Stayman is perhaps the best-known and most widely used convention in bridge. Responder uses it to locate an 8-card major fit after partner opens 1N (or 2N). There are many variations in use. The version presented here is quite standard, with the most common variations and alternatives given.
The 2♣ Stayman inquiry is designed to uncover 4‑4 and some 5‑3 fits in the majors. The 2♣ response promises that responder holds at least one 4-card major, usually with invitational or better values, although there are exceptions to both these requirements.
Opener has only three rebids:
- 2♢: no 4c major.
- 2♡: 4 hearts, maybe 4 spades.
- 2♠: 4 spades, not 4 hearts.
The values in the explanations below assume a 15–17 1N opening. If you play a different range, you need to adjust them accordingly.
After a 2♢ rebid by opener
- Pass shows a weak hand with diamonds, hearts, and spades, short in clubs. Responder bid 2♣ to find a playable spot that is better than 1N. She can be 4=4=4=1, [4=3]=5=1, or 4=4=5=0.
- Two of a major (1N–2♣︎–2♢–2M) shows a 5c suit and can be played in two ways, either (a) weak: ≤8 starting points or (b) invitational: 8–9 starting points. In both methods, it implies hold four of the other major. The weak version is known as Garbage Stayman; the invitational method is the default form of Stayman.
- Two notrumps shows 8–9 points, invitational. In some systems, this does not promise a 4-card major because it may be the only way to invite 3N; you must alert this.
- Three of a minor shows 10+ points with a 5+ suit, game forcing. Responder is usually slam-minded. She started with Stayman in case there was a 4-4 major-suit fit. The auction 1N–2♣–2♡–3m–3♠ sets spades, which Stayman implied are present. Opener rebids naturally.
- 3N: no fit, stoppers. If responder is 5-4, she will pass. If she bids on, she is looking for a slam in her long major, which will be at least a 6-card suit.
- 4NS: cue bid, setting the long suit.
- 4M: slam invitation in the long suit.
- 3NS: stopper for 3N.
- 4m: fit.
- 3N: no fit, stoppers. If responder is 5-4, she will pass. If she bids on, she is looking for a slam in her long major, which will be at least a 6-card suit.
- Three of a major (1N–2♣–2♢–3M) is natural, showing 10+ starting points and a 5c major, game forcing. This implies a 4-card holding in the other major. Opener should now show the degree of fit for the major, taking care to upgrade secondary honours in the majors and downgrade them in the minors.
- 3N: no fit for the major.
- NS: 3c support, maximum with a control in the suit bid (suggest only cue bidding the ace in partner’s side suits).
- 4M: 3c support, minimum.
- Three notrumps is to play.
- Four of a minor is a Texas or Satelink Transfer; 4♣ shows 6 hearts and 4♢ shows 6 spades. These bids imply a 4-card holding in the other major; otherwise, responder would not have used Stayman.
- Four of a major is to play; it implies a 4-card holding in the other major.
- Four notrumps is a quantitative invitation to 6N.
- Five notrumps is can be played as suggest-a-slam or as a quantitative invitation to 7N.
NOTES
These are basic agreements in Stayman auctions after a 2♢ rebid denying a 4-card major, but there are some other details options and details you may want to consider.
- 1N–2♣︎–2♢–3♣︎ can be played as a sign-off. If you play a weak notrump, you may want to reserve this bid to sign off in three clubs.
- 1N–2♣︎–2♢–3♢ can be played as Extended Stayman, asking for a 3c major. This enables responder to start with Stayman when she is 5-4 or 5-5 in the majors. If you play this, then responder’s jumps to 3♡ or 3♠︎ show a 6c suit with slam interest, implying 6-4 shape.
- 1N–2♣︎–2♢–3M can be played as the Smolen Convention. In this method, responder rebids 3♡ to show 5 spades and 3♠ to show 5 hearts, allowing opener to become declarer in 4♡ or 4♠.
After a 2M rebid by opener
Opener’s 2♡ and 2♠︎ rebids promise a 4-card suit. He may have a 5-card suit. When opener rebids 2♡, he may have four spades too, but when he rebids 2♠︎, he denies four hearts. Here are the follow-ups.
- Two notrumps shows 8–9 starting points, invitational to 3N. By default, this promises a 4-card major. Therefore, if the bidding goes 1N–2♣︎–2♡–2N, responder should hold 8–9 starting points with four spades, and opener should bid 3♠︎ (minimum) or 4♠︎ (maximum) if he has four spades. However, many people use 2♣︎ as their only way to invite 3N, in which case responder does not promise a 4-card major. You must alert this. If you play that Stayman does not promise a 4-card major:
- 1N–2♣︎–2♡–2N: 8–9 points, denies four spades, non-forcing.
- 1N–2♣︎–2♡-2♠︎: 8–9 points, promises four spades, non-forcing.
- Two spades does not have a meaning in standard Stayman, but advanced partnerships tend to assign a meaning to it. Here are some common options.
- If you play that Stayman does not promise a 4-card major when responder has 8–9 points, then after 1N–2♣︎–2♡ you should use 2♠︎ to show 8–9 with four spades and 2N to show 8–9 without four spades.
- You can use 2♠︎ to set hearts as trumps with a hand that wishes to invite a game or slam.
- You can use 2♠︎ as an artificial inquiry about opener’s hand. We will not develop this here.
- Three of a minor shows 10+ starting points with a 5-card suit, game-forcing. It holding the unbid major. Responder usually has slam interest for this bid. Opener rebids 3N with a doubleton, 3M with a 5c major, or a new suit as a cue showing support for the minor. The auction 1N–2♣︎–2♡–3m–3♠︎ sets spades as trumps: responder has shown 4 spades and a longer minor, and opener is 4-4 in the majors.
- Raise to 3M shows 8–9 dummy points with 4-card support, invitational.
- Three notrumps shows 10–15 points and promises an unbid 4c major. After 1N–2♣︎–2♡–3N, if opener is 4-4 in the majors, he should bid 4♠︎ (minimum) or cue bid at the 4-level to agree spades (maximum).
- Three of the other major has no natural meaning. I recommend that you use it as an artificial bid to set opener’s major as trumps with slam interest.
- 1N–2♣︎–2♡–3♠︎ simply sets hearts as trumps with slam interest. As an optional continuation, you can agree that opener bids 3N, after which 4♡ by responder means that 3♠︎ was a slam try with a spade splinter.
- 1N–2♣︎–2♠︎–3♡ simply sets spades as trumps with slam interest.
- Four of a minor is a splinter agreeing opener’s major.
- Four notrumps is a quantitative invitation to 6N. Expect 16–17 points. This is NOT Blackwood. To ask for aces, first agree opener’s major bid splintering or bidding the other major.
- Five notrumps is best played as suggest a slam, forcing to small slam with no interest in a grand slam. It denies support for opener’s major and implies one or both 4c minors, inviting opener to offer 6m as an alternative to 6N.
Intervention in Stayman Auctions
- If they double 2♣, presumably showing a club suit and asking for a club lead, opener uses SUTLI style to show how concerned he is about clubs.
- Pass denies a stopper in clubs. Responder can redouble to ask opener to make their normal response.
- Redouble shows a single stopper in clubs. [THIS IS PROBLEMATIC IF WEAK HANDS ARE INCLUDED.]
- Bids have their normal meaning, but also promise a double stopper in clubs, i.e. no concern about the club suit.
- If they bid:
- Double by either partner is for takeout, usually showing a 4-card holding in the other major and giving partner a chance to pass for penalties.
- Pass implies that you might be interested in penalties, and partner will strain to reopen with a double.
- Bidding a suit promises a good 5-card suit in direct seat, but may be a 4-card suit in passout seat.