Hand 274 — Stayman: No Major Fit, Return to 3NT

Play this hand
Dealer
S
User Side
N/S
Contract
3NT
Declarer
S
Tricks Makeable
9
Recommended Lead
5D
Vulnerability
None
System
SAYC

Planning

Stayman. Over a 1 or 2 no-trump opening bid, and partner hold a 4c major, then a bid of 2c asks opener to bid his 4 card major. If none, 2D or 2NT is the response.

The Deal

North
K J 7 4
Q 10 7 3
K 8 2
7 5
West
9 5
A 9 6 4
Q 10 9 5 3
8 3
East
10 8 3 2
J 2
7 6
A K J 10 4
South
A Q 6
K 8 5
A J 4
Q 9 6 2
North: 9 HCP, 4-4-3-2 (bal)
East: 9 HCP, 4-2-2-5
South: 16 HCP, 3-3-3-4 (bal)
West: 6 HCP, 2-4-5-2

Bidding Sequence

S W N E
1NTPass2CPass
2DPass2NTPass
3NTPassPassPass

Final Comments

In 3NT we first count our winners.
4 spades
2 hearts
2 diamonds
0 clubs
We need to find another trick for our contract to be successful.
The way the cards lie, we can make our 9th trick in clubs.