Responding to Stayman with 4-4 majors

[jallerton]

I think 2s with both majors is highly unusual also. I have never seen anyone do it. I'm from the us.

 

Interesting. Perhaps you need to talk to:

 

I reread my post and I did not say anything that could possibly be construed as that. If that was your way of asking me what I think people do in response to stayman with 4-4 in the majors, I think the vast majority of bridge players either don't know what they do, choose a major at random, or bid the better suit. I also know several who over at least some notrump openings play a bid of either major denies the other, and bid something else like 2NT with both. I do not think a major suit bid playing any of these styles is or should be alertable. The only assumption the opponents should be making if you bid a major is that you have 4 or perhaps 5 of that major.

[JLOGIC]

How about this, I will give lalldonn a 3 year time period. If he sees anyone bid 2S against him with 4-4 in the majors I'll give him 20 bucks. I'm really confident I will not have to pay 20 bucks.

 

Also, since he doesn't play as much as me I will also watch and report back if I ever see anyone bid 2S with 4-4 in the majors. It won't happen.

[MickyB]

But surely now that I've pointed out that it's the right thing to do, everyone will start doing it? B-)

 

Failing that - Josh, I'm looking for opps for later, fancy it?

[Zelandakh]

How about this pair? Unfortunately I cannot remember where the Swedish article is any more. I think it was also from an international player/pair.

[bluejak]

How about this, I will give lalldonn a 3 year time period. If he sees anyone bid 2S against him with 4-4 in the majors I'll give him 20 bucks. I'm really confident I will not have to pay 20 bucks.

 

Also, since he doesn't play as much as me I will also watch and report back if I ever see anyone bid 2S with 4-4 in the majors. It won't happen.

Don't play against me then.

[Fluffy]

I don't remember ever seeeing a 2♠ response with 44 majors, but it is worh noting that in Madrid area it was popular to answer 2NT to stayman with both majors and then use some transfer at the 3 level, in Barcelona area things where worse when 2NT, 3♣ and 3♦ were allowed as responses.

[mgoetze]

I don't remember ever seeeing a 2♠ response with 44 majors, but it is worh noting that in Madrid area it was popular to answer 2NT to stayman with both majors

...hardly surprising given that this is part of Standard French. ;)

[mgoetze]

The mistake in the alert system, IMHO, is in allowing Stayman, an artificial bid, to remain unalerted. I know this is the historical default, but for a new player trying to understand the alert rules, the obvious and simplest default is : if it's artificial it should be alerted.

Easy enough to say but it gets quite hideous if you try to write it down properly, see http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/51849-definition-of-artificial-call/

[paua]

Easy enough to say but it gets quite hideous if you try to write it down properly, see http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/51849-definition-of-artificial-call/

 

I think the definition of "artificial" is far simpler and less ambiguous than the current situation where we alert an "unexpected" call. This requires mind-reading. B-)

[mgoetze]

I think the definition of "artificial" is far simpler and less ambiguous

Which definition? The WBF one? Did you read the thread I linked to at all?

[paua]

Which definition? The WBF one? Did you read the thread I linked to at all?

 

Yes thanks, I did read the other thread. I agree that the WBF definition, like a lot of bridge Laws wording, is not very clear to the average player. However, I would rather have this as my alerting guideline than "unexpected" which is just nonsense.

cheers

[helene_t]

well the wbf definition of "artificial" is worse because it defines "artificial" as meaning "unexpected" but it is very obscure and leaves a lot of readers with the impression that wbf actually tries to define "artificial" in such a way that it roughly coincides what people normaly understand by "artificial".

 

It would be much better if WBF used one of these preambles:

 

Alternative 1: "WARNING: The below definition of 'artificial' bears no resemblance whatsoever to the normal use of the word 'artificial'. When reading this definition, it is best to imagine 'artificial' as a concept in some foreign language which, completely coincidentally, happens to sound similarly to the English word 'artificial'.

 

Alternative 2: "WARNING: The below definition needs rewording and should therefore not be taken too seriously. The intention is to define 'artificial' in such a way that it mimics the word's meaning in English. If any part of the definition conflicts with that aim, common sense should prevail."

 

That said I don't think it is an easy task to provide a definition which is concise and agrees with common sense.

[RunemPard]

This has to be the answer...

 

If partner did stayman with a 3 card major, idk, maybe trying to see if partner has a suit for their singleton. (not so good methods)...

 

Then partner can correct to their hopefully 4/3 fit at the 4 level?

 

Nothing else makes sense to reasoning of always bidding 2S, so...this is what I think.

 

:-/

[mgoetze]

Yes thanks, I did read the other thread. I agree that the WBF definition, like a lot of bridge Laws wording, is not very clear to the average player.

Are you calling me an average player? :P

[paua]

Are you calling me an average player? :P

 

No disrespect was intended. :) I am only considering how the average or majority of bridge players are to understand when to alert, particularly when playing outside of their normal club session.

[bluejak]

I don't remember ever seeeing a 2♠ response with 44 majors, but it is worh noting that in Madrid area it was popular to answer 2NT to stayman with both majors

...hardly surprising given that this is part of Standard French. ;)

Is Madrid in France now? :)

 

Are you calling me an average player? :P

My regular partner and I play all around the world and have won a number of tournaments. But the most deflating remark we have had was from a pair of very nice middle-aged opponents in Dundalk, Republic of Ireland, who asked us at the end of the round very nicely:

 

"Are you from the local club?"

 

:lol: :) :D :P

[PhilKing]

• responds 2♥ with both majors
  
• responds 2♠ with both majors
  
• responds at random with both majors
  
• responds on some other basis with both majors, eg bids the stronger suit
  

None of these are particularly unusual, so none is alertable under EBU regulations.

 

 

You are simply wrong. It is unusual, although I have seen it happen once, but that was Zia.

[aguahombre]

It just occurred to me how totally silly this whole thread is.

 

If 2C is not promissory, the opponents are bidding ♥ first. We don't need the disclosure at this time, but will be alerted if the 2NT rebid denies 4S/2H and will be alerted bif 2S/2H shows 4 and an invite. We will also be alerted at 2NT/2S if it might or might not contain hearts.

 

If 2C is promissory, we will know about the other suit when they don't have a fit in the major opener bids; and we can ask about the other one if we want, later.

 

In all auctions which go on to game, we either will discover the agreement via the auction, or if responder just had a minor suit slam try, we can ask later.

 

The fact that neither of us bid on the first round means nothing to the choice by opener with both majors in response to Stayman...if we need to know if 2C was promissory before we waltzed in at fourth chair, we would ask.

 

In summary: at the point where opener bids 2H or 2S, we just plain don't care whether he could have the other major.

[Trinidad]

I don't think this is silly at all.

 

What about an auction like:

1NT-2♣

2♠-4♠

 

Aren't the defenders allowed to know that declarer could have four hearts? If responding 2♠ with both majors is indeed unusual, then defenders will not know to ask.

 

And in a similar way:

1NT-2♣

2♥-4♥

 

Aren't the defenders allowed to know that declarer can not have four spades? Here, though, defenders might know to ask, since some play other responses (e.g. 2NT) to show both majors. Nevertheless, think of all the UI generated when a defender does ask.

 

"Could you please explain the auction to me?"

- "Well, err, 1NT was 15-17, 2♣ was Stayman, 2♥ shows four and responder wants to play 4♥."

"What more do you know about opener's hand?"

- "Gee, balanced, still 15-17 and he could have 5 hearts, but we often open those hands with 1♥, so it is rare."

Eventually: "Can he have four spades?"

- "Yes, of course."

 

And finally, even if this would be silly, that would not be a good reason to break fundamental rules of the game: You just have to fully disclose your agreements, period. "Buckle up, it's the law."

 

Rik

[aguahombre]

No need to know at the point one major is bid whether the other major is denied. At the end of the auction, an inquiry about the partnership's rules for responding with both majors is easy enough to word.

 

Whether it is alertable is the issue at hand; we are debating whether it is alertable. A lesson on not breaking the rules doesn't add much to that debate.

[Trinidad]

No need to know at the point one major is bid whether the other major is denied. At the end of the auction, an inquiry about the partnership's rules for responding with both majors is easy enough to word.

How does one do that without putting some focus on the other major? It is easy enough against people who bid 2♠ with both majors. They will explain right away. But people who don't bid 2♠ with both majors will not explain that they are denying four hearts, since to them this is obvious. You will pretty much have to ask specifically: "Does 2♠ deny four hearts?".

 

Customer: "Please tell me something about this car."

Car Salesman: "It's fantastic. It seats the whole family. It drives 150 mph."

"Interesting. What more can you tell me?"

- "It's got superior mileage, comes with ABS, cruise control, leather seats."

"More information?"

- "You can connect it to you Ipod, it has seven cup holders, a make-up mirror in the passenger seat, the back seats have built in child seats."

 

This conversation can go on for a while. Please note that the sales person will never tell you that it has four wheels or that it can't fly. These are obvious in a car, despite the fact that there are cars that can fly and those that have more or less than four wheels. If you want to know whether the car can fly, you will have to ask specifically.

 

To many players it is equally obvious that a 2♠ response to Stayman denies four hearts. Therefore, they will not explain this fact when asked in general.

 

Rik

[PeterAlan]

• responds 2♥ with both majors
  
• responds 2♠ with both majors
  
• responds at random with both majors
  
• responds on some other basis with both majors, eg bids the stronger suit
  

None of these are particularly unusual, so none is alertable under EBU regulations.

You are simply wrong. It is unusual, although I have seen it happen once, but that was Zia.

I resisted the temptation to reply when Vampyr wrote:

 

Several of us have stated that the 2♠ bid is very unexpected where we play; I don't see why you would doubt us.

but since you're doing essentially the same to bluejak I'll do so now.

 

If you can be bothered to read the earlier parts of the thread, you will see that I have never doubted the experiences of those who assert that bidding anything other than 2♥ would be extremely unusual where they play.

 

I wish you would extend the same courtesy when those of us with different experiences remark that this is not universal, especially when we have taken the trouble to give some evidence to back what we say.

[PhilKing]

I resisted the temptation to reply when Vampyr wrote:

 

 

but since you're doing essentially the same to bluejak I'll do so now.

 

If you can be bothered to read the earlier parts of the thread, you will see that I have never doubted the experiences of those who assert that bidding anything other than 2♥ would be extremely unusual where they play.

 

I wish you would extend the same courtesy when those of us with different experiences remark that this is not universal, especially when we have taken the trouble to give some evidence to back what we say.

 

"Not universal" hmm. I've no idea why that is relevant to my assertion that Bluejak was wrong.

 

He implied that is was normal to respond 2♠ with both majors in England. Given that I have played over quarter of a million hands and have seen it happen once, I beg to differ. Perhaps I should reread the entire thread, but since I am regretting opening it in the first place, that ain't gonna happen.

[PeterAlan]

"Not universal" hmm. I've no idea why that is relevant to my assertion that Bluejak was wrong.

Because you are denying his statement of his experience without any basis for doing so, beyond the fact that you don't share it. Others do, and that's relevant, and that was what I was saying when I remarked that Vampyr's experiences, like yours, were "not universal". You're just saying "Well I haven't seen it, so it can't happen anywhere", and when we say "Well we have" you respond "No, you haven't".

 

He implied that is was normal to respond 2♠ with both majors in England.

No, he didn't. He said that neither it nor a number of alternative responses is "particularly unusual", which is not the same thing at all.

 

Given that I have played over quarter of a million hands and have seen it happen once, I beg to differ.

That's your experience, and I'm not questioning it. It's evidently not his, and it's not mine. Please don't be so dismissive of experiences that don't wholly agree with yours, especially when you can't be bothered to read properly the posts that express them.

[PhilKing]

No, he didn't. He said that neither it nor a number of alternative responses is "particularly unusual", which is not the same thing at all.

 

 

Yes he did. Have another look at posts 4, 12 and 19.

 

As Gordon points at, David completely contradicts himself in post 12, but when Gordon asked if there was a country where most respond 2♠ with both majors and David stated, without any justification whatsoever, that England is such a country.

 

I was replying to his post, not yours. Why you would think it discourteous that I have not waded through the entire thread is quite baffling.

 

Although a quick flick through did turn up one post with which I agree:

 

Of course, if your starting point is that the 2♠ rebid with 4 ♥s is indeed unexpected. I've been trying to pursue the possibility that it ain't necessarily so, but it's clearly time to stop.