Stayman

When using the Stayman convention after your partner opens 1NT (or a 1NT overcall), only use it if you have at least one 4-card major suit. The purpose of Stayman is to explore whether your partner also holds a 4-card major, aiming for a better major suit fit. If you lack a 4-card major, consider other bids like a direct raise or a transfer, depending on your hand's strength and distribution.

Opening in NT

 Opening the bidding with 1NT (one no-trump) shows a balanced hand with 15-17 high card points (HCP). This bid helps your partner gauge the strength and shape of your hand, making it easier to find the right contract. Remember, a balanced hand typically means no singletons, voids, and, at most, one doubleton.

OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT [Large language model]. https://chatgpt.com/share/0ccf285b-7b9d-4b71-9b5f-fdb4cecf8f93

A Response By Your Partner that is Forcing for One Round

• You opened the bidding with one of a suit.
• Your partner, who had not passed, responded in a different suit at the 1-level (1 over 1).
• Your partner's response is forcing for one round.

Why: If your partner had previously passed, his point range was 6-11 points. But, in this example, he did not, so he did not put an upper limit on his range. He might have opening points that, combined with yours, could result in a game bid or even a slam.

Posted by Dick.