Romex Stayman over 1 and 2NT

Mr. Marshall Miles, Mr. George Rosenkranz, the developer of the Romex Bidding System, and others developed this alternative to Puppet Stayman, five-card and Fiskforsk Stayman for discovering a 5-card Major suit after a 2NT opening. This method can also be used after systemic 2NT rebids when no suit has been bid naturally.

The idea behind employing this method serves several purposes, which include:

• This method generally places the declarer with the strong hand.
• This method provides the responder additional bidding space with a distributional 5-4-x-x holding.
• This method does not disclose excessive information to the opponents.
• This method is relatively natural and is easy to learn, which means that it can be incorporated into a natural bidding system.

Although this method was originally devised to deal with an opening of 2NT, the concept can be employed also for an opening of 1NT.

2NT Auctions

The Romex Bidding System uses 3 and 3 responses as Jacoby Transfer bids in the standard way. If the responder holds a distribution of 4-5-x-x, the responder first bids 3. The application of the 3 responses as possible transfers to the Minor suits has not been maturely developed or devised or explained and has been left to the individual partnership to determine.

The 3 first response to a 2NT opening is employed when the distribution is 4-4-x-x or 5-3-x-x and the responder is searching for a Major suit fit. However, the responder will also employ the same bidding sequence when holding a distributional Minor suit of at least a 5-card suit and has slam ambition. The bidding sequences are outlined in the schematics below with corresponding clarifications and explanations.

Auctions after: 2NT - 3 - 3 (May have distributional 4-card Spade suit, but otherwise denies any Major suit interest)

3 - A relay bid asking if the opener has four Spades.

• 3 - Promises four Spades.
• 3NT - This response denies four Spades.

3 - Shows 5-4-x-x distribution. The responder is informed that the opener does not have 4 Hearts or a 5-5-x-x distribution with any slam interest. Slam interest is indicated by first transferring to Spades and then rebidding four or more Hearts.

• 3NT - This rebid denies any interest in responder's Spades.
  • 4 - This rebid shows 5-5-x-x distribution and no slam interest.
• 4/4/4 - These are cuebids showing Spade support.
• 4 - To play.

3NT - To play.

4 - This rebid shows a 5-card suit and slam interest.

4 - This rebid shows a 5-card suit and slam interest.

Auctions after: 2NT - 3 - 3 (Shows a 4/5-card Heart suit and denies a 4-card Spade suit)

3 - Relay asking if opener has 4 or 5 Hearts. Responder must have at least 3 Hearts support to ask.

• 3NT - Only four hearts.
  • 4/4 - Shows a 5-card suit and slam interest.
• 4 - Shows a 5-card Heart suit. Optionally the opener could rebid 4 of a Minor suit to show 3-5-3-2 or 3-5-2-3 by bidding the doubleton. Then 4 would show 2-5-3-3. A disadvantage to this sequence is that the wrong player would declare.

3NT - To play. The assumption is that the responder was, most likely, interested in Spades.

4/4 - Shows a 5-card suit and slam interest.

4 - To play.

4 - Roman Keycard Blackwood with Hearts as the agreed trump suit. This is partnership agreement.

4NT - Quantitative.

Auctions after: 2NT - 3 - 3 (Shows a 5-card Spade suit)

3NT - To play.

4/4 - Shows a 5-card suit and slam interest.

4 - Roman Keycard Blackwood with Spades as the agreed trump suit. This is partnership agreement.

4 - To play.

4NT - Quantitative.

Auctions after: 2NT - 3 - 3NT (Distribution: 4-4-x-x)

4/4 - This rebid can be employed by partnership understanding that the continued auction showing a 5-card plus Minor suit is not seeking a Minor suit slam, but rather to place the declarer with the stronger hand. Therefore, the understanding could be that a rebid of 4 establishes Hearts where as 4 establishes Spades. The opener is now in the position to bid the suit and if the responder has slam ambitions, can continue the search for slam.

4/4 - This rebid is natural and is to play.

• 4NT - This rebid is natural and is to play. It also shows no interest in the Minor suit of the responder.
• other - By partnership agreement, other rebids are cuebids with mutual agreement that the Minor suit of the responder is the better contract.

4NT - Quantitative.

Auctions after: 2NT - 3 - 3NT forced

In the Romex Bidding System, the first response of 3 is employed with holdings, where the contract should be played in No Trump, but also with holdings by the responder, which contain slam or slam-possible holdings containing a 6-card or better Minor suit. After a first response of 3, the opener is required to bid 3NT, whereupon the responder has the opportunity to further explore for slam, either in No Trump or in a Minor suit.

These second responses are outlined in the schematic below.

• Pass - To play.
• 4/4 - This shows a 6-card plus suit and slam interest. The opener can now cuebid or sign off in 4NT or 5 of the Minor suit.
• 4/4 - This shows a Minor two-suiter with singleton or void in the suit bid. Slam interest. The opener can now bid 4NT to play or chooses one of Minor suits of the responder.
• 4NT -This shows a strong x-x-4-4, 2-2-5-4 or 2-2-4-5 distributional hand. Although this bid is non-forcing, it is slam-inviting.
• 5/5 - To play.
• 5NT - This shows a strong x-x-5-5 or better hand. The opener is required to select a Minor suit.

After a 2NT opening, any first response on the Four Level is considered conventional

• 4 - Gerber
• 4 - Texas Transfer
• 4 - Texas Transfer

1NT Auctions

The Romex Stayman 2NT auctions can be adapted to the 1NT opening by using the additional level of bidding to accommodate invitational and sign-off sequences. The responses are outlined below in the schematic, which include the information regarding the significance of the response.

Responses to 1NT:

• 2 - Romex Stayman. Invitational or better, nominally interested in a 4-card or 5-card Major suit of the opener. This first response could also be a distributional 5-5-x-x with invitational strength only or 5-4-x-x, or slam interest with a 5-card Minor suit or a strong Minor two-suiter. Additional explanations are included below.
• 2 - This is a Jacoby Transfer to Hearts. Rebidding 3 or 3 is forcing and suggests slam interest. Rebidding 2 suggests strongly a distributional 4-5-x-x and is forcing one round.
• 2 - This is a Jacoby Transfer to Spades. Rebidding 3, 3 or 3 generally shows a 4-card plus side suit. This bid is forcing and suggests slam interest. Rebidding 4 shows 5-5 and denies slam interest.
• 2 - This response is either 1. a Minor suit bust or 2. a weak Minor two-suiter or 3. a strong Minor two-suiter. Additional explanations are included below.
• 2NT - This response is natural and invitational. The opener should rebid a 5-card Major suit if possible on holdings that fit the description and accept the invitation.
• 3/3 - This shows a long suit, little outside strength, and is invitational to 3NT. The opener can accept with xxx, Kx or Ax and coverage in the other suits.
• 3 - This first response shows a long broken Club or Diamond suit with slam interest. The opener rebids 3 with a top honor, Ace, King or Queen, in only one Minor suit, 3NT with no Minor suit top honors, or 4 with honors in both Minor suits. After 3, the responder rebids 3NT to play or four of his Minor suit to investigate further. The opener must rebid 4NT if that is the suit without the honor, otherwise the opener will cuebid. After a 4 rebid by the opener, to which the responder rebids 4, if that is his suit. Otherwise the responder cuebids or employs Roman KeyCard Blackwood with 4NT.
• 3 - This shows a reasonably solid, long Minor suit with possibly zero losers opposite a small doubleton, which is unsuited for Gerber. The opener is required to rebid 3NT and the responder rebids the intended suit. Cuebids follow.
• 3NT - To play.
• 4 - Gerber.
• 4/4 - Texas Transfers
• 4NT - Quantitative.

Rebids by the Opener after 1NT - 2:

The following schematic outlines the progressive bids employed to investigate the possibility of a Major suit fit and to discover whether the final contract should be in a Minor suit fit when the responder holds at least a 5-card Minor or longer suit and/or a two-suited holding in the Minor suits.

2 is Invitational or better, nominally interested in a 4- or 5-card Major suit of the opener. This first response could also be a distributional 5-5-x-x with invitational strength only or 5-4-x-x, or slam interest with a 5-card Minor suit or a strong Minor two-suiter. Opener's rebids are:

• 2 - The opener may have a 4-card Spade suit, or 4-4-x-x with maximum values, but otherwise denies any Major suit interest.
• 2 - The opener has a 4- or 5-card Heart suit, but less than a 4-card Spade suit.
• 2 - The opener has a 5-card Spade suit.
• 2NT - The opener has a distribution of 4-4-x-x, and minimum values.

Auctions after: 1NT - 2 -2 (A possible 4-card Spade suit, but otherwise denies any Major suit interest)

2 - Asks if opener has a 4-card Spade suit, or maximum 4-4-x-x holding. The responder must have a 4-card Major suit to make this bid.

• 2 - Shows a 4-card Spade suit, one-round forcing; denies a maximum 4-4-x-x holding. Compare 3 below.
  • No Trump - This continuation is natural.
  • 3/3 - These bids are natural, invitational slam try with four Hearts.
• 2NT - Denies a 4-card Spade suit and shows a minimum 1NT opening. This rebid also denies a 4-card Heart suit. This rebid is non-forcing.
  • 3/3 - Natural rebid and slam attempt.
• 3 - Shows a 4-4-x-x and maximum 1NT opening.
  • 3 - Establishes Spades as the trump suit; continuation with cuebids.
  • other - Establishes Hearts as the trump suit; continuation with cuebids. Partnership agreement
• 3NT - Shows a maximum 1NT opening.

2 - Shows a 5-4-x-x and unlimited values or 5-5-x-x and invitational values which could be shown by a 3rebid. This is a one-round forcing bid.

• 2NT - Shows a minimum holding and a doubleton Spade. Distribution is necessarily 2-3-3-5, 2-3-5-3 or 2-3-4-4.
• 3/3/3 - Shows a maximum 1NT and three or four Spades, cuebid.
• 3 - Shows a minimum 1NT and three or four Spades.
• 3NT - Shows a maximum 1NT and two Spades.

2NT - Natural.

3/3 - Promises a 5-card suit and slam interest.

3 - Shows 6-4-x-x and is invitational.

3 - Shows 6-4-x-x and is game-forcing and shows no slam interest, which would be shown with a transfer.

3NT - Natural.

Auctions after: 1NT - 2 - 2 (Shows a 4- or 5-card Heart suit and less than four Spades)

2 - Relay asking if opener has four or five Hearts. The responder must have exactly three hearts to bid this.

• 2NT - Shows a minimum 1NT with exactly four Hearts. All rebids by the responder, except 3NT, show slam interest.
• 3 - Shows a minimum 1NT and five Hearts. Cuebids as continuation.
• 3NT -Shows a maximum 1NT and four Hearts. It is possible to employ 3, 3 and 3 to clarify the distribution of the opener, but this disclosure is generally of more help to the defense.
• 4 - Shows a maximum 1NT and five Hearts. Cuebids as continuation.

2NT - Natural.

3/3 - Shows a 5-card Minor suit with slam interest. Since the responder may have three Hearts, the opener should immediately rebid 3 holding five, postponing support for the Minor suit, if present.

3 - Invitational.

3NT - Natural

4 - Roman Keycard Gerber.

4 - To play.

4NT - Quantitative.

Auctions after: 1NT - 2 - 2 (Either a Minor suit bust or a weak or strong Minor two-suiter)

• 2NT - Natural.
• 3/3 - Shows a 5-card Minor suit with slam interest.
• 3 - Strong Spade agreement.
• 3 - Invitational.
• 3NT - Natural.
• 4 - Roman Keycard Gerber with Spades as agreed trump suit.
• 4/4 - Splinter. Partnership agreement.
• 4 - To play.
• 4NT - Quantitative.

Auctions after: 1NT - 2 - 2NT (Shows minimum values and 4-4-x-x)

• 3/3 - Shows a 5-card Minor suit with slam interest.
• 3/3 - Natural, non-forcing.
• 3NT - To play.
• 4/4 - Roman Keycard Gerber in corresponding Major suit - Clubs show Hearts, Diamonds show Spades.
• 4/4 - To play.
• 4NT- Quantitative.

Auctions after: 1NT - 2 (Either a Minor suit bust or a weak or strong Minor two-suiter)

2NT - Diamonds or no preference.

• 3/3 - To play
• 3/3 - Singleton or void showing strong x-x-5-5 distribution.
  • 3NT - The opener has no interest.
  • 4/4 - The opener has interest and establishes the preferred suit.
• 3NT - Distribution: 2-2-4-5 or 2-2-5-4 showing mild slam interest; non-forcing.
• 4/4 - Distribution: 2-2-4-5 or 2-2-5-4 The Minor suit bid shows the 5-card suit; strong slam interest.
  • 4/5 - Agreement with the 4-card suit of the responder.
  • 4/4 - Agreement with the 5-card suit of the responder. Continuation with cuebids.
  • 4NT - Natural.

3 - Club preference.

• 3 - To play showing a Diamond bust.
• 3/3 - Club suit established. Continuation with cuebids.
• 3NT - Club suit established. Shows mild slam interest, but is non-forcing.
• 4 - Roman Keycard Gerber with Clubs as agreed trump suit.

Additional Explanations:

The guidelines have been set forth in the publications of Mr. George Rosenkranz and Mr. Phillip Alder, but as with every bidding system, there will be several auctions, whereby so-called idle bids can be introduced to designate certain interpretations or assigned certain definitions. With the Romex Bidding System, these idle bids can be employed individually by the partnership and they become an individual understanding.