Bridge

April 21, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Bridge

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

x8 6 5 3

u7 5 4 2

v10 9 6 5 3

wVoid

WEST EAST

xQ 10 xJ 9 2

uQ 9 3 uK J 10 8

vK J 4 vQ

wA J 8 7 5 wK 9 6 3 2

SOUTH

xA K 7 4

uA 6

vA 8 7 2

wQ 10 4

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1NT Pass 2w Pass

2x Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Three of u

The Stayman Convention has a mixed heritage. It was developed in England and the United States almost contemporaneously by Ewart Kempson and George Rapee, and written about and amplified by Rapee’s partner, Sam Stayman — so much so that it became known as the Stayman Convention.

Every bridge player is aware that Stayman is invaluable in locating a 4-4 fit in a major suit after partner opens one or two no trump, since a suit contract often plays better than no trump even when all suits are stopped. However, there is another application of the convention that is not so familiar.

Consider the North hand. After South opens the bidding with a one no trump, the North hand does not rate to produce a single trick there, so North employed the convention to locate a 4-4 fit in either major. North was lucky, and two spades became the final contract.

Regardless of the lead, declarer must come to eight tricks — declarer has the entries to ruff three clubs on the table, and scores three trump tricks and the two red aces in hand for a total of eight tricks.

What if South does not hold a four-card major? He will respond two diamonds to the two-club inquiry and North passes, knowing that there is a combined holding of at least seven trumps, more likely eight or nine, in the two hands.

2010 Tribune Media Services