Bidding Jacoby over 2NT

Here is your hand:
♠J7652
♥K93
♦QT9
♣QT

Partner is Dealer and has opened the bidding 2NT. You have agreed that opening 2NT shows:
20 or 21 HCP
A balanced hand so

• No void
• No singleton
• Not more than one doubleton

The opponents Pass throughout the auction.

You have agreed that you will play both Stayman and Jacoby Transfers over all NT openings. So on this hand with your five card major you bid 3♥ which forces Partner to bid 3♠. They do. Now it is back to you.

What will you bid?

Show Answer

Bid 3NT.

Do NOT raise the ♠ bid. Remember you have shown a five card suit when you made the transfer. You have no more than you promised. Partner might only have two ♠ in their hand. They do NOT show a fit when they bid 3♠. You are forcing them to bid 3♠ and they are obeying you. They might have a doubleton ♠. They are allowed to have one doubleton when they open 2NT.

If Partner has three or more ♠ in their hand they can now bid 4♠ over your 3NT bid knowing they have a fit.

If Partner only has two ♠ you want to play in 3NT -- not in 4♠.

Responding to 2NT

Here is your hand:
♠QJ52
♥J92
♦KT52
♣82

Partner is Dealer and has opened the bidding 2NT. You have agreed that opening 2NT shows:
20 or 21 HCP
A balanced hand so

• No void
• No singleton
• Not more than one doubleton

The opponents Pass throughout the auction.

You have agreed that you will play both Stayman and Jacoby Transfers over all NT openings.

It is now your turn. What will you bid?

Show Answer

Bid 3♣ which should now be Stayman asking Partner for a four card major.

If Partner responds either 3♦ or 3♥ you can now bid 3NT.

If Partner responds 3♠ you can now bid 4♠.

A player I was kibitzing just bid 3NT because she thought she needed 8 HCP in order to bid Stayman.

This is true if Partner opens the bidding 1NT showing 15-17 HCP. You need 8 HCP in order to bid Stayman in that situation because you need at least 8 HCP in order to invite game.

When Partner opens 2NT they have more points. Therefore you can bid Stayman with fewer points. Over 2NT, if you have the values to bid again to get the partnership to game, you have the values to bid Stayman. So if you have 5 HCP you are now allowed to bid Stayman. You may get to a better contract if you do.

What would YOU respond?

Here is your hand:
♠AT852
♥T7
♦KQT
♣K65

You are Dealer and decide to open the bidding 1♠. The opponents Pass throughout the auction. Partner bids 2♣. It is now your turn. Rate the following bids you could make and decide which one is the winner:

Bids you can now make:
Pass
2♦
2♥
2♠
2NT
3♣

What do you think of each of those bids?

Show Answer

Pass
Pass should NOT be an option here. A new suit by Responder is forcing for one round unless 1NT has been bid in the auction or Responder could have opened the bidding and did not. Neither of those situations applies here. Partner is unlimited and could have enough for a game or even a slam. This bid is FORCING and you must bid.

2♦
This bid tends to show a four card ♦ in this auction. Sometimes we have to lie but this is not a hand we need to lie. So this isn't a very good bid.

2♥
This bid should show a four card ♥ in this auction. Sometimes we have to lie but we don't want to lie about the majors. So this isn't a very good bid.

2♠
Not the worst bid you can make with this hand but the problem with this bid is Responder must bid again. There are only two bids you can make that Responder is allowed to Pass. Bidding 2NT and raising Responder's suit one level.

2NT
I like this bid because Responder is allowed to Pass and this hand is pretty weak. But I don't like the lousy doubleton ♥ suit. Not the worst bid possible but not the best.

3♣
I like this bid because:
A) Responder is allowed to PASS -- this hand is very weak and does not want to encourage Responder to bid again
B) the other bids this hand can make are even worse

You are allowed to raise Responder's 2 level bid suit with three card support only.