Hitchhiker after a weak 1NT

(Also known as "Condensed transfers" in the Bridge World)

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After a weak 1NT opening (or rebid showing the same kind of hand), the opposite holds as after a normal 1NT. The goal is to get the notrump hand in dummy. This system achieves that in many situations. It started out by thinking about a way to improve 2-way Stayman, which works like this: 2 asks partner if he has a 4-card major, and 2 asks partner if he has a 4-card major. Doesn't sound very intelligent, does it? What information other than a 4-card major might partner want to know? Right, if he has a fit for a 5-card major. If you ask partner for a 2-card major you know directly if he has a fit or not! In addition if he doesn't have a fit you can play safely on the 2-level.

Latest change: March 13th 2008 - New high-level responses to 2

Change: April 24th 2008 - Minor suit slam tries transfer first, even with 4-card major.

Full Disclosure File available!

Let's have a look at the responses to 1NT:

Response

Further Bidding
2 Stayman Relay See below
2 Invite or better, usually with 5-card major Opener shows his short major
2/ Weak, to play
2NT / 3 Transfer to /, weak or GF
3 Puppet Stayman, asks for 5-card major
3/ 3-card suit, singleton other major, GF
3NT To play
4/ 6+card /, slam interest
4/ To play
4NT Quantitative
The weak signoffs in the majors put maximum pressure on the opponents. Otherwise emphasis is put on whether or not game should be bid, and if so which game.

Stayman

This is the same as in normal Stayman, the non-standard bids are in italic.

1NT - 2 - ?
  • 2: No 4-card or
  • 2: 4-card , possibly also 4-card
  • 2: 4-card , no 4-card
  • 2NT: 5-card

    1NT - 2 - 2 - ?
  • 2: Weak, 4+ 4+
  • 2: Invitational or better, 5 + 4
  • 2NT: Invitational for 3NT
  • 3/: Invite, long suit
  • 3: 3-suited with 4, short , GF
  • 3: 3-suited with 4, short , GF
  • 3NT: To play
  • 4/: Splinter, 5 + 5, slam interest

    1NT - 2 - 2 - ?
  • 2: Invite without 4-card major or slam try confirming (Opener bids 2NT with minimum)
  • 2NT: Invite with 4
  • 3/: Invite, long suit
  • 3: Invitational for 4
  • 3: Slam try with 4
  • 3NT: To play (promises 4-card )
  • 4/: Splinter
  • 4/: To play

    1NT - 2 - 2 - ?
  • 2NT: Invitational for 3NT
  • 3/: Invite, long suit
  • 3: Forcing with fit
  • 3: Invitational for 4
  • 3NT: To play
  • 4/: Splinter
  • 4/: To play

    The 2 Relay

    2 asks partner to bid a doubleton major to find 5-3 fits. Note that an 1NT opener should have at most one doubleton major. Without a doubleton major a fit is certain, and opener bids 2NT or higher.

    1NT - 2 - ?
  • 2: Doubleton , at least 3-card
  • 2: Doubleton , at least 3-card
  • 2NT: At least 3-3 majors, minimum or 4 - 4 majors, maximum.
  • 3: At least 3 - 3 majors, maximum, 4+
  • 3: At least 3 - 3 majors, maximum, 4+
  • 3: 5 + 3, maximum
  • 3: 5 + 3, maximum
  • 3NT: Any 4333, maximum

    1NT - 2 - 2 - ?
  • 2: 5 4, forcing, invite or better
  • 2NT: 5, invitational
  • 3/: GF, natural
  • 3: 6, invitational
  • 3: 5, invitational
  • 3NT: To play
  • 4/: -fit, control
  • 4/: To play

    1NT - 2 - 2 - ?
  • 2NT: 5, invitational
  • 3/: GF, natural
  • 3: 5, invitational
  • 3: 6, invitational
  • 3NT: To play
  • 4/: -fit, control
  • 4/: To play

    1NT - 2 - 2NT - ?
  • 3: GF with
  • 3: GF with
  • 3: 5, invitational
  • 3: 5, invitational
  • 4/: To play

    1NT - 2 - 3m - ?
  • 3M: Fit, slam try
  • 4m: Fit, slam try
  • 4 other m: Ace asking for the minor

    Some recipes

    To invite without a 4-card major, bid Stayman first.
    To invite with a long minor, bid Stayman and then your long minor.