by: blumblum98 (M/colorado)

This is a continuation of messages 25,26,27. To respond two clubs to a one no trump opener you need the same point count as when responding normally. With ten points and a four card major you respond two clubs and bid game. either four of the major if you find a fit or 3 nt. if you don't. With six or less you pass and let partner try and make one N/T. It generally isn't worth it to increase the level trying to find a fit. With seven or eight points you bid two clubs and if partner doesn't hit your major, bid two nt. Partner can go on to game with a maximum, so you don't want to bid like this with six or less points. If partner bids your major with 7 or 8 points raise to three with eight, pass with seven. It is worth raising the level to try and find a fit with the seven or eight point hand. One variation: you hold Kxxx Qxxx Kxxx x. I like to bid two clubs and if partner bids two diamonds, I pass. You sometimes play a four three fit, but quite often if partner doesn't have a four card major, he has four diamonds. If partner bids either hearts or spades then I would raise to game because of the singleton club. However you could also raise to three if you feel conservative. There is a corollary to the Stayman convention. If responder bids two clubs you can assume he has a four card major. So if as opener you have AJxx AQxx Ax Qxx and partner bids two clubs, you respond two hearts, then partner bids three no trump, telling you he has strength for game but no heart fit. You should then bid four spades because if he doesn't have hearts, he has four spades. This is why you should not bid two clubs as responder without a four card major.

In evaluating your hand as responder in a Stayman auction where you are going to end up in a suit contract, you can count distribution points, but if there is no fit and you end up in NT then distribution points don't count.