Presented by Mike Savage

       NORTH                                                                                               

                                          S: Q J 10 4                                                         

                                          H: Q J 9 4

                                          D: 4 2                                                      

                                          C: 8 3 2                                                   

 

                        WEST                              EAST                          

                    S: 8 7 5                              S: A 6 2                                  

                    H: 7 6                                H: A 10 8 5 3                                   

                    D: K J 10 9                       D: Q 7 5                         

                    C: A 10 6 5                       C: 9 7                             

 

                                          SOUTH                                                          

                                          S: K 9 3                                                  

                                          H: K 2                                         

                                          D: A 8 6 2

                                          C: K Q J 4

 

Dealer: South

Vulnerability: Both

The Bidding:  N      E      S      W

                                     1NT    P

                    2C      P      2D     P

                    2H      P      2S    all pass

 

The Lead: D J

 

     When your partner opens a strong 1NT, that shows a balanced hand of 15-17 HCP (some partnerships still play 16-18). If you have an invitational or better hand and a 4-card major you can ask opener if he has a 4-card major by bidding 2C, Stayman. You should have at least a good 8 HCP or more as if you don’t find a fit in a major, you will wind up in 2NT (when your partner has a minimum) and 3NT (when your partner has a maximum).

     There are two exceptions to this rule of needing to have a good 8 HCP or more to use Stayman. The first is when you have 0-6/7 HCP and your distribution is exactly four spades, four hearts and five diamonds (4-4-5-0). With this hand you plan to pass any response partner makes to your 2C bid. If partner responds 2S, you pass, if he responds 2H, you pass and if he responds 2D, you also pass and most of the time you will have at least an 8-card diamond fit.

     The other exception is if you play Garbage Stayman. With a hand like the North’s above, where you have two “good” 4-card majors, these hands will usually play a trick or two better in one of your majors – even if partner has only three-card support. You still bid 2C and if partner bids a major, you pass but if partner bids 2D, denying a 4-card major, you bid 2H.

     Playing Garbage Stayman, 2H forces partner to choose between playing 2H or 2S and denies an invitational hand or any interest in playing no-trump. Partner must not bid no-trump but must simply choose his longest or, if equal, his best major at the 2-level. If you have a hand with two 4-card majors but your points are not concentrated in the majors and you have less than invitational values, in the long run it’s best to just pass 1NT.

   In the above hand, if you play 1NT, you might be held to five tricks – two spades, one heart, one diamond and two clubs. Playing in 2S, you could loose only four tricks – one spade, one heart, one diamond and one club (although they might get a club ruff) and you will make at least eight and sometimes nine tricks. Hurray for Garbage Stayman!