BASIC BRIDGE COURSE

STAYMAN

Many years ago Sam Stayman came up with an idea that if partner had opened 1NT then it was not normally a good idea to play in Clubs.

 

He realised that it was more important that you should have a way to ask partner if they had four Hearts or four Spades.

 

He introduced the idea that if partner opened 1NT that the 2♣ response was a totally artificial bid that asked partner if they had either a four card Heart suit, a four card Spade suit or both.

                  

          OPENER                                RESPONDER

            1NT                            2♣

        12-14                            Do you have a four card major?

                                                          (This says nothing about Clubs)

 

         

 

ANSWERS

               2♦ No, neither. This says nothing about Diamonds. 

      

           2♥ I have Hearts, I may have Spades

 

           2♠ I have four Spades, I do not have four Hearts

 

IN PRINCIPLE you need 11+ HCPs to use Stayman. The reason is that if partner does not have four Hearts or four Spades they will reply 2♦. You may not want to play in Diamonds so you have to hold enough HCPs to bid 2NT, or more.

 

ONLY USE STAYMAN IF YOU HAVE A FOUR CARD MAJOR, OR TWO

You need 11+HCPs to use Stayman

There will of course be the odd exception!!!!