Decide your bid before you turn each card over. In every hand here you are sitting opposite the notrump opener, and the opponents pass throughout.
cards · work out your answer first, then tap a card to check it.
First bid after 1NT (15-17)
Your hand
| Partner | You |
|---|---|
| 1 NT | ? |
♠J 7 4
♥Q 8 3
♦9 6 4 2
♣K 8 5
What do you bid?
The bid
Why
Pass
Why
Only 6 points. Game is out of reach, so leave partner in 1NT.
First bid after 1NT (15-17)
Your hand
| Partner | You |
|---|---|
| 1 NT | ? |
♠K J 9
♥Q 9 4
♦Q 10 6 3
♣9 8 2
What do you bid?
The bid
Why
2NT
Why
8 points, balanced, no 4-card major. 2NT invites game. Opener passes with 15 and bids 3NT with 16-17.
First bid after 1NT (15-17)
Your hand
| Partner | You |
|---|---|
| 1 NT | ? |
♠A Q 5
♥K 7 4
♦J 8 6 3
♣Q 5 2
What do you bid?
The bid
Why
3NT
Why
12 points, balanced, no 4-card major. You have enough for game, so bid it.
First bid after 1NT (15-17)
Your hand
| Partner | You |
|---|---|
| 1 NT | ? |
♠A J 8 3
♥J 7 4
♦Q 8 6 2
♣9 5
What do you bid?
The bid
Why
2♣ (Stayman)
Why
Invitational hand with a 4-card major, so use Stayman to look for a 4-4 spade fit.
First bid after 1NT (15-17)
Your hand
| Partner | You |
|---|---|
| 1 NT | ? |
♠K Q 7 5
♥A 6 3
♦J 9 4 2
♣8 6
What do you bid?
The bid
Why
2♣ (Stayman)
Why
Game-forcing hand with a 4-card major, so use Stayman to look for a 4-4 spade fit.
First bid after 1NT (15-17)
Your hand
| Partner | You |
|---|---|
| 1 NT | ? |
♠K Q 7 2
♥A 6 4
♦K 8 5
♣9 7 3
What do you bid?
The bid
Why
3NT
Why
You have 4 spades, but the hand is flat 4-3-3-3. With no short suit, a major suit gains nothing, and 3NT needs only 9 tricks. No shortness, no Stayman.
Second bid after Stayman
Your hand
| Partner | You |
|---|---|
| 1 NT | 2 ♣ |
| 2 ♥ | ? |
♠K 8 6 2
♥A 9 5 4
♦J 7 3
♣8 5
What do you bid now?
The bid
Why
3♥
Why
8 points and 4 hearts, so you found the 4-4 fit. Raise to 3♥ to show that you have an 8 card fit and to invite game.
Second bid after Stayman
Your hand
| Partner | You |
|---|---|
| 1 NT | 2 ♣ |
| 2 ♥ | ? |
♠K 8 6 2
♥A 9 5 4
♦K 7 3
♣8 5
What do you bid now?
The bid
Why
4♥
Why
10 points and a 4-4 heart fit, so bid game in hearts.
Second bid after Stayman
Your hand
| Partner | You |
|---|---|
| 1 NT | 2 ♣ |
| 2 ♥ | ? |
♠A J 7 3
♥9 5
♦K J 6 2
♣7 5 3
What do you bid now?
The bid
Why
2NT
Why
Opener has 4 hearts, may or may not have 4 spades. With 9 points, invite with 2NT. If opener also has 4 spades along with their 4 hearts, they can always go back to spades.
Second bid after Stayman
Your hand
| Partner | You |
|---|---|
| 1 NT | 2 ♣ |
| 2 ♥ | ? |
♠A J 7 3
♥9 5
♦K Q 6 2
♣7 5 3
What do you bid now?
The bid
Why
3NT
Why
Since your major is not hearts, bid game in notrump. Opener will figure out that you have a game forcing hand with 4 spades.
Second bid after Stayman
Your hand
| Partner | You |
|---|---|
| 1 NT | 2 ♣ |
| 2 ♦ | ? |
♠K Q 6 3
♥J 7 4
♦9 8 5
♣Q 6 2
What do you bid now?
The bid
Why
2NT
Why
2♦ says opener has no 4-card major. With 8 points, invite with 2NT.
Second bid after Stayman
Your hand
| Partner | You |
|---|---|
| 1 NT | 2 ♣ |
| 2 ♦ | ? |
♠K Q 6 3
♥J 7 4
♦A 8 5
♣Q 6 2
What do you bid now?
The bid
Why
3NT
Why
2♦ says opener has no 4-card major. No major fit and 12 points, so bid game in notrump.
Second bid after Stayman
Your hand
| Partner | You |
|---|---|
| 1 NT | 2 ♣ |
| 2 ♠ | ? |
♠A 9 6 3
♥K 8 5 2
♦Q 7 4
♣6 3
What do you bid now?
The bid
Why
3♠
Why
9 points and a 4-4 spade fit. Raise to 3♠ to invite game.
Second bid after Stayman
Your hand
| Partner | You |
|---|---|
| 1 NT | 2 ♣ |
| 2 ♠ | ? |
♠A 9 6 3
♥K 8 5 2
♦Q 7 4
♣K 3
What do you bid now?
The bid
Why
4♠
Why
12 points and a 4-4 spade fit, so bid game in spades.
Over a 2NT opening (20-21)
Your hand
| Partner | You |
|---|---|
| 2 NT | ? |
♠9 6 4
♥K J 7 3
♦Q 6 5 2
♣7 4
What do you bid?
The bid
Why
3♣ (Stayman)
Why
Stayman works the same way one level higher. 6 points opposite 20-21 is enough for game, and you have 4 hearts.
Over a 2NT opening (20-21)
Your hand
| Partner | You |
|---|---|
| 2 NT | ? |
♠J 7 4
♥9 6 3
♦Q 8 5 2
♣7 5 3
What do you bid?
The bid
Why
Pass
Why
Only 3 points. Even opposite 20-21, game is unlikely, so pass 2NT.
♠ ♥ ♣ ♦
Deck complete
You have been through every card in this deck.
Keyboard: space or enter flips the card, left and right arrows move between cards.