Stayman 2 NT

Partner's Requirements
• Suit Length: 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: The partner must have 5 or more HCPs in the hand. The location of the points does not matter.

Stayman Strategy
The opener's hand is stronger than the partner's hand. If the partnership wins the contract, the weaker hand should be the "dummy" where it is exposed face-up on the table. The stronger hand should remain hidden from the opponents. The strategy is to encourage the 2 NT opener to be the first player to bid the eventual trump suit.

Path 2 - Initial Stayman Response for 2 NT opening


Partner's Initial Response to 2 NT Opening	Partner's Point Count (HCPs only)
0-4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
PartScore	Game Major	Game Minor

Path 2 4-card Major (Stayman)	4 hearts and/or 4 spades	PASS play 2 NT	3 ♣ Stayman

2/24/2024	20-24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32
Minimum PARTNERSHIP Point Count (Opener holds 20 HCPs)

Step 1:    Opener bids 2 NT .
Step 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.
Step 3:    Opener makes 1 of 3 bids indicating the presence or absence of a 4-card major suit:

× 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.

Stayman Responses after 2 NT Opening

Path 2 - Initial Stayman Response for 2 NT opening