2S response to 1NT

Congratulations to Harry Gordon, DL Proctor, Andra Gyor and Elaine Panke for their win in the 14 team Eight is Enough Swiss Team game on Sunday. They skunked us the first round as my partner and I bid (or misbid!) cautiously on several hands that favored optimistic bidding. Unfortunately, we do not have hand records for the human-shuffled boards.

The 2S gadget:

When our side opens a 15-17 1NT it is normal these days to play 2C as Stayman, 2D as a transfer showing 5+ hearts, and 2H as a transfer showing 5+ spades. Of course, 3NT is "to play." There is far less agreement on other responses; many pairs play four-suited transfers, a method I don't recommend unless you have detailed understandings about the follow-up bids. (I tried these at one point and discovered how woefully inadequate it is to agree "X is a transfer to clubs and Y is a transfer to diamonds" with no further discussion when responder has a strong hand with a long minor.)

For those not playing minor suit transfers, a common style (part of the Standard American Yellow Card) is to play 2S shows a weak hand with a 6 card or longer minor. Opener bids 3C, and responder passes with long clubs or corrects to 3D. This loses the transfer advantage when the suit is diamonds, but has the advantage of only tying up one bid for a relatively rare hand type. (Note on procedure: Alert the 2S bid, and describe it as "shows a long minor, asks opener to bid 3C." Do NOT describe as a "transfer", since the bid does not promise clubs.)

Why climb up to the three level on a weak hand? Simple arithmetic: a weak hand generally lacks the entries to use the long suit at notrump; meanwhile, with at least a 6-2 fit, the 4th, 5th and 6th cards in the suits should take tricks if they are trumps. Getting to 3C or 3D increases two tricks from 1NT, but you gain at least 3 and typically more since the trumps suit helps control the hand. If 3 of the minor goes down a trick, 1NT was usually headed for a multi-trick set.

A few simple agreements can extend the usefulness of the 2S response.Allow responder to make the bid with 5-5 in the minors, weak or 5-5 minors, strong, along with the 6+ minor weak hands. Opener bids 3C if he has at least as many clubs as diamonds, but 2NT if he has more diamonds than clubs. Responder corrects to his minor with 6+ in the suit; with 5-5, he can pass 3C or correct 2NT to 3D.

If responder has 10-14 hcp and 5-5 in the minors, he responds 2S and rebids 3NT. Opener passes with good stoppers in the majors, but can escape to 4 of a minor with a hand like KQx xxx KQxx AJx. Did all this "science" give the show away? Possibly, but had partner simply raised 1NT-3NT, chances are very high the defense would find a heart lead or switch. You'll make only when the opening leader underleads the Ace of spades; it's roughly 50-50 he'll choose spades, and only half of that he'll have the Ace, so call it a 25% shot. Meanwhile 4D is a near lock and responder may be able to raise to 5 with extras.

With Axx xxx AQxx AJx, 5D should be a lock and 6 looks good opposite as little as Jx x KJxxx KQxxx. Declarer pulls trumps, runs the clubs pitching spades, and ruffs a spade in dummy. The bidding should proceed 1NT-2S-2NT (more diamonds than clubs)-3NT (5-5 strong)-4S (showing the Ace and implying weak hearts)-6D, as responder has the crucial singleton in hearts. With two heart losers, he signs off at 5D.