Checkback Stayman

is a 2 rebid by responder after opener rebids a natural 1NT. The 2 rebid checks back for a possible three card fit for responder's major and/or a side four card major. The 2 rebid is artificial even if opener opened 1. The drawback is that you must play either in 3 or 1NT with a long club suit. The simple rebids after Checkback Stayman are as follows. 1 or 1 - 1; 1NT - 2;

• 2 three card spade support
• 2 four hearts and denies four spades
• 2 denies both majors

1 or 1 - 1; 1NT - 2; same as above, but without a 2 bid. Many people play that a rebid of 1NT by opener after 1-1 does not deny a four card major. In that case, responder may rebid 2 to look for a four card major fit. 1 - 1; 1NT - 2;

• 2M shows a four card major
• 2 denies a four card major

There are two thorough treatments of Checkback Stayman that I have found: the Aces and Romex treatment. The Aces treatment is from Bobby Goldman's book Aces Scientific. A 1N rebid shows 12-15 hcp. General follow up rebids by responder are

All no trump bids are show the normal expected point count range as having not gone through checkback, but they guarantee a five card major.

For example: 1-1; 1NT-2; 2

• 2NT shows an invitational hand (about 10-12)
• 3NT is to play (12-17)
• 4NT is quantitative (18-19), etc
• Note: 1-1; 1NT-4NT is quantitative, but without five spades

Jumps are game forcing, but deny a singleton.

1-1; 1NT-2; 2-3 shows a semi-balanced hand with five plus hearts

1-1; 1N-3 guarantees a singleton somewhere

Rebids at or below responder's suit are invitational

1-1; 1N-2; 2- 2 shows an invitational hand with five plus spades and four hearts

1-1; 1N-2; 2- 2 shows an invitational hand with six plus spades

Rebids above responder's suit are game forcing

EXCEPT a 3 rebid is a signoff.

After 1-1, opener may rebid 1N with a balanced hand that contains a four card major. If responder checks back for a four card major, responder is showing at least invitational strength. Also, going through checkback, responder is showing a semibalanced hand as opposed to showing an unbalanced hand (the same as above). After 1-1; 1N-2; 2(any), the rebids are:

• 3 is invitational (with less, make a direct weak raise of clubs)
• 2N natural (10-12)
• all others game forcing with a semibalanced hand

The Romex treatment is from George Rosenkranz's book Bridge: The Bidder's Game. A 1N rebid shows 12-16 hcp; thus, the 2 checkback is also used to determine if opener is minimum or maximum. If maximum then the auction is automatically game forced.