A 21st Century Replacement for New Minor and More

A version that includes Modified Two-Way Stayman, presented by Mike Savage

XYZ is somewhat similar to New Minor Forcing or Two-way New Minor Forcing. Here is how it works:
Over any (x-y-z) sequence of bids when opener rebids at the 1-level, responder invokes XYZ by bidding an
artificial 2C to show all invitational hands and 2D with most game-forcing hands.
XYZ always begins the checkback process over a 1H or 1S rebid by opener and this version also includes
playing the same basic continuations after a 1NT rebid by opener as well (the continuations after a 1NT rebid
are often called Modified Two-Way Stayman). X and Y can both be minors, both can be majors, or (most
frequently by far) X will be a minor and Y will be a major. In this composite version of XYZ, you can play the
same basic checkback structure over any Z—whether Z is 1H, 1S or 1NT.
XYZ has many advantages over New Minor, such as you can make an invitational bid in a major and if
partner doesn’t accept, still be at the 2-level. You also can show six diamonds and a four-card major with
invitational values after bidding 1D over 1C, followed by bidding 2C over Z and then bidding your major over
the forced 2D rebid. Another advantage of this version is that you can early on distinguish between various
types of game-forcing hands—which you can’t if you play New Minor Forcing.
Here is the basic structure after any one-level rebid by opener if you play this version of XYZ:
2C = Forces opener to bid 2D which responder may pass or follow up with an invitational bid.
2D = Game forcing, responder’s hand pattern is not yet disclosed, leaving a lot of bidding space. After 1X-1M
1Z-2D: opener should show 3-card major support or without it, bid 2NT, if appropriate.
2H or 2S = Not invitational if responder is rebidding his major or bidding 2H after having bid 1S.
2NT = Invites 3NT.
3C = It’s always to play—a signoff bid whether it’s opener’s minor or not.
3D, 3H, 3S = Game forcing, good suit quality with slam potential whether a new suit or a suit rebid.
To invite game in opener’s suit after bidding his own, responder rebids 2C over Z and after the forced 2D
response by opener, responder bids two of opener’s suit with support and invitational values.
To invite game in his major, responder rebids 2C over Z and after 2D by opener, he rebids two of his suit with a
fair to good 5-card (or poor to fair 6-card) suit and jumps to three with a good 6-card suit.
Here are some ways with game forcing hands to show if responder has good suits or if he doesn’t:
To force to game in opener’s suit when either responder’s suit or his support is not great, after bidding his own
suit, responder rebids 2D over Z and supports opener’s first suit on his next turn to bid.
To force to game in opener’s suit when responder has a very good suit of his own along with very good support
for opener’s suit, over Z responder simply jumps to three of opener’s suit on his second bid.
To force to game in his own suit when his suit isn’t great, responder must first bid 2D then rebid his suit on his
next turn. If responder’s suit is a major, suit bids by opener now are cue-bids; 3NT/4M are to play.
To force to game in his own suit when it is very good, responder simply jump-rebids three of his suit. If
responder’s suit is a major, this sets trumps, opener cue-bids with slam interest and bids 4M without.
To force to game with two suits and both are not very good, responder rebids 2D and then bids his second suit
(usually at the three-level) on his next turn to bid.
To force to game with two very good suits, responder simply jump shifts into his 2nd suit on his rebid.
Passed Hand and One-Level Interference
Some partnerships play that the XYZ 2C invitational relay sequences are still “on” by a passed hand. XYZ
might be played over 1-level interference but if so, needs partnership discussion and agreement.
1/2
Suggestions as to when you could choose to break the 2C-2D relay—and what it might show:
1C-1H 1S-2C-3C = Shows a solid 6-card or good 7-card suit and is an offer to play.
1m-1H 1S-2C-2H = Shows almost jump-shift strength and 4-3-1-5 or 4-3-5-1 distribution.
1m-1H 1S-2C-2S = Might show 6-5 (might be 5-5 with clubs and spades) and no extra values.
1m-1H 1S-2C-3S = Might show six of the minor, five of the major, looking for honors in those suits.
Some suggested meanings for continuations after XYZ. Some partnerships may assign other meanings:
1m-1Y 1Z-2NT = Natural and invitational and denies 4-card support for opener’s minor.
1m-1Y 1Z-2C 2D-2NT = Natural and invitational with at least 4-card support for opener’s minor.
1m-1Y 1Z-2C 2D-3m = Invitational with at least 5-card support for opener’s minor and is shapely.
1C-1M 1NT-2C 2D-3D = Shows five of the major and five diamonds with invitational values.
1H-1S 1NT-2C 2D-3D = Shows five spades and five diamonds with invitational values.
1m-1S 1NT-2C 2D-2H = Shows five spades and four hearts with invitational values.
1m-1S 1NT-2C 2D-3H = Shows five-five in the majors with invitational values.
1m-1M 1Z-3NT = To play, and doesn’t show a five-card major.
1m-1M 1Z-2C 2D-3NT = Shows a five-card major and a balanced hand (giving a choice of games).
1C-1D 1S or 1NT-2H = Game forcing with four hearts and five or more diamonds.
1C-1D 1S or 1NT-2C 2D-2H = Invitational with four hearts and six diamonds .
1C-1D 1Z-2D = Game forcing and can have various hands. For instance, it could be made with long diamonds
and slam interest or could have both diamonds and club support with more interest in game or slam
in a minor than in 3NT, or could have support for either one of opener’s suits and slam interest.
Splinters by Responder:
A direct splinter by responder when opener rebids 1NT is always in support of opener’s suit. Responder must
go through the 2C-2D relay in order to make a splinter with his own suit as trumps. Examples:
1C-1H 1NT-3S = A splinter raise of opener’s suit (clubs in this case).
1C-1H 1NT-2C 2D-3S = This is a splinter raise of responder’s own suit (hearts in this case).
If opener rebids one of a suit (not 1NT), a direct splinter by responder is in support of opener’s 2nd suit. To
make a splinter in opener’s first suit, responder must go through fourth suit first. Examples:
1D-1H 1S: 4C = This is a splinter in support of spades.
1D-1H 1S-2C 2D: 4C = This would be a splinter in support of diamonds.
Suggested tips for partnerships that often bypass diamonds to bid a major:
If you bypass five or six diamonds to bid a major unless you have opening values, then bidding 1H or 1S
over 1D guarantees five clubs with a shapely hand (unless you are 4-4-1-4), so it is suggested that you don’t
play XYZ after 1C-1D-1H or 1S, but play that bidding 2C now is just natural and to play.
A possible corollary of this is that after 1C-1D-1H, you could play 1S now as artificial (sort of 4th suit), only
requiring minimal to invitational values. Opener would rebid 1NT with 3-4-1-5 distribution (perhaps 2-4-2-5)
and a spade stopper (right siding no-trump) with minimal or mildly extra values and would jump to 2NT with a
good 17 or 18/19 HCP. Responder could pass 1NT or invite game with 2NT. Some experts might use 1S (after
1C-1D-1H) as natural and forcing or for different artificial purposes.
XYZ is basically a simple convention used after opener has rebid at the one-level. Its structure keeps the
bidding low in order to more precisely explore the best part-score or game contract while facilitating slam
bidding after a game force is established at a low level. In some expert partnerships there are different (often
more complicated) meanings to some of the continuation subtleties suggested above. Your partnership needs to
agree on what meanings for these continuations seem best to you.
patomike@charter.net

2/2