[helene_t]

Yke Smith and Toine van Hof write in the recent issue van IMP about optional Stayman, meant to find 3NT despite a 4-4 fit if both hands are 4333 or with stuff in the doubleton and a poor trump suit.

1NT-2♣
2♦*-2♠**

*Can have a 4-card major in a hand more suitable for 3NT
**Pubbet to 2NT, now responder can show a 4-card major with a hand suitable for a suit contract even if opener's hand is not.

Hands with four spades and a longer minor bid directly 3m after the 2♦ rebid, while hands with four hearts and a longer minor go through the 2♠ bid in response to opener's 2♦.

Any thoughts? I obviously has some disadvantages when responder is weak (the 2♠ follow up to Stayman is not available, and it is less safe to pass the 2♦ rebid when responder is 4441 or (43)42, so I probaby wouldn't want to play it in a weak NT context. But for strong NT pair it may be worthwhile?

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

if you are concerned about the 4333 shape, there are already methods that show this hand type,
with the 4 card major, if I remember correctly it is usually responder, the visible hand (in 3NT).

One method uses 3H / 3S by responder to do this, so the question is, what do they gain versus this
method.

With kind regards
Marlowe