Simple Responses

The responder passes with a worthless hand. With a long major suit and a singleton or void on the side, or enough strength to make game and nothing higher, the responder bids game in the major suit. With a long minor suit and freaky distribution, the resonder may bid game in the minor.

With interest in game or slam and a long suit, the responder bids three of the long suit. The opening bidder next bids:

• A four-card major at the level of three, if possible
• 3NT with no interest in responder's suit
• Four of responder's suit with support. If responder's suit is diamonds, the opening bidder raises only with four-card support.

With long clubs, the responder follows up with 4 Clubs, since, as covered in the next section, the response of 3 Clubs does not promise long clubs.

The Stayman Convention

Until now, no mention has been made of conventions. A convention is a bid that has no relation to the suit named. After a 2NT opener, 3 Clubs invokes the Stayman convention, and says nothing about clubs. It asks the notrumper, "Do you have a four-card major?" The notrumper replies:

• 3 Diamonds - no four-card major
• 3 Hearts - four cards in hearts
• 3 Spades - four cards in spades without four cards in hearts

After the reply, the responder bids game in the opening bidder's major with four-card support and 3NT otherwise. After the 3-Heart reply and the responder's rebid of 3NT, the opening bidder bids 4 Spades holding four cards in spades, reasoning that the responder would not have bid Stayman unless interested in a major suit. Since hearts did not please the responder, he must have been interested in spades.