Ex. 21             Bidding : 1NT - 4♠ - Pass
Opener ♠ - A K ♥ - K 9 8 ♦ - K 7 3 ♣ - A 10 7 5 2		Responder ♠ - Q J 10 9 5 2 ♥ - A 7 ♦ - Q 9 5 ♣ - 8 4
Opener's 1NT bid promises a balanced hand. Responder therefore knows that even if Opener holds only two spades they do have a trump fit (2 + 6 = 8). He therefore confidently bids 4♠.
Ex. 22             Bidding : 1NT - 3♥ - 4♥ - Pass
Opener ♠ - A 8 6 3 ♥ - A 7 5 ♦ - A 7 ♣ - K Q 9 4		Responder ♠ - K 6 ♥ - K J 10 6 3 ♦ - 8 6 3 ♣ - A 7 6
Responder's 3♥ is forcing to Game. He is showing 5 hearts and asks Opener to bid 4♥ with 3-card heart support, or bid 3NT with only 2 hearts.
Ex. 23             Bidding : 1NT - 2♣ - 2♥ - 4♥ - Pass
Opener ♠ - A J 7 ♥ - A 9 6 2 ♦ - K Q 8 3 ♣ - A 6		Responder ♠ - 10 9 6 2 ♥ - K Q 8 4 ♦ - J 7 6 ♣ - K 3
Responder's 2♣ is a "conventional bid", the Stayman Convention. (This convention reveals a possible 4-4 trump fit in one of the two major suits.) It asks Opener to bid his 4-card major suit, or bid 2♦ if he does not have one. Obviously Responder must have at least one 4-card major himself, otherwise there is no point in asking.
Ex. 24             Bidding : 1NT - 2♠ - Pass
Opener ♠ - A K 5 ♥ - K Q J 7 ♦ - Q 4 ♣ - Q 8 6 4		Responder ♠ - J 9 8 6 4 ♥ - 10 8 3 ♦ - J 6 3 2 ♣ - 5
Responder makes a so called Rescue bid. It shows a very weak unbalanced hand with a 5+card suit. After Partner's Rescue bid Opener must pass ! All Responder's bids at the 2- level are Rescue bids, except for 2♣ which is Stayman.
© 2013 Michael Furstner