Bidding when the Opposition interfere when you bid Stayman

This is an area that causes a lot of misunderstanding.
You have bid 2♣ Stayman, after Partner has opened 1NT
Your LHO bids at the two level.
Your Partner realises that you hold at least one four-card Major with either enough points to invite or force to game or a weak 5/4 or 5/5 distribution in the Majors.
If the opposition bid is 2 and Opener has a 4 card Major they should bid it. Assuming the bidding comes back to you, you can now carry on, ignoring the interference, including of course Pass if you are weak.
If the oposition bid again after you Pass you may decide to compete (at the right vulnerability) if your “weak bid” was with about 8 or 9 points and obviously 5/4 in the Majors.
Your Partner must always Pass and leave everything to you.

That is relatively straightforward but what do you do if the interference is in a Major.Opener should Pass.
Then your bids are
Pass I am very weak 5/4 and don’t even want to compete in my 5 card suit
A bid of 2 ♠ over 2 says “competing only in my 5 card suit”
If you hold their suit you can Double or bid 2/3NT, according to the vulnerability and your strength.

But what do you do if you hold the other Major?
If not 5/4 and weak you must have
1 at least 11 or a poor 12 points intending to invite game. You can bid 2NT or Double according to your hand and the vulnerability.Needs careful judgement.
2 With a good 12+ bid their suit at the three level saying I have four of the other Major, enough points for game and leave it to your Partner. Most people play this to include some help in the oppositions suit but that is something you must agree with your Partner.

As with all things Bridge this isn’t perfect but it’s one way to deal with the situation.

See Stayman

See Stayman after a 2NT Opening

See also Simple Transfer Responses to 1NT Opening

See also Simple Transfer Responses to 2NT Opening

Main Index