Page 20 - ABF Newsletter June 2025

A GAME
AT THE
CLUB
Barbara Travis
www.bridgeatbeaumont.com
Have you given proper consideration to your contin- uations after 1NT and 2NT opening bids?
For instance, what does this auction mean? 1NT 2[
2] 4NT
Is it Roman Key Card Blackwood, setting spades (and indicating at least six spades), or it is quantitative, inviting slam, with five spades? And similarly after a 2NT opening bid.
I love four-level transfers, whether you play “two- under” meaning 4{ shows hearts and 4} spades, or “one-under” where 4} shows hearts and 4[ shows spades. Since I play that 4} shows hearts, let me demonstrate how different auctions work using that method:
1NT 4}
4} shows 6+ hearts. Responder might pass, wanting
to play in 4[:
1NT 4}
4[ pass
or responder might bid 4NT to ask for keycards:
level, there are other options: 1NT 2}
2[ 3] / 4{
The jump in a new suit is a splinter bid (six or more
hearts, with a shortage in the bid suit). With no shortage, just jump in hearts:
1NT 2} 2[ 4[
This shows a slam interest hand with six or more hearts and no shortage (without slam interest, re- sponder would just transfer at the four-level).
With only five hearts:
1NT 2}
2[ 4NT
This shows five hearts, quantitative (invitational).
Another option with five hearts is to bid a second suit – game forcing – and determine whether part- ner has support before considering slam.
A similar scenario applies after Stayman. What does this mean to you:
1NT 2{ 2[ 4NT
Is it agreeing hearts, and therefore RKCB? Or is it quantitative, showing four spades?
It should be the latter. So, if that’s the case, you need a method to show hearts and either invite slam, or head to slam. There is a modern method to do so:
1NT 2{ 2[ 3]
1NT 2{ 2] 3[
1NT 4} 4[ 4NT
and If instead, responder chooses to transfer at the two-
Apart from Smolen (which applies after a 2} re- sponse to Stayman), these bids of the other major at the three-level show four-card support for opener’s major and slam interest (or better). Having agreed your suit, even if partner signs off in game, a 4NT bid next is RKCB for the agreed major.
It’s relatively simple, because you can’t be bidding the suit naturally or you should have used a transfer bid! You do, however, sacrifice a spade splinter after
Page: 20
Australian Bridge Federation Ltd. Newsletter: June 2025