The Lavings convention is a simple way of asking for 5 card majors after partner has opened a strong or weak NT.

After an opening 1NT Bid and 2♣ Response

So it’s important to known you can only bid 2♣ with invitational hands.

BidMeaning
2♦Minimum no 5 card Major
2♥Minimum 5 card hearts
2♠Minimum 5 card spades
2NTMaximum no 5 card suit
3♣Maximum 5 card club suit
3♦Maximum 5 card diamond suit
3♥Maximum 5 card heart suit
3♠Maximum 5 card spade suit

Continuations after 2♦

So after 1NT – 2♣ – 2♦ uninterrupted

BidMeaning
2♥5 card suit non-forcing
2♠5 card suit non-forcing
2NTTo Play
3♣Promissory 4 card Stayman
3♦3 Card Stayman
3♥Shows 5 spades and 4 Hearts
3♠Shows 5 hearts and 4 Spades

Continuations after 2NT

So after 1NT – 2♣ – 2NT uninterrupted. 3♣ would be promissory Stayman and a bid of 3♦ would ask for a 3 card major.

Some Examples

Let’s look at some examples of strong and Weak NT openers.

a)b)c)d)
♠ AQ1083
♥ K8
♦ KJ7
♣ A97		♠ AJ53
♥ J54
♦ QJ72
♣ K7		♠ KJ4
♥ K108
♦ AQ762
♣ A7		♠ KJ862
♥ 42
♦ KQ7
♣ AJ10
♠ 954
♥ A74
♦ Q8543
♣ K3		♠ Q73
♥ KQ973
♦ A65
♣ 43		♠ Q72
♥ AQ962
♦ 93
♣ 953		♠ Q73
♥ KQ973
♦ A65
♣ 43
e)f)g)h)
♠ AQ862
♥ 42
♦ KQ7
♣ KJ10		♠ KJ82
♥ 42
♦ KQ7
♣ AJ107		♠ KJ8
♥ 42
♦ KQJ7
♣ A1092		♠ KJ62
♥ 42
♦ KQ7
♣ AJ107
♠ J73
♥ K10973
♦ 43
♣ A65		♠ Q763
♥ KQ93
♦ A65
♣ 43		♠ Q763
♥ KQJ3
♦ 1073
♣ K5		♠ Q1073
♥ KQ73
♦ A65
♣ 43
i)
♠ K82
♥ AQJ6
♦ A982
♣ K8
♠ AJ943
♥ 1094
♦ QJ3
♣ A7

The Bidding

a) 1NT (15-17) – 2♣ – 3♠ – 4♠

So the 3♠ shows a maximum and you simply raise it to 4♠

b) 1NT (12-14) – 2♣ – 2♦ – 2♥

Partner has invitational 5 card heart suit but after just bidding 2♥ you can pass this even with 3 card support.

c) 1NT (15 – 17) – 2♣ – 3♦ – 3♥ – 4♥

The original NT bidder is maximum with a 5 card diamond suit. You now bid your 5 card heart suit (game forcing) which gets supported to 4♥.

d) 1NT (12 – 14) – 2♣ – 3♠ – 4♠

The original NT bidder is maximum with a 5 card spade suit. You now bid 4♠.

e) 1NT (15-17) – 2♣ – 2♠

So the 2♠ shows a minimum with 5 spades which you can just pass.

f) 1NT (12-14) – 2♣ – 2NT – 3♣ – 3♠ – 4♠

2NT shows a maximum without any 5 card suit. 3♣ is promissory Stayman (it guarantees a 4 card major) and partner bids 3♠ which then gets raised to 4♠.

g) 1NT (12 – 14) – 2♣ – 2NT – 3♣ – 3♦ – 3NT

The 2NT shows a maximum without any 5 card suit. 3♣ is promissory Stayman (it guarantees a 4 card major) and partner bids 3♦ which denies a 4 card major. 3NT is then bid.

h) 1NT (12 – 14) – 2♣ – 2NT – 3♣ – 3♥ – 3NT – 4♠

The 2NT shows a maximum without any 5 card suit. 3♣ is promissory Stayman (it guarantees a 4 card major) and partner bids 3♥. 3NT is bid as you don’t like hearts and partner converts to the known 4-4 spade fit and bids 4♠.

g) 1NT (15 – 17) – 2♣ – 2NT – 3♦ – 3♥ – 3NT – 4♠

The 2NT shows a maximum without any 5 card suit. 3♦ asks for a 3 card major (should guarantee a 5 card major) and partner bids 3♥. 3NT is bid which partner can either pass or bid 4♠ if they have 3 card spade support.

So that’s how to play the Lavings bidding convention….a five card major ask after an opening 1NT.