Simon started playing aged 10, together with his family (Brothers Jack and Zebedee make their living exclusively from teaching bridge), and was soon playing at club, county then national level. Simon represented England as part of the Under 25 squad, partnered with both brothers in turn. On completing a degree in Classics from Trinity College, Oxford, Simon began teaching bridge at the London School of Bridge, and then at The Acol Bridge Club with Andrew Robson. In 1995, Simon started the Andrew Robson Bridge Club in partnership with Andrew, establishing it (with help from brother Zebedee) as the world’s most successful bridge club. Simon left in summer 2000, pending the arrival of his son Max, and now teaches in London, the Cotswolds, and the Caribbean. In 2004 Simon played bridge on top of Kilimanjaro at a height of 19,335 feet.
« Home | Advanced Stayman »
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Weak Stayman
1. Weak with long ♣s
2. Weak with 5-4 in Majors
3. Weak with 5-5 in Majors
4. Weak 3-suited Hand
1. Hand-Type B (0-10 points with long ♣s) is much rarer.
♥ 10 9 5
♦ Q 5 2
♣ Q J 10 8 6 4
Bid 2♣ over partner's 1NT and then 3♣ over partner's response to your Stayman.
This cancels Stayman - partner must pass. It does not promise a 4-card major.
2. Hand-types C are the least-known Stayman hands.
You are able to use Stayman with 0-10 points, provided you have 5-4 in the majors.
If partner responds in your major, you can pass, raise or use the Losing Trick Count (assume seven LTs for the 1NT opener).
If partner bids 2♦ you bid your 5-card major, as a Weakness Take-Out.
♠ J 10 6 5 2
♥ K 10 9 5
♦ 5
♣ 6 4 3
Before Stayman, you would simply respond 2♠ to partner's 1NT opener. With Stayman you are able to look for a 4-4 ♥ fit, passing if partner bids 2♥ or 2♠. If partner responds 2♦ you make the bid you would have made, 2♠ and partner must pass.
♠ A 10 6 5
♥ K 10 9 5 3
♦ 5
♣ Q 4 3
On this hand you can respond Stayman 2♣, and if partner responds 2♦ you can settle for 2♥. If partner responds 2♥ or 2♠ to your 2♣ you can raise to game, by virtue of your singleton ♦. Those using the Losing Trick Count will arrive at the same answer.
3. You can also use Stayman on all hands with 5-5 in the majors and 0-10 points.
If partner bids 2♦ simply choose a major and bid 2 of that suit as a weak-take-out, which partner will pass. If you find a 5-4 fit, you can use the Losing Trick Count to see whether game is viable. See Extended Stayman for more on 5-5 hands:
♠ 9 7 6 5 2
♥ 10 9 8 5 3
♦ K 3
♣ 2
Bid 2♣, intending to pass any major suit response, and over 2♦ choose one of your major suits, best to choose the stronger so bid 2♥.
4. There are various 3-suited hand-types that can handle any response by partner:
♠ Q J 6 5
♥ 10 9 5 3
♦ Q 8 4 3 2
♣ -
Perfect for Stayman - you can pass any response.
♠ J 9 5
♥ 10 9 5 3
♦ K Q 5 4 3
♣ 6
Not quite so perfect as partner may respond 2♠ (with four cards, occasionally five). This will however often prove to be a better contract than 1NT, especially if they don't find a trump lead, as you can trump ♣s in dummy. 4-3 trump fits work well when there is a singleton in the shorter trump holding. Put it this way, if partner were to open 1♠ the best response would be to raise to 2♠. "Moysian" fits (four trumps opposite three) require delicate handling and are much loved by experts.
♠ A J 6 5
♥ 10 9 5 3
♦ -
♣ J 10 9 6 4
Many would bid 2♣ on this hand also. It works fine when partner bids a major suit (55% of the time), but over a 2♦ response, you are now compelled to bid 3♣ which may result in a 5-2 fit at the 3-level. This is probably worth the risk as on average, partner will hold three cards in ♣s and sometimes four or even five cards.
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