[Hanoi5]

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You probably have a great system over 1NT, but if you sat down and agrred to play 2/1 how would you take 2♠ in this sequence?

[ArtK78]

4 spades, invitational values.

As most play 2NT as some sort of conventional raise, you must bid Stayman with an old-fashioned invitational raise, whether you have a 4 card major or not. Therefore, Stayman followed by 2NT is natural and invitational.

Also, most players bid hearts first with both majors in response to Stayman. So, if you have bid Stayman with 4 spades and invitational values, you should bid 2♠ over 2♥. Without either major you bid 2NT.

This is "standard" in today's bridge. It would not have been standard about 30 years ago.

[BillHiggin]

One nice thing about standards is that there are so many to choose from.
But, if you have agreed to play 2/1 with a new partner of some experience and have not had further discussions then assuming "four suit transfers with garbage stayman" will serve you well more often than not. That still leaves areas of potential misunderstanding.

Without the double, I think that stayman followed by correcting a 2H response to 2S should show an invitational balanced hand with 4 spades (and certainly fewer hearts). I would not be surprised if partner had some other idea, but this is where I would place my bets.

[Mbodell]

A decent chunck of people play 2♣ followed by 2♠ over 2 red as showing an unbalanced invite with 5 spades. The sort that wants you to choose between 4♠, 2♠, and 2nt (but not 3nt). Something like 7 HCP and 5 spades and a stiff or void. I don't think it would be "general standard" but amongst certain populations it might be standardish. I don't think the X should change the meaning.

[lowerline]

The same as without the double... What that is, depends on whether Stayman always promises a 4crd major or not.

Steven