# Any Bridge players here? How should I have opened this hand? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 12, 2015, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-bridge-players-here-how-should-i-have-opened-this-hand/727644 "2015-08-12T11:53:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2015, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-bridge-players-here-how-should-i-have-opened-this-hand/727644/21 "2015-08-14T18:20:46Z")
I remember learning that the difference between opening 4NT and 5NT was that 4NT invites 6NT, 5NT forces 6NT and invites 7NT. I opened 5NT once, and only once, and my partner passed ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2015, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-bridge-players-here-how-should-i-have-opened-this-hand/727644/22 "2015-08-14T18:55:37Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > I remember learning that the difference between opening 4NT and 5NT was that 4NT invites 6NT, 5NT forces 6NT and invites 7NT. > > I opened 5NT once, and only once, and my partner passed ☹ Umm… 4NT and 5NT are special responses to partner opening 1NT or 2NT, with meanings as you describe. Just 3 weeks ago I responded 5NT to an opening 2 NT bid and my partner passed. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2015, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-bridge-players-here-how-should-i-have-opened-this-hand/727644/23 "2015-08-14T19:25:49Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > I remember learning that the difference between opening 4NT and 5NT was that 4NT invites 6NT, 5NT forces 6NT and invites 7NT. > > I opened 5NT once, and only once, and my partner passed ☹ I don’t play a lot of bridge, but I’d be confused if my partner opened 5NT. I would have passed, too, not knowing what you meant by 5NT. Opening bids, as far as I know them, are conventionally always at the 1- and 2- level, aren’t they? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2015, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-bridge-players-here-how-should-i-have-opened-this-hand/727644/24 "2015-08-14T19:57:37Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Just 3 weeks ago I responded 5NT to an opening 2 NT bid and my partner passed. ☹ Why not bid 4C (Stayman) if you’re interested in slam? ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2015, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-bridge-players-here-how-should-i-have-opened-this-hand/727644/25 "2015-08-14T21:43:04Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Umm… 4NT and 5NT are special responses to partner opening 1NT or 2NT, with meanings as you describe. > ( Oh, you’re exactly right. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2015, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-bridge-players-here-how-should-i-have-opened-this-hand/727644/26 "2015-08-14T22:20:01Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Why not bid 4C (Stayman) if you’re interested in slam? 3C would be Stayman, not 4C. An immediate 4C over 1NT or 2NT is commonly ace-asking (Gerber). An immediate bid of 5NT in response to partner’s 1NT or 2NT opening is usually “pick a slam” which gives partner a chance to suggest a suit at the 6-level, or bid 6NT. Hence with a hand like AQX KQx Ax KQTxx and partner bids 5NT over your 2NT opening, you bid 6C to suggest clubs. Bidding Stayman over partner’s opener will not help you find a minor suit slam. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-bridge-players-here-how-should-i-have-opened-this-hand/727644/27 "2015-08-15T02:07:29Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > 3C would be Stayman, not 4C. An immediate 4C over 1NT or 2NT is commonly ace-asking (Gerber). You’re right. Been so long since I’ve played I misremembered. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-bridge-players-here-how-should-i-have-opened-this-hand/727644.md?page=1)