2-way negative stayman for weak NT

[NaeosPsy]

Pros:

Conceals 4COM of opener if not needed

Lets to rightside contracts which wouldn't be possible to rightside with transfers

1NT - 2M is to play

Can stop in 2M in case of min opener and 5C INV

Solves the problem of 1NT - 2C - 2S - 2NT with 5H in usual 2-way Stayman

Built in relay

 

Cons:

More chances for opponents to double for lead, although they should fear penalty a little bit.

A bit harder competitive bidding.

No classical garbage stayman.

Cannot relay full shape sometimes.

 

 

 

1NT - 2C(4S INV, 5M INV,4(5)-4(5) M INV, 5+S ST, C INV, 5M COG)

2D - no 4S

........2H - INV 5 or 4 if 4-4M, mostly 5,if after raise partner bids 3NT, it was 4. 4-2 should be very rare, but 2NT was a bad contract there too.

........2S - INV 5

........2NT - bal INV

........3C - INV w/ C

........3D - 5S 4D

........3H - 5S 4C

........3S - 5S COG

........3NT - 5H COG

........4CDH - splinter, 6+S

........4S - bal, many spades, ST

2H - 4S min

........P - INV W/H

........2S to play

........2NT - S fit, asking for more(the same as relay when opener has shown hearts)

........3C - INV w/C

........3D - 5S 4C with shortage

........3H - 5S 4D with shortage

........3S INC

........3NT - COG W/5H

2S - 4S S max

........the same as 1NT-2C-2H

2NT - Both M max

........3C SO

........3M chooses major, asks cue

3C - both M min

........3M chooses major, asks cue

 

 

1NT - 2D(4H INV, 5+H ST, 4H GF, both M GF, anything that wants to relay the shape, C ST)

2H - no 4H

........2S ask

................2N denies spades, 3C asks further, 3D=5-5M GF, 3H, 3S - 5-4M GF

................................3D - 44m, 3H asks for doubleton

................................3H - 5C3D32

................................3S - 5C332D

................................3NT - 5D332

................3C 4 spades, 4 diamonds, 3D asks doubleton

................3D 4 spades, 4 clubs, 3H asks doubleton

................3H 4333 max

................3S 5332 spades

................3N 4333 min

........2NT INV

........3C - ST 6+C

........3D - 5H 4D ST

........3H - 5H 4C ST

........3S4C4D - splinter with 6+ H

........3NT to play

........4H no shortness, 6+H, ST

2S - 4H no 4S

........2N asks

................3C - 4 H, 4 diamonds

................3D - 4 H, 4 clubs

................3H - 4333 max

................3S - 5 spades

................3N - 4333 min

2NT - both M

........3C - ST w/ C

........3D sets H as trump

........3H INV w/ 4 hearts

3S sets S as trump

 

 

1NT - 2M to play

1NT - 2NT - transfer to D, 3C min, 3D max

1NT - 3C weak with C, 6+

1NT - 3D - 6+M INV

1NT - 3M - splinter in other M, 1345, 0355

1NT - 3NT to play

1NT - 4C - gerber

1NT - 4D/4H - Texas

1NT - 4S - both m

 

 

Improvements, suggestions and opinions welcome. :)

[Kungsgeten]

I think it is interesting.

 

1NT-2D; 2H-2S. This auction is the way to go with 4-4 majors and a GF? It seems to reveal a lot about opener if the only thing responder want is to find out if we have a spade fit.

 

1NT-2C; 2NT/3C. I think you should play 3D/H as transfers here. There seems to be no way to sign off in 3M otherwise? Or is 3D a puppet to 3H?

 

Here's a possible improvement

 

1NT-2C; 2D---

2H = INV, 5+!s or balanced INV

...2S = Denies spade INV

...2N = Accepts spade INV, denies balanced INV

...3S = Max with 3 spades

...3N = Max with 2 spades

2S = INV+ with 4-4 majors (solves the problem I listed above)

2N = INV with 5 hearts

[NaeosPsy]

I think it is interesting.

 

1NT-2D; 2H-2S. This auction is the way to go with 4-4 majors and a GF? It seems to reveal a lot about opener if the only thing responder want is to find out if we have a spade fit.

 

1NT-2C; 2NT/3C. I think you should play 3D/H as transfers here. There seems to be no way to sign off in 3M otherwise? Or is 3D a puppet to 3H?

 

Here's a possible improvement

 

1NT-2C; 2D---

2H = INV, 5+!s or balanced INV

...2S = Denies spade INV

...2N = Accepts spade INV, denies balanced INV

...3S = Max with 3 spades

...3N = Max with 2 spades

2S = INV+ with 4-4 majors (solves the problem I listed above)

2N = INV with 5 hearts

 

1NT-2C;3C - 3D should be a puppet to 3H, I don't think you should transfer to weak hand.

 

Your idea is very nice. I guess the easier bidding outweighs stopping in 2H, so thank you. :).

 

After looking at it I realized that there is no way to show 4S and SO in 1NT-2C-2D. I think that I could take out the 5H COG and put it in 1NT-3D and have SO with 4S in that place. Oppener wouldn't have to show 4S when responder is not interested in that and on 1NT-3D opener will only have to bid 3NT if doubleton H and accepting the INV, everything else is the same(responder rebids 3NT if able).

[Zelandakh]

You might find this an interesting read. Once you get down to using 2m to ask about specific 4 card majors, this is the logical result (if a little too complicated/unusual for most pairs).

[NaeosPsy]

Thank you, I have read it. :)

[rbforster]

Looks pretty good. I play a simpler fast-arrival setup with weak NT, so for us both 1N-2M and 1N-3m are sign offs; obviously you can do more with transfers there if you're willing to give up pressuring the opponents. We play a straight up two-way stayman system, 2C garbage or invitational with 4+M (2N direct is natural no 4M), and 2D is GF relay.

[benlessard]

Ive played no transfers for a couple of years and its awesome for a big field tournament, its also nice when you play vs a weaker team that play 15-17 not only it protect you by having the same declarer. 1m-1M vs 1NT-transfers but 1NT-2M (to play) is a tough nut to defend against.

 

I now play with transfers but its somewhat similar to your scheme. We avoid 1NT-2C-2S vs long H inv and we control opener responses to 2C.

 

1NT--???

 

2C = all the inv, all the both M hands or both m hands, the Romex stayman hands. Can be a D signoff

2D= transfer could be 4 if 4H+5m GF (weak or GF never inv)

2H = transfer could be 4 if 4H+5m GF (weak or GF never inv)

2S= inv 5or+ Spades

2NT = Clubs inv or better

3C = D inv or better

3D = puppet

3H = 13(54)

3S = 31(45)

 

 

2C is all the inv, all the both M or both m hands , the Romex stayman hands.

 

2C--??

 

2D almost forced.

2H min and 4 or 5H

rest is max with supper accept in D.

 

after

 

1NT-2C-2D-??

 

Pass= D signoff

2H= inv with 5 or 6H (we play 2H not 3H/2Nt)

2S= Inv with 4S(may have 4H) (1nt-2S is inv with 5/6S)

2NT = Inv no M

3C = Romex stayman

rest is single suiter D

 

So all the inv hands we can find the fit and stop in 2M if opener is minimum. We have all the transfers for GF hands (transfer in M can be 4M+5m)and we have some bids for both minors.

We can signoff in 2D but not in 3m.

We dont have classical garb stayman wich is inferior to the D signoff anyway. We cannot handle the (4441)

 

Using 1NT-2D for only the 5H+ is poor, the frequency is too low for such a precious bid. Using 1NT-2H for 4S+5m or 5S is better than using it just for 5S (non inv) hands.

 

Minors signoff at the 3 level are overated especially those in transfers.

[benlessard]

I also recall reading on the bbo forum that there was a clever 2 under transfers scheme that I tought was superior to the ETM scheme.

[NaeosPsy]

Looks very interesting.

How do you differ between 5M4m and 4M5m? Do you use second round transfers similar to ETM scheme?

[benlessard]

Looks very interesting.

How do you differ between 5M4m and 4M5m? Do you use second round transfers similar to ETM scheme?

 

Weve tried many stuff but i think its simpler to keep it symmetric.

 

transfer in a maj and bid is GF.

 

1NT-2D-2H-??

 

2S= 4+clubs 4+hearts

2NT = single suiter or other type of hands.

3C = 5D+4H

3D = 5H+4/5D low short

3H = 5H+4/5D high short

3S = 2542

after

 

1NT-2D-2H-2S-2NT-?? we use the same scheme but with clubs.

3C = 5C+4H

3D = 5H+4/5C low short

3H = 5H+4/5C high short

3S = 2524

 

With spades its similar except that 52(42) are in other type of hands.

 

We have a rule that if opener bypass 3NT quickly hes promising a sure M fit, if he punt under 3NT and bid over 3Nt hes got minor fit. Most of our bid under 3NT are looking for the best game (weak nt = game before slam is more important)