Lesson 19 The Stayman Convention Aims To introduce

Lesson 19: The Stayman Convention Aims To introduce our first Conventional bid To emphasise that Stayman is used to find a 4 -4 fit in a major. To use it you must hold a four-card major – no more and no less. With a 5 -card major we bid it.

4 Lesson 19: The Stayman Convention When partner opens 1 NT with 0 -10 HCP stop in a part score: Pass with a balanced hand or bid 2 /2 /2 with a long suit with 11 -12 HCP invite game with a limit bid of 2 NT if balanced with 13+HCP we bid to game: 3 NT with a balanced hand 4 /4 with a 6 -card major

Lesson 19: The Stayman Convention AQ 32 KQ 75 Q 872 4 Partner opens 1 NT. You have 13 HCP, enough for game If you bid 3 NT and partner has nothing much in clubs you will go down If you knew partner had 4 hearts, or 4 spades, you could bid game in that suit And if you knew he had only 2/3 cards in each of the majors you would not worry about clubs What we want is a way to find out whether partner has a 4 -card major

Lesson 19: The Stayman Convention Opener 1 NT ? Responder 2 Over 1 NT 2 is an asking bid- it says “partner, do you have a 4 card major” ? It is our first conventional bid: It is not Natural: it says nothing about clubs It is NOT a weak bid like 2 /2 /2 : It is NOT a limit bid It simply asks opener to bid a 4 -card major if he has one

Lesson 19: The Stayman Convention Opener responds 2 “I do not have 4 cards in either major” 2 “I have 4 hearts (and maybe 4 spades as well)” 2 “I have 4 spades, but not 4 hearts” AQ 32 KQ 75 Q 872 4 Bid 2 c

Lesson 19: The Stayman Convention You use the Stayman convention when you think that 4 or 4 may be a better contract than 3 NT This means you must have a 4 -card major yourself. If you have a 5 -card or longer major you just bid it You use the Stayman convention to look for a 4 -4 fit in a major fit

Lesson 19: The Stayman Convention When you use Stayman you must be prepared for any reply partner may make If you hold a hand like this: 2 What will you do if partner responds 2 ? K 1053 You will have to rebid 2 NT Q 652 K 1032 You do not have the value to invite game Pass It is wrong: You would mislead partner You need at least the values to invite game to use Stayman

Lesson 19: The Stayman Convention AQ 76 N 10 K 2 W E AQ 43 QJ 4 AK 863 S J 982 1075 West 1 NT 2 East 2 3 NT If West were to bid 2 East will raise to 4 When West bids 2 East takes his chances in 3 NT If West had bid 2 he has to take a chance on 3 NT He can cope with any response partner makes

Lesson 19: The Stayman Convention AJ 103 N KQ 64 A 652 W E 3 K 104 AQ 83 S J 2 Q 954 West 1 NT 2 4 East 2 3 NT By using Stayman east he has promised a 4 -card major Therefore he has 4 spades West converts to game in the known 4 -4 major fit

Lesson 19: The Stayman Convention Q 763 K 62 AQ 72 K 2 West 1 NT pass 10 W E AQ 943 This time East has 5 8634 S hearts, not 4 A 65 East 2 He cannot use Stayman without a 4 -card major N He bids 2. This shows 5 hearts and not values to invite game: It is a weak take out of 1 NT West must pass

Lesson 19: The Stayman Convention Stayman with game-invitational hands K 83 N AQ 72 AQ 82 W E KJ 53 93 J 1052 S A 752 3 West East 1 NT 2 2 3 This is an invitational raise. 4 Pass West passes if he is minimum, bids 4 if he is not

Lesson 19: The Stayman Convention Stayman with game-invitational hands AQ 76 K 2 Q 95 J 862 West 1 NT N W E S showing 4 spades, 2 denying 4 hearts Pass 10 AQ 43 A 863 Q 975 East 2 Asking if partner has a 4 -card major 2 NT showing 11 -12 HC and 4 hearts

Lesson 19: The Stayman Convention Quiz 19 Partner opens 1 NT and RHO Passes. What do we bid with these hands? a) J 5 AJ 973 Q 84 843 2 b) Q 643 c) K 2 J 1072 A 84 Q 8 A 952 Q 95 Q 1076 Pass 3 NT d) AQ 10943 6 A 87 K 87 4 S None of these hands was suitable for Stayman. Why not? No 4 card Major

Lesson 19: The Stayman Convention Quiz Partner opens 1 NT and RHO Passes. What do we bid with these hands? A 965 KQ 72 108 A 43 2 C K 1074 5 AQ 8 KQ 953 2 C KQ 82 AQ 84 2 2 C 10976 AQ 43 K 6 Q 873 J 72 2 C What do you do next if partner responds 2 D 3 NT 2 NT 2 H 4 H 3 NT 3 H 2 NT 2 S 4 S 4 S 3 S 3 S :

Lesson 19: The Stayman Convention End of Lesson