Speaking of countermeasures: As N, I would have raised 1NT to 3NT. I have enough points, 4-3-3-3 distribution, a mediocre H suit, and therefore little (if any) interest in playing a trump contract. In the play, win the CK (first trick if possible, otherwise 3d), cross to HK & take S finesse. Then duck a H.

Hi David,

As I have previously written on this subject I, as a matter of discipline, have always (or almost) merely raised 1NT to 3NT with a 4-3-3-3 or 3-4-3-3 hand and the requisite number of hcps. The advantage is a small one, but nevertheless I think effective, in that sometimes the opening leader, not knowing that the responder has withheld showing at least one four card major sometimes gets the lead in that suit, when going through the Stayman process may likely alert him not to, but also by the opener’s rebid sometimes help later on the defense, as it materializes.

Of course, once in a while, Stayman wins, reaching a better game contract, but I agree with you the above advantage is superior, except, in the rare occurrence when the opener has chosen this time to have a 5 card major (which unfortunately hits your 4 card fit).

This choice is just one in many bidding situations, when often, the enemy is listening so that the quickest and least informative sequence which makes it tougher for worthy opponents to defend, but whatever risk involved is worth keeping secret to the defense.

The debate will always go on, among the upper echelon in bridge theory, as to whether to always bid scientifically, rather than just bash, which only suggests in today’s hand that Ben Ki-Moon’s quote may have a planet “B” after all, but to just jump to 3NT becomes the best way to win fair maiden, in the form of making nine tricks in NT, although this hand doesn’t really show it, but if East’s hand rather than West was on opening lead, it might.