Continuations After Stayman by David Bird

A: 3♣. You have the playing strength to contemplate a minor-suit game (or even a slam), so you will continue with a natural (and forcing) 3♣.

2NT would be non-forcing and therefore out of the question. 3NT might put you into the wrong game contract.

Your result so far:

A: 3NT. North may have four spades as well as four hearts. You should bid 3NT next. North will then think: 'Why did my partner bid Stayman? He would have raised hearts with four cards in that suit. So, the reason must be that he has four spades.'

If North does hold four spades, he will correct 3NT to 4♠.

Your result so far:

A: 3♥. Although you have only 8 HCP, you have a 7-loser hand. You are entitled to invite a game, and you do this by raising to 3♥.

When partner has more than a minimum 1NT opening, he will accept the try and bid 4♥.

Your result so far:

A: 4NT. With 16 HCP and no middle cards, it would be an overbid to jump to 6NT. You should invite a slam with the limit bid of 4NT.

A continuation of 4NT is a natural slam-try after Stayman or a transfer response.

Your result so far:

A: 4♣. You will recall from the previous problem that to bid 4NT now would not be Blackwood; it would be a non-forcing limit bid.

You should jump to 4♣. This shows a club control (ace or king) and agrees hearts as trumps. Partner may show a diamond control with 4♦, or they may bid 4NT, which would now be RKCB, asking how many keycards you hold.

Your result so far:

A: 5NT. There's nothing much wrong with a leap to 6NT. Perhaps you would be better off in a 4-4 (or 4-5) club fit, however. Many top players use 5NT to have the special meaning 'Please pick a slam, partner'.

Here, you would hope that partner can suggest a club slam by bidding 6♣, which you would pass. If instead he bids 6♦, you will bid 6NT. The most likely possibility is that North will bid 6NT, seeing no other slam worth recommending.

Your result so far: