Source: http://www.edmontonbridge.ca/ Tuesday, May 22, 2007 3:55 AM
1NT is the corner stone of our bidding system. The more distributions we can handle after that bid, the better off established partnerships will be. One such distribution is a forcing to game 6-4 with 4 of a major & 6 of a minor. These hands are traditionally shown via the Stayman structure. However , we have complicated matters by having 3
as Re-Stayman after any Stayman response.
I played against a pair that offered the following solution. After a Stayman sequence , a 3
bid shows any/other 4 card major & a 6 card minor. 3
asks which 6 card minor with step responses used to reply. This means we know partners distribution by the 3NT level , which is a good thing. Slam tries can start at the 4 level by agreeing the minor at the 4 level & responder uses Kickback if they wish to take control.
KQxx xx x AKQxxx and partner opens 1NT . You bid Stayman , partner bids 2 so responder now bids 3 to show any 6 card minor with a 4 card major. Partner bids 3 to ask which minor so you bid 3 which shows clubs. Partner signs off in 3NT & you pass. Partner has Jxx ♥AQJ KQJxx Jx . Change partners hand to AJx AKx Axxx Jxx and with her controls partner bids 4. You bid Kickback with 4 and eventually reach 7 . From 3NT to a grand slam just by showing partner your 6-4 !!
When partner rebids a major , the 6-4 is pinpointed exactly as responder must have 4 of the other major with a 6 card minor. 1NT-P-2-P 2-P-3-P shows 4 with a 6 card minor.
You hold Axxx AJx Kx Axxx , partner holds x KQxx Ax KQxxxx so off to your grand slam in clubs.
What if you have found a 4-4 major suit fit, what is 3? No such bid as you bid the other major as a general slam try. 3 means you do not have a fit & you hold the other major. The other major in a Stayman sequence is universally accepted to mean a fit in partner’s major.
How about 5-4-3-1’s with a 4 card major & a 5 card minor ? We feel that Re-Stayman would do a better job with those hands unless the 5 card suit is so good that it evaluates to a 6 card suit. It is the enormous playing potential of a 6-4 that is described to partner.