Franke at Seaside

Stayman Convention

The Stayman convention is a bidding strategy to explore the possibility of switching to a major suit after an opening no-trump bid, or a no-trump overcall.

To invoke Stayman, the responder must have at least one 4-card major and eight or more HCP (four or more HCP when the opening bid is 2 NT).

If responder's major suit has more than four cards, Stayman is not appropriate. Rather, the Transfers convention should be used.

Strategies:

• Responder is seeking a trump fit in a major suit. If there is no major suit trump fit, the contract will be no-trump.
• A game bid is probably achievable when the responder's hand qualifies for Stayman.
• Important: With a robust hand suggesting slam, the responder should detour through Stayman before invoking Gerber or a Quantitative Raise.

Alternative bidding sequences to invoke Stayman include:

Partner	RHO	You
1 NT	Pass	2 Clubs
1 NT	1 of a suit	Double
2 NT	Pass	3 Clubs

After opening with 1 NT, only three alternatives exist for a rebid.

• 2 diamonds: denies a 4+ card major
• 2 hearts: affirms 4+ hearts and possibly 4+ spades
• 2 spades: affirms 4+ spades and denies 4+ hearts

Possible bidding sequences:

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Partner: No 4-card major / You: 4+ card major
P	Y	P	Y	P
1 NT	2 C	2 D	2 NT	3 NT

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Partner: 4+ hearts / You: 4+ hearts
P	Y	P	Y	P
1 NT	2 C	2 H	3 H	4 H

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Partner: 4+ hearts / You: 4+ spades
P	Y	P	Y	P	Y
1 NT	2 C	2 H	2 S	2 NT	3 NT

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Partner: 4 hearts and 4 spades / You: 4 hearts or 4 spades
P	Y	P	Y	P
1 NT	2 C	2 H	3H	4 H

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Minor Stayman Convention

Minor Stayman facilitates the exploration of a minor suit contract following a no-trump opening. A two spade response invokes the convention.

The two spade response indicates:

• Absence of a 4-card major.
• 8 or more HCP.
• A 5-4 shape (or longer) in the minor suits (a 4-4 shape is acceptable in strong hands with slam interest).
• Interest in game or slam.

Opener's Rebid:	Indicating:
3 clubs	4+ clubs, and possibly diamonds
3 diamonds	4+ diamonds, denies clubs
4 clubs (or diamonds)	4+ clubs (or diamonds) and 17 HCP
2 NT	Denies 4-card minor
3 NT	Denies 4-card minor, 17 HCP with heart & spade stoppers
3 hearts	Has heart stopper, inviting to 3NT
3 spades	Has spade stopper, inviting to 3NT

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