Stayman 2 NT

Yellow Card Bidding System Mantra
    ● First, determine which suit to play - then determine the contract level to play.
    ● Try to play a contract in the following priority:
           1) Play a MAJOR suit contract.
           2) Play a NO TRUMP contract.
           3) Play a MINOR suit contract as a last resort.

Responder's Requirements for a Stayman Bid

Suit Length: The responder must have one or both 4-card major suits (hearts or spades). The major suit(s) must be exactly 4-cards long - cannot be longer or shorter. Ignore both minor suits.

Point Count: The responder must have 5 or more HCPs in the hand. The location of the points does not matter.

Stayman Process - 5 Bids

Bid 1:    Opener bids 2 NT .

Bid 2:    Partner's initial response depends upon point count. If the partner has 0 to 4 HCPs, the partner bids PASS. If the partner has 5 or more HCPs and a 4-card major, the partner bids 3 ♣ , an artificial bid informing the opener the partner does not have a 5+card major, but does have a 4-card major and at least 5 HCPs. The partner's 3 ♣ bid asks the opener to identify it's 4-card major, if it has one.

Bid 3:    Opener makes 1 of 3 bids indicating the presence or absence of a 4-card major suit:

Bid 4:

Bid 5:

× Step 3: Opener Bids 3 ♥ - Opener has a 4-card heart suit, and maybe a 4-card spade suit.

Step 4: The partner confirms the presence of a 4-card heart suit, or confirms the presence of a 4-card spade suit.
    • If the partner has a 4-card heart suit, the partner bids 4♥ . The partnership has an 8-card fit in hearts and will play game in a heart contract with the opener as the declarer.
    • If the partner does not have a 4-card heart suit, the partner will have a 4-card spade suit (otherwise, the partner would not have bid Stayman). The partner bids 3♠ in hopes the opener also holds a 4-card spade suit.

Step 5: If the partner bid 3♠ , the opener will make one of two bids:
    • If the opener has NO 4-card spade suit, the opener bids 3NT . With neither hand holding a 4-card spade suit, the partnership will not play a major suit contract, but instead will play a game in No Trump with the opener as the declarer.
    • If the opener also has a 4-card spade suit, the opener bids 4♠ . The partnership has an 8-card spade suit and will play the game contract in spades. Unfortunately, the partner will be the declarer and the opener's stronger hand exposed in the dummy.

× Step 3: Opener Bids 3 ♠ - Opener only has a 4-card spade suit.

Step 4: The partner confirms or denies the presence of a 4-card spade suit with one of two bids:
• If the partner has NO 4-card spade suit, the partner bids 3NT . The partnership does not have a major suit fit, so will play a game contract in No Trump with the opener as the declarer.
• If the partner has a 4-card spade suit the partner bids 4♠ . The partnership has an 8-card spade fit and will play a game contract in spades with the opener as the declarer.

When the partner holds 13+ HCPs, the partnership has enough points for a slam. The partner has two options on how to explore the possibilities of a slam:
• Bid 4 ♣ - Gerber. This artificial bid is asking for the number of opener's Aces.
• Bid 4 NT - Quantitative Invitation. This is a natural bid that is asking for the opener's points.
Visit the web page on Invitation to Slam.

Preface

Open 1 Level

Respond to 1 Suit Openings

Respond to 1 NT

Weak Bids

Strong 2 ♣

Strong NT Bids

Responses

Other Bids

Taking Tricks

Practice

Practice Websites

Duplicate

Downloads

Responder's Stayman Convention after a 2 NT Opening

Responder's Requirements for a Stayman Bid

Stayman Process - 5 Bids