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INTERMEDIATE-2
BRIDGE
LESSON
10
THE
STAYMAN CONVENTION
A. DEFINITION: ‑ The Stayman Convention is used by
the partner of a 1NT or 2NT opening
bid in order to seek the
possibility of a 4‑card Major suit fit.
When used in combination with Jacoby transfer bids it becomes a very
useful tool in one's bidding arsenal.
It is initiated and invoked by the responder and partner of the opening
NT bid by utilizing an artificial 2D forcing call. Stayman should not be invoked unless responder has at
least an invitational strength hand; i.e., 9-10 HCP's or more. (Exception: Any
hand where responder to the opening NT bid anticipates passing any feasible
response by opener Example:
XXXX XXXX XXXX X
Examples: 1NT P 2C (or) 2NT P 3C
B. BIDS AND RESPONSES PLAYING NON‑FORCING
STAYMAN:
OPENER RESPONDER MEANTNG OF RESPONDER'S LAST BID
1NT 2C A Non‑Forcing Request for a 4‑card Major
suit
1NT 2C An INVITATIONAL non-forcing
holding of a
2D 2H/2S 5-card suit in the
responders mentioned Major
suit mentioned and a 4-card suit in the
unmentioned alternate Major.
1NT
2C INVITATIONAL showing the strength for a
"2D"/2H/2S 2NT direct
raise to 2NT with either one (or both)
4-
card Majors unable to find a Major suit fit.
1NT 2C INVITATIONAL ‑ Shows support; and asks
2H/2S 3H/3S opener to carry on to
game with a maximum
(16‑17 HCP's)
1NT
2C SIGN‑OFF ‑ Shows
a fit, game going values, and
2H/2S 4H/4S no interest in slam.
1NT 2C SIGN‑OFF ‑ Unable to find a 4‑4
Major fit and
"2D"/2H/2S 3NT denies holding a 5‑card
major suit.
1NT 2C SIGN‑OFF ‑ A very weak hand wanting to
play in
"2D"/2H/2S 3C/3D a likely 6‑card minor
suit specified.
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1NT 2C FORCING ‑ Promises a 5‑card suit
with game
2D 3H/3S values
and a 5‑card suit in the bid Major suit along
with a 4-card holding in the unmentioned alternate
Major suit.
1NT 2C
"2D"/2H/2S 4C FORCING ‑ Gerber
Convention asking for Aces
1NT 2C NATURAL ‑ Invites 6NT if partner has a
2D/2H/2S 4NT maximum of 16‑17 HCP's else opener
passes.
1NT
2C NATURAL ‑ Invites 7NT if partner has a
2D/2H/2S 5NT maximum of 16‑17 HCP's else opener bids
6NT.
C. OTHER RESPONSES WHEN PIAYING NON‑FORCING STAYMAN:
1NT 3C/3D INVITATIONAL
‑ Shows a 6‑card suit headed by
two of
the top three honors. Partner will
proceed
to game
if he/she holds the missing honor in the
Minor
suit bid and stoppers in the other three suits,
else
passes.
1NT 4C FORCING
‑ The Gerber Convention asking for
Aces.
1NT 3H/3S FORCING ‑ A 5‑card suit forcing to
4H/4S/3NT
1NT 4H/4S SIGN‑OFF
‑ A 6‑card or longer suit with game
values.
1NT 2NT INVITATIONAL
to 3NT. Opener passes with 15
HCPs,
else 3NT with 16-17 HCPs.
1NT 3NT SIGN‑OFF
1NT 4NT FORCING
‑ (Not Blackwood) ‑ Is a
quantitative
bid
asking opener to pass with 15 HCP's and to bid
6NT with 16‑17 HCPs.
1NT 5NT FORCING
‑ Opener bids 6NT with a minimum of
15 HCP s
and 7NT with a maximum of 16‑17
HCP ' s.