Readers have asked about the new-minor forcing (NMF) bid. It’s a potentially complicated subject, but there are relatively simple answers.

NMF is an artificial and forcing bid of an unbid minor after opener has rebid 1NT or jump-shifted to 2NT. Showing 11+ high-card points (or the equivalent in trick-taking potential) in response to 1NT or 7+ HCP after the 2NT rebid, it typically seeks to discover if there’s a 5-3 fit in responder’s first-bid major suit.

Sitting South, with North dealing, you hold:

♠ J 10 4

♥ Q J 10 8 4

♦A J 5

♣ Q J

The bidding had proceeded as follows:

North                              South
1♦                                 1 ♥
1NT                                ?

Bid 2 ♣ , standard NMF. Now partner can explain further (and to a tee) the opening bid. With three-card heart support and minimum values, partner bids 2 ♥. With a full 14-point max and three hearts, partner bids 3 ♥. With two-card heart support and minimal values, partner bids 2 ♠. That’s an artificial bid, since opener didn’t bid spades before, that asks partner to place the contract where it belongs. With two-card heart support and a max, partner bids 2NT, with a stopper in the new minor. With a max but without a stopper in clubs, partner bids 3 ♣ and leaves the final decision to the responder.

Sitting South, with North dealing, you hold the following cards:

♠ K Q 10 9 5
♥ A 4 3
♦ Q 5
♣ 10 8 6

The bidding has proceeded as follows:

North                               South
1♦                                  1♠
1NT                                 ?

When responder’s first suit is spades, I don’t use NMF. I bid 2 ♣, which is called “checkback Stayman.” You are asking first if partner has four hearts, since you may be 5-4 in spades and hearts; second, whether partner has three spades. If partner bids 2 ♦, denying three spades or four hearts, invite with 2NT. Or if partner bids 2 ♥, promising four hearts but not denying three spades, bid 2NT. If partner then bids 3 ♠, pass. If partner initially bid 2 ♠ after your 2 ♣, raise to 3 ♠. Even if opener’s first-bid suit was clubs, responder’s rebid of 2 ♣ would be checkback Stayman, not a club raise.

Don’t worry about memorizing all these bids. The important thing is to show support for responder’s first bid if you have three-card support. A checkback Stayman situation presented itself on board 19 at the Island Bridge Club the night of August 13. West was dealing, with North-South vulnerable:

NORTH
♠A 10 8
♥A 7 5
♦A 10 9
♣10 8 6 3

WEST                              EAST
♠9 5                               ♠J 3 2
♥ Q J 9                           ♥K 10 6 4 3 2
♦ J 8 4 2                        ♦5
♣ K Q J 9                      ♣A 5 4

SOUTH
♠ K Q 7 6 4
♥ 8
♦ K Q 7 6 3
♣ 7 2

In an optimal auction, the bidding would proceed as follows:

West                North               East               South
Pass                1♣                   Pass              1♠
Pass                1NT                  Pass              2 ♣*
Pass                2♠                   Pass              4 ♠
All Pass

* Checkback Stayman

Opening lead:♣K

South’s hand grew exponentially with three-card spade support, and North-South should make four. Not bad for a partnership holding 22 HCP!

Alas, only one of eight North-South pairs bid and made 4♠. It’s possible the others didn’t know about NMF or checkback Stayman.