The Stayman Convention
Reference: Bump Up Your No-Trump Bidding, pp 7-10 The purpose of the Stayman convention is to locate a possible 4-4 fit in a major suit after an opening bid of 1 NT or 2 NT. Responder bids 2 ♣, requesting opener to show a four-card major suit if he has one. With both majors, opener bids “up the line”. Stayman after a 1 NT Opening Bid What are the three requirements of a Stayman bid?
What are the three possible rebids by the no-trump opener?
Consider the following bidding sequences: Opener 1 Responder 1 Opener 2 Responder 2 Opener 3 Responder 3
1 NT 2 NT 1 NT 2 ♣ 1 NT 2 ♣ 3 NT P 2 ♥ 2 NT 2 ♥ 3 ♥ 3 NT P P
How does the strength of responder 2 compare with the strength of responder 1? How does the strength of responder 3 compare with the strength of responder 2? Describe the hands of opener 2 and responder 2. Describe the hands of opener 3 and responder 3.
Opener 4 Responder 4 Opener 5 Responder 5 Opener 6 Responder 6
1 NT 2 ♣ 1 NT 2 ♣ 1 NT 2 ♣ 2 ♠ 3 NT 2 ♥ 4 ♥ 2 ♥ 2 NT P P 3 ♠ P
The Stayman Convention
Describe the hands of opener 4 and responder 4. Describe the hands of opener 5 and responder 5. Describe the hands of opener 6 and responder 6.
Stayman after a 2 NT Opening Bid Stayman can be used over an opening bid of 2 NT but it is forcing to game. There is no room to make an invitational bid. Since opener has 20 or 21 points, you will need 6 HCP (or a good 5 HCP) to arrive at 26 points. Note that when the strength is concentrated in one hand, communication with dummy is limited, especially if no major suit fit is found. Stayman can also be used when opener bids 2 ♣ and rebids 2NT. This shows a balanced hand with 22 -24 HCP. Responder could bid with as little as 4 HCP
Stopping Along the Way to Attend to Some Business (an important concept in bidding)
The sequence 1 NT - 2 ♣; 2 ♥ - 2 NT; shows exactly the same high card strength as the sequence 1 NT – 2 NT.
The sequence 1 NT - 2 ♣; 2 ♥ - 3 NT; shows exactly the same high card strength as the sequence 1 NT – 3 NT.
The sequence 2 NT - 3 ♣; 3 ♥ - 3 NT; shows exactly the same high card strength as the sequence 2 NT – 3 NT.
The Stayman Convention
Fake Stayman – A Unilateral Action by Responder
When responder bids 2 ♣, he shows at least eight HCP. This means that game is assured, either in a major suit or in NT, if opener has a maximum of 17 HCP. Therefore responder is promising not to drop the bidding below 2 NT. Otherwise he would deprive opener of the opportunity to bid game.
There is one situation in which responder is justified in deceiving partner and bidding with a weak hand. A hand that has a singleton or void in clubs has a good chance of finding a 4-4 fit. If opener does not have a four-card major, he must bid 2 ♦. Responder will pass with the expectation that opener has a diamond suit since he has no more than six cards in the major suits. (See Monica’s notes, p 10)
Bidding Practice
Stayman with 5-4 in the Major Suits The Stayman convention can be used to show a hand that has nine cards in the major suits. (See Monica’s notes, pp 8-10)
Bidding Practice
Play some Hands