Keri Response to 1NT

Keri is a conventional response to 1NT. Devised by Australian expert Ron Klinger, it is a more scientific alternative to Stayman. After a 1NT opening, a 2 response is an artificial relay to 2. This is part of a complete 1NT response system detailed by Klinger.

Response	Meaning
2	Artificial relay to 2. May have long clubs, diamonds OR a game-invitational hand with a 4 or 5-card major. See below.
2	Transfer to 2. However, this also includes 5-4 and 4-4 hands that wish to invite game. With 5 spades and 4 hearts, OR with 4-4 majors, responder rebids 2 as a game invitation.
2	Transfer to 2. However, this also includes game-forcing hands with 5 spades and 4 hearts. In the latter case, responder rebids 3.
2	Artificial, asking opener if she has a minimum or maximum. Intended as a probe for 3NT. Opener is expected to bid 2NT with a minimum (responder can pass), or 3 with a maximum (committing to the partnership to game).
2NT	Transfer to clubs. Responder can rebid 3 with a game-forcing hand with both minors. Responder can also rebid a 4-card major at the 3-level to force game.

Responder's rebids after the 2 : 2 relay are as follows.

Responder's Rebid	Meaning
Pass	5+ diamonds, weak.
2	4 or 5 hearts, invitational, non-forcing.
2	4 or 5 spades, invitational, non-forcing.
2NT	Stayman, game-forcing.
3	6+ clubs, invitational, non-forcing.
3	6+ diamonds, invitational, non-forcing.

The main benefit here is the ability to stop in 2/ with a 5-3, 4-4 or even 5-4 major suit fit. In contrast, traditional Stayman necessitates major-suit game invitations at the 3-level.

In his book "Bid Better, Much Better After Opening 1 No-Trump", Klinger provides the following example from the 2000 Bermuda Bowl:

		Opener			Responder
		Q72			J953
		AKT6			J754
		Q982			A3
		A7			QJ8
		Opener 1NT 2 (2) Pass			Responder 2 (1) 3 (3)

1. Stayman
2. 4-card major
3. Invitational

In the France vs. Norway match, both tables produced the same auction resulting in 3 down one. Playing Keri, responder could have stopped in 2:

		Opener			Responder
		Q72			J953
		AKT6			J754
		Q982			A3
		A7			QJ8
		Opener 1NT 2 (2) Pass			Responder 2 (1) 2 (3)

1. Keri, relay to 2
2. Completing the relay
3. Invitational

However, Keri also forces you to play an occasional 4-3 fit. Additionally, a hand that would normally start with a Jacoby transfer may wind up declaring the hand. This may wrongside the contract or at least cause a potential swing. Keri may also cost you other methods like Garbage Stayman.

After 1NT : 2, 2 : 2...

Opener's Rebid	Meaning
Pass	3-4 hearts, minimum.
2	Natural showing 2 hearts, 4 spades, minimum strength.
2NT	2 hearts, denies 4 spades, minimum, signoff.
3	Artificial, 4 hearts, minimum. Responder is encouraged to bid with 5 hearts.
3	Any 4-3-3-3 shape, maximum.
3	3 hearts, maximum. Responder can bid 3NT with a 4-card suit, or 4 with a 5-card suit.
3	Natural showing 2 hearts, 4 spades, maximum strength, game-forcing.
3NT	2 hearts, denies 4 spades, maximum, signoff.
4	4 hearts, maximum, signoff.

After 1NT : 2, 2 : 2...

Opener's Rebid	Meaning
Pass	3-4 spades, minimum.
2NT	2 spades, minimum, signoff.
3	Artificial, 4 spades, minimum. Responder is encouraged to bid on with 5 spades.
3	Any 4-3-3-3 shape, maximum.
3	5 hearts, maximum, game-forcing.
3	3 spades, maximum. Responder can bid 3NT with a 4-card suit, or 4 with a 5-card suit.
3NT	2 hearts, denies 4 spades, maximum, signoff.
4	4 spades, maximum, signoff.

Keri was created by Australian expert Ron Klinger and described in depth in his book "Bid Better, Much Better After Opening 1 No-Trump."