Source: Aussie Youth Bridge Bulletins
After you open 1NT and partner bids 2
Stayman, sometimes your RHO is able to double to show clubs, getting a lead directing double in. Usually you would just ignore the double and continue normally, but at times when you have very strong clubs such as AQJ85, you may want to suggest 2X or 2XX as a contract. Or maybe at times you have very few clubs such as xx and you are afraid that the partnership should steer away from 3NT without a club stopper. How should you handle this situation?
There are lots of variations that you can play here, but this is an easy one to remember:
| 1NT | Pass | 2 |
Dbl |
| ? |
| Redbl | Strong suggestion to play in 2XX (i.e. you have a good 5-card club holding) |
2 /2 /2 |
As per normal response, but promises a club stopper |
| Pass | Denies a club stopper |
After opener passes to deny a club stopper, responder can continue as follows:
| 1NT | Pass | 2 |
Dbl |
| Pass | Pass | ? |
| Redbl | Stayman |
| 2 |
Weak hand, typically a 4-4-5-0 shape |
| 2/2 |
Weak to play, 5/4 majors |
After responder redoubles to re-initiate Stayman:
| 1NT | Pass | 2 |
Dbl |
| Pass | Pass | Redbl | Pass |
| ? |
| 2 |
No major |
| 2 |
4 spades |
| 2 |
4 hearts |
| 2NT | 4-4 majors |
The reason for the swap in 2/2 when responder reinitiates Stayman is because if opener has no club stopper, the final contract would be best declared by responder, not the opener. If you want to make it more simple, you can simply just keep natural Stayman responses when responder reinitiates Stayman. Otherwise, the easiest way to remember this is: After a X of Stayman, bidding = promises a club stopper with natural Stayman responses, XX is suggestion to play in 2XX, and Pass denies a club stopper. Over the pass, responder can either sign off in 2x, or XX to reinitiate Stayman and the responses to that are up to you and your partner.