We saw 2 Stayman facing 1NT. It's a question to find out if the opener has 4 cards in a major, remember?
Today, your hand facing a 1NT opening is this one:
Your problem is to know whether your partner has (or not) at least 3 Hearts. So Stayman isn't that useful anymore because even if you ask if they have a 4-card major and they say no (or they have 4 Spades), they might have 3 Hearts... or not.
So today, no more questions: you are going to state. You will learn two different bids in response to 1NT, the "Texas" to tell the opener "I have at least 5 Hearts" and "I have at least 5 Spades."
It may seem a bit strange at first, I warn you. You have to say the bid immediately below your real suit. And that forces the opener to bid your suit whatever they have (we say "rectify the Texas").
See how it works:
| SouthS | WestW | NorthN | EastE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1NT | Pass | 21 | Pass |
| 22 |
- NorthN 2
I have at least 5 Hearts, bid 2
- SouthS 2
Well... OK I'll say them!
Same with Spades:
| SouthS | WestW | NorthN | EastE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1NT | Pass | 21 | Pass |
| 22 |
- NorthN 2
I have at least 5 Spades, bid 2
- SouthS 2
OK, there you go boss
As North, you can have 0 HCP, or 20 HCP! For now, we don't know, you have just announced your 5 cards (at least).
Facing partner's 1NT, you have six Spades and only 2 HCP, with no other long suit. Which bid from the lesson allows you to play in Spades at a low level?
You will bid your points in a second step, by passing or by a No Trump bid after the Texas rectification, see:
| SouthS | WestW | NorthN | EastE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1NT | Pass | 2 | Pass |
| 2 | Pass | ||
| Possible responses | |||
| Pass | |||
| 2NT | |||
| 3NT | |||
Then, the opener thinks. For example, on 3NT, they pass if they have only 2 Hearts (2 + 5 = 7, no fit), and they bid 4 if they have at least 3 Hearts (3 + 5 = 8, the fit).
You opened 1NT. Partner makes a Spade Texas, then bids 3NT after your rectification. You only have two Spades. Which contract do you choose?
| SouthS | WestW | NorthN | EastE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1NT | Pass | 2 | Pass |
| 2 | Pass | 3NT | Pass |
Texas in summary
| SouthS | WestW | NorthN | EastE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1NT | Pass | ||
| Possible responses | |||
| 21 | |||
| 22 | |||
- NorthN 2
I have at least 5 Hearts, bid 2
- NorthN 2
I have at least 5 Spades, bid 2
When the opener has rectified to 2 or 2, the responder informs about their points by passing (no hope of game), or by making a No Trump bid (2NT hope of game, 3NT certainty of game, 4NT hope of slam...).
Note: with not 5 but 6 cards, the responder repeats their suit (2 Texas Hearts then on 2, they bid 3 to propose the game or 4 to impose it).
The big traps
- 1st trap: as opener, think before rectifying a Texas. You shouldn't. Partner said 2, Texas Spades? Bid 2 without looking at your hand.
- 2nd trap: as responder, repeating your Hearts with only 5 cards by bidding 3 or 4 after the Texas rectification. Since we already announced 5 cards, if we repeat them, it's because we have 6!
You have six Spades and the strength needed to impose the game, with no hope of slam. After the bidding in the table below, which continuation do you choose?
| SouthS | WestW | NorthN | EastE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1NT | Pass | ||
| 2 | Pass | 2 | Pass |
Facing 2NT, it's the same one level higher: 3 is a Texas for Hearts (the opener must bid 3) and 3 is a Texas for Spades (the opener must bid 3).
You open 2NT. Partner bids 3 Texas and you only have two Hearts. What bid do you make?
| SouthS | WestW | NorthN | EastE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2NT | Pass | 3 | Pass |
Now it's your turn with your new tools:
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