The Stayman convention helps the team decide between a suit contract or a no trump contract. Additionally, Stayman helps the team establish the weakest hand as dummy and keep the strongest hand hidden as declarer.
After the Opener’s initial 1-NT bid, the Responder bids:
- 2-diamonds/hearts (Jacoby Transfer) with a 5+ card major and 0-14 HCPs
- 2-spades (Jacoby Transfer) with 6+ clubs and 0-7 HCPs
- 3-clubs (Jacoby Transfer) with 6+ diamonds and 0-7 HCPs
- Pass with no 5+ card major and 0-5 HCPs
- 2-NT with no 4-card major and 6-9 HCPs
- 3-NT with no 4-card major and 10-14 HCPs
- 6-NT with no 4-card major and 15+ HCPs
- 2-clubs (Stayman) with a 4-card major and 8-14 HCPs.
Following the Responder’s 2-club (Stayman) bid, the Opener bids:
- 2-hearts with a 4+ card heart suit
- 2-spades with a 4+ card spade suit
- 2-diamonds with no 4+ card major.
Following the Opener’s second bid, the Responder bids:
- 3 of the Opener’s major suit with 8-9 HCPs
- 4 of the Opener’s major suit with 10-14 HCPs
- 2-NT after Opener’s 2-diamond bid with 8-9 HCPs
- 3-NT after Opener’s 2-diamond bid with 10-14 HCPs
- 3 of either major (Smolen Transfers) after Opener’s 2-diamond bid with 10-14 HCPs and 5/5 or 5/4 in both majors.
If the Responder has invoked Smolen, the Opener complies with appropriate Smolen bids. Otherwise, the Opener passes with less than 17 HCPs or raises to game with 17 HCPs.
