by: blumblum98 (M/colorado)

The responder is the captain. He places the contract where it should be if he has enough information to do so.

Responding with balanced hands. With 4333,4432 or 5332 hands with a five card minor responder often knows where the contract belongs. If he has 10 or more points he bids three no trump(on hands where you have 15 or more points you might have a slam, another lesson). If he has seven or less points he passes.

If there is no game let partner try and make one no trump.

With eight or nine points pass the captaincy back to partner by bidding two no trump. This says: partner bid three with a maximum, pass with a minimum. with seventeen opener has to use judgment. Does he have a five card suit? does he have nines and tens, has he been having a good day. Usually you should bid game unless there is a reason not to Game bonuses are important, and this is not a game for the timid. responding with unbalanced hands and the Stayman convention in the future.