: RKCB for
Ss. opener’s number four suit.
4D: RKCB
for Ds, opener’s number one suit.
4H,
4S, 4NT, 5C, 5D: To
play.
1NT-2D-2H-2S-3C-3D-3H-3S-3NT(3-2-5-3):
4C
relay to 4D:
4H: RKCB
for Cs, opener’s number two suit.
4S: RKCB
for Ss, opener’s number three suit.
4NT: RKCB for
Hs. opener’s number four suit.
4D: RKCB
for Ds, opener’s number one suit.
4H,
4S, 4NT, 5C, 5D: To
play.
1NT-2C-2H-2S-2NT-3C-3H-3S-4H(2-2-2-7):
4S
relay to 4NT:
Pass: To play in
notrump
5C: RKCB
for Ds, opener’s number two suit.
5D: RKCB
for Hs, opener’s number three suit.
5H: RKCB
for Ss, opener’s number four suit.
4NT: RKCB for
Cs.
5C,
5D, 5H, 5S: To
play.
After
opener’s reply to RKCB, cheapest suit bid not in the suit RKCB was made for
asks again, for queen of RKCB suit and/or kings. All other suit bids and notrump bids are to play, even if
they are not in the suit that RKCB was made for. This allows responder to ask in one suit, to learn holding
there, and then play in another.
Even after repeated asks, the cheapest suit bid (not in RKCB suit) is
the only ask, and the approach of all other bids as signoffs continue. For example:
1NT-2D-2NT-3C-3D(4-4-2-3)-4C(relay)-4D-4H(RKCB
for Ss)-4NT(1 or 4 keys)-5C(asks)-5D(no queen)-6C(to play). Responder would bid 5H over 5D to
re-ask.
[Jacoby
Stayman – Responder makes GF and then bids natural]
After JS,
opener’s reply, responder’s re-ask, and opener’s second reply, a GF has been
established. Any suit bid below
game that is not defined as a re-ask is natural by responder. If it is in a suit opener has shown
four or more of, or it is made at the four level (4C or 4D), it sets trumps and
is RKCB for that suit.
If the suit bid is at the three level and opener has not promised four
or more of the suit, then it is natural, and encourages opener to make value
showing bids at or below 3NT and to bid above 3NT with a fit, cuebidding if
feasible. Three examples:
1NT-2D-2H-2S(re-asks)-2NT(4+Cs)-3D: natural
with Ds.
1NT-2D-2S-2NT-3C(4Hs&4+Ds)-3H: sets
Hs as trump, RKCB for Hs.
1NT-2D-2H-2S(re-asks)-3C(5+Ds)-4D: sets
Ds as trump, RKCB for Ds.
[Responding
with long minor in Weak Notrump Structure]
Holding a
long minor and no four card major, then if not GI values, transfer using the
2NT or 3C transfer – after opener completes transfer pass if weak, and bid
again if game going or better.
When you have a long minor and GI values, bid 2C Stayman first, then
rebid your minor suit.
Holding a
long minor and a four card major, if a weak hand simply transfer to the minor
suit ignoring the major. With GI
values or close to it, bid 2C Stayman first, then over 2D or 2S reply bid minor
suit if no fit found. If opener
bids 2H over Stayman, then if holding a long minor and four spades, one must
bid 2S first, which shows GI values and 4Ss (3m over 2H denies 4Ss).
Then if opener bids 2NT over 2S, bid the long minor. For example 1NT-2C-2H-2S(4Ss,GI)-2NT-3D
(6+Ds, 4Ss).
If holding
a long diamond suit, a four card major, and game forcing values, bid Jacoby
Stayman 2D to investigate or bid 2C to check for major suit fit, and if none
bid 3NT. With a long club suit,
and a four card major, you have three options. First you can bid 2C to check for major suit fit, and if
none bid 3NT. Second you can bid
Jacoby Stayman 2D and investigate further. Finally you can bid 2NT transfer to clubs, then bid 3D,
Stayman with clubs (an idea from Danny Kleinman).
[5-5 hands
in Weak Notrump Structure]
With 5-5 in
the minors, weak, transfer to clubs to play, and if doubled for penalty, run to
3D. Other option when weak is to
pass, and then bid later. If GI
values or stronger and both minors, bid 2S.
With 5-5
and one major, if weak, transfer to the major and play there. If GI values & Hs, transfer to Hs
and then bid minor suit over 2H.
If GI values & Ss, bid Stayman, and then over 2D response bid 2S,
and over a 2H response bid 2NT, the latter showing specifically 5Ss and a five
card minor. If game forcing values
or stronger with Hs and a minor, use the 3D response to 1NT. If game forcing values or stronger with
Ss and a minor, bid 2H to transfer to spades, then rebid minor.
With 5-5 in
both majors, if weak bid Stayman, and pass or raise a major suit response, and
bid 2H over 2D. With 5-5 in the
majors, GI, transfer to spades, then bid hearts, not forcing
(1NT-2H-2S-3H). With 5-5 in the
majors, game forcing or stronger, use Jacoby Stayman. After 1NT-2D-2H-2S-2NT or 3C opener has denied both four
hearts and four spades. Now
responder can either re-ask with the cheapest bid, or can bid 3H, which opener
will raise with 3Hs.
[4-5 in
majors GI in Weak Notrump Structure]
The hand
type of 4Ss, 5Hs, and GI values is a slight problem for the structure. The hand starts with 2C Stayman, and if
opener bids a major then responder can invite or just bid game. If opener, though, rebids 2D, then
responder has a choice of two imperfect bids. First, responder can bid 2NT to invite game, but perhaps
missing out on a 5-3 heart fit.
Second, responder can bid 3H to invite game, but perhaps landing in a
5-2 fit at the three level. The
recommendation is to bid 2NT with bad hearts, and 3H with a good suit.
[Jacoby
Stayman with Five Card Majors Notrump]
When one notrump
can be opened with a five card major (5-3-3-2) the GF asking bids used in
Jacoby Stayman become more complicated, in order to handle the increased number
of hand patterns. Here are the
revisions to the scheme:
After
1NT-2D:
3C: 5Hs. 3H now to play, 3D asks doubleton:
3H: 3-5-3-2
3S: 2-5-3-3
3NT: 3-5-2-3
3D: 6Ds,
3Hs – only open 1NT with this shape and either maximum or minimum, not
both. 3H now to play.
3H: 6Cs,
3Hs – only open 1NT with this shape and either maximum or minimum, not both.
After
1NT-2D-2H-2S:
2NT: 4+Cs
or 3-3-4-3
3D: 4Ss
& four card minor. 3H asks:
3S: 4-2-3-4
3NT: 4-3-2-4
4C: 4-3-4-2
4D: 4-2-4-3
3H: 5Ss
& 3Hs, 3S asks:
3NT: 5-3-2-3
4C: 5-3-3-2
3S: 5-2-3-3
3NT: 4-3-3-3
After
1NT-2D-2H-2S-2NT-3C:
3H: 5+Cs,
doubleton H or 3-3-2-5. 3S asks:
3NT: 3-2-3-5
4C: 3-3-2-5
4D: 2-2-3-6
4H: 3-2-2-6
3S: 2-3-3-5
3NT: 3-3-4-3
or 3-3-3-4. 4C asks minor, 4H
showing Cs. 4D is relay used for
RKCB sequences, see above, with opener’s #1 suit considered Cs.
4C: 2-2-2-7
The
sequence 1NT-2D-2H-2S-3D(4Ss & 4 card minor)-3S needs a special use in this
structure. It is artificial and
shows 5+Hs, and asks opener to bid 3NT with 2Hs, or to show four card minor
with 3Hs support. After this
bidding is natural, and if opener shows 3Hs then 4NT is RKCB for Hs.
[Simplified
Jacoby Stayman]
If getting
the exact hand shape is too much memory work for the partnership, use this
simplified approach:
1NT-2D-2H-2S
asks for 4+Ss, 2NT says no, 3C says yes.
After 2NT
or 3C, all bids are natural, except 3S shows clubs over 3C, and 4C/4D/4H over
3C is a singleton or a void in 4+S support.
[ETM
Mini/Weak Notrump Structure]
ETM has a
mini/weak notrump that works well with one notrump openings that have only
average points, like the 10-12 notrump.
This is described in a separate document.