Weekly Hand Analysis - Glenna Shannahan - August 15, 2022 - Game Bid

 

Question:  

Here’s a hand with lots of bidding that ended short of a game. Any suggestions for finding a game bid?

Glenna:

   Experienced players should know, understand and play Stayman correctly. I actually teach it in the 2nd BB1 class the same night I teach NT. Everybody MUST know Stayman and Jacoby Transfers if they want to play any level of bridge. NT is fun and challenging to play, but not always safe. To be safe is ALWAYS more fun and usually more successful. 

 I will go through Stayman for everybody to review.  

Partner open 1NT and you have 8+ points and 1 or 2 4-card Majors. The correct bid is 2 ♣️. If they respond 2 ♦️denying a Major, you bid 2NT with 8 or 9 and 3NT with 10-15.

If they respond the Major you have, you bid 3 of the Major with 8 or 9 and 4 of the Major with 10-15. If they respond with the Major you do NOT have, you bid 2NT with 8 or 9 and 3NT with 10-15. You have ALREADY told them you have a 4-card MAJOR so you don’t bid the Major you have, you tell them your points. They already know you have a 4-card Major or you would NOT have used Stayman. Your bidding the other Major only causes confusion so remember that when you bid 2 ♣️, you have told partner you have at least one and let them place the final contract.

3 NT on the hand was cold and instead you mired around in a minor suit partscore and that was NO fun for partner, Play Stayman correctly and reread Jacoby Transfers so those simple mistakes will go away.

Hope this helps,

Glenna