Play a new practice hand each week!


Saturday May 18th:
Is that a duck I see?
By Marti Ronemus

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V-Blue - The beginners e-newsletter: 20 hands to play every two weeks - ACOL and Standard American versions available

Saturday May 18th:
Two chances are better than one!
Lords vs. Commons by Paul Bowyer

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V-Green e-Newsletter: 24 hands to play every two weeks

STAYMAN.

WHAT IS STAYMAN?

a.     Stayman is a convention to find an EIGHT-CARD FIT IN THE MAJORS after the opening of One N/T.   If the Responder nvokes Stayman the Responder MUST have an alternative bid should they hear the worst possible response from the Opener.   So if you use Stayman, then you MUST have a second bid ready for if the opener responses differently than the bid you had anticipated .   The Pt count for Stayman could be ZERO if the hand has a suitable shape.

b.     With a 4-3-3-3 & 4-4-3-2 Shapes and 0 - 10 Pts.   PASS.   You can't invoke Stayman because if the opener rebid TWO DIAMONDS (Negative) you will not have a bid to JUSTIFY your hand.   First you can't bid TWO HEARTS/SPADES as this requires a minimum of FIVE CARDS.    Secondly you can't leave the TWO DIAMONDS bid "ON" because it's possible that your partner may have just a doubleton in the DIAMOND suit.    Thirdly you can't bid TWO N/T as this promises 11-12 Pts.   So it's best to PASS partner should make ONE N/T 90% of the time and the odd occasion they will make extra tricks, so don't be fooled by 10 Pts.

c.     With 11-12 Pts.