If the partner does not have a 5+card major suit, the partner might have a 4-card major suit, so it is possible the partnership can still play a contract in a major suit. If the opener has the same 4-card major, the partnership would have an 8-card fit and can play a contract in that major suit. The Stayman Convention tries to locate that 8-card major suit fit.
Partner's Requirements
• Suit Length: The partner cannot have a 5+card major. But the partner must have one or both 4-card major suits (hearts or spades). The major suit(s) must be exactly 4-cards long - the suit(s) cannot be longer or shorter. Ignore any long suit in a minor.
• Point Count: There are NO point requirements. The partner does not need points in the 4-card suit, nor does the partner require any points in hand. A "bust hand" with zero points and 4-cards in a major is all that is required for a Stayman response to a 3 NT opening bid.
×
Opener has No 4-card major
Step 3: Opener bids 4 ♦ . The opener does not have a 4-card major, so the partnership will not play a major suit contract.
Step 4: Partner bids 4 NT . This is a natural bid, not asking for aces or points.
×
Opener has 4-Hearts, and perhaps 4-Spades
Step 3: Opener bids 4 ♥ . The 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.
• With a 4-card heart suit, partner bids PASS. The partnership has an 8-card fit in hearts and will play game in a heart contract with the opener as the declarer.
• With a 4-card spades suit, partner bids 4 ♠ . 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 the 4-card spade suit in hopes the opener also holds a 4-card spade suit.
Step 5: The opener will make one of two bids:
• If the opener has a 4-card spade suit, the opener will PASS. The partnership has an 8-card spade suit and will play the game contract with the partner as the declarer.
• Without a 4-card spade suit, the opener bids 4 NT . This is a natural bid, NOT ace asking or point asking. The partnership will not play a major suit contract, but instead will play a game in No Trump with the opener as the declarer.
×
Opener has 4-Spades only
Step 3: Opener bids 4 ♠ . The opener has a 4-card spade suit only.
Step 4: The partner confirms or denies the presence of a 4-card spade suit with one of two bids:
• With a 4-card spade suit the partner bids PASS. The partnership has an 8-card spade fit and will play a game contract in spades with the opener as the declarer.
• With NO 4-card spade suit the partner bids 4NT . The partnership does not have a major suit fit, so will play a game contract in No Trump with the opener as the declarer. This is a natural bid, NOT ace asking or point asking.