Facts sheet : Suit responses to a 1NT Opening bid

Responding with a new Suit after a 1NT Opening

  1. With 5332 shape and a 5-card major (♥ or ♠) prefer to bid the major.

  2. With semi-balanced or unbalanced shape and a 5+card major (♥ or ♠) always bid the major.

  3. With an unbalanced hand and a 5+card minor (♣ or ♦), bid the minor suit.

  4. With a 5332 or semi-balanced hand and a 5+card minor (♣ or ♦) prefer to bid NT (Provided that the HCP are spread over the four suits)

Suit responses to a 1NT Opening are :

  1. 1NT - 2♣   =   8+ HCP, with a 4-card major : Stayman Convention

  2. 1NT - 2♦ ♥ ♠   =   0-7 HCP, unbalanced hand : Rescue bid
    • Opener must Pass !

  3. 1NT - 3♣ ♦ ♥ ♠   =   8+ HCP, 5-card suit : Forcing to Game
    1. with 3-card support : Opener bids Game in Responder's suit
    2. with 2-card support : Opener bids 3NT

  4. 1NT - 4♥ 4♠ 5♣ 5♦   =   8+ HCP, 6+card suit

The Stayman Convention
A 2♣ response to a 1NT Opening is the Stayman Convention. It asks Opener to show his 4-card major suit(s).
Opener's replies are :

  1. 1NT - 2♣ - 2♦   =   No 4-card major

  2. 1NT - 2♣ - 2♥   =   4 ♥s   or   both 4-card majors

  3. 1NT - 2♣ - 2♠   =   4 ♠s

    (2NT - 3♣   is also used as Stayman Conventions)

The Finesse
In an Indirect finesse a low card is lead up to a high card.
You try to avoid Opponent's high card :   ♥ 9 5 3     >     >     >   4 7 K ♥

In an Direct finesse a high card is lead up to a higher card.
You try to catch Opponent's high card :   ♥ Q J 10     >     >     >   4 7 A ♥

For a Direct finesse you need to have 4 of the top 5 (or 6) cards in the combined hands.