Introduction

The opening bidder is the first player to make a bid. There is only one opening bidder. The other bidders are either overcallers or responders and bid using different conventions. This lesson covers the Stayman responses. The next lesson will cover Jacoby Transfer responses. If you need to review the basics of making a 1 No Trump bid, refer to 1 NT Opening Bid.

Responses to 1-NT

There are three different types of response to a 1-NT bid. The first is the simple 5-card suit raise. This method is the simplest and easiest to use. The second is the Stayman convention that asks for a 4-card major suit. This method has the advantage of making the 1-NT opener the dealer which keeps the opener’s strong suit hidden from the defenders. The third is the Jacoby transfer that directs the opener to bid a specific suit. This lesson covers the Stayman Convention.

The Stayman convention and the Jacoby convention both have the advantage of making the no trump opener the declarer in all hands, hiding the higher-strength opening hand from the defenders. The 5-card convention has the advantage of simplicity. You can combine the Stayman convention with either of the other two methods or you can choose to use only one.

Most of the point requirements are listed as HCP (High Card Points) when evaluating for a No Trump contract, but some are listed as points (HCP plus distribution points) when evaluating for a trump suit contract.

Stayman Responses

The Stayman convention tries to find an 8-card fit in a major suit with the No Trump bidder as declarer. A No Trump contract is found when no major suit fit can be established. These responses in addition to the generic responses make up the Stayman convention. This version of the convention covers only the basic options. It doesn’t cover the 5-card suit option and doesn’t currently include slam bidding.

           2 ♣ shows 8+ HCP and at least 1 4-card major suit.

           2-NT shows 8,9 HCP and no 4-card major suit.

           3-NT shows 10-14 HCP and no 4-card major suit.

Opener Rebids for Stayman Bids

           In all cases, pass when partner passes or when partner makes a game bid.

           15-17 HCP. Bid 2-Major suit with 4-card support. With 2 4-card majors, bid ♥ first. Otherwise bid 2 ♦.

Responder Rebids for Stayman Bids

           In all cases, pass when partner passes or when partner makes a game bid.

           Single raise of partner’s suit shows 8,9 HCP and 4-card support.

           2 NT shows 8,9 HCP and rejects opener’s suit.

           4-major suit shows 10-14 points and a major suit fit.

           3 NT shows 10-14 points and no 4-card support in a major suit.

Opener’s Second Rebids for Stayman Bids

           

In all cases, pass when partner passes or when partner makes a game bid.

15 HCP. Pass partner’s single raise of your suit. If partner bids 2 NT, to your 2 ♥ bid, then either pass or bid 3 ♠, otherwise pass.

16 HCP. Reevaluate hand with 10,9 rule. Choose 15 HCP options when no point is added, and 17 HCP options when a point is added.

17 HCP. Jump to game on any suit bid when you have support in the suit. otherwise bid 3 NT. If partner bids NT to your 2 ♥ bid, then either bid 4 ♠ or 3 NT. Otherwise bid 3 NT.

A Bidding Example

As dealer, South starts the bidding at 1 NT. How would the bidding proceed using each of the Stayman convention?

           
North/South Hands
    North
♠ A, Q, J, 7    
♥ 10, 9, 8, 7
♦ Q, 6
♣ K, 8		     South
♠ 10, 8, 4, 2
♥ A, K
♦ A, 5, 4, 3
♣ A, 9, 5, 2

           South opens 1-NT with 15 HCP.

           North bids 2 ♣ with 12 HCP and showing 4 ♠ and 4 ♥.

           South bids 2 ♠ with 15 HCP and a 4-card ♠ suit.

           North bids 4 ♠ with 10+ HCP.

Review Questions

Some questions may have more than one correct answer.

           
North/South Hands
    North
♠ A, 7, 3     
♥ A, 8, 4, 5
♦ 4
♣A, 10, 6, 3		     South
♠ Q, 9, 4
♥ K, 10, 3
♦ A, Q, J, 10, 9
♣ K, 9, 4

Answer the following questions related to the partnership above using Stayman responses.

1. What does South open and why?

2. How will North respond and why?

3. How should South respond to North and why?

4. How does North respond to South’s bid and why?

           
North/South Hands
    North
♠ J, 10, 5, 2      
♥ A, 2
♦ A, 5
♣A, 10, 5, 4, 3		     South
♠ A, 9, 8, 4
♥ K, J, 9, 3
♦ K, Q, 10
♣ K, 6

5. What does South open and why?

6. How will North respond and why?

7. How should South respond to North and why?

8. How does North respond to South’s bid and why?

9. How does South respond to North’s bid and why?

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