ACBL04F – Notrump: Understanding Stayman Ward Trumbull
Jun 3, 2012
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What
Stayman is a convention used by the responder to attempt to get an 8+ card fit in a major suit when partner:
opens 1 notrump 15-18 HCP
overcalls 1 notrump 15+ HCP (could be more than 18)
* doubles opponents 1 notrump 15+ HCP
opens Trumbull 2 clubs and 19-21 HCP
rebids 2 notrump
opens 2 notrump 22-24 HCP
* See ACBL04J on Notrump Systems On.
Why
The purpose of Stayman is to have the notrump bidder play the hand if you find a major fit. Thus normally, the stronger hand (declarer) is hidden,
and the weaker hand (responder) is the dummy.
How
The responder asks partner to name his/her 4 card major (if any) by bidding the next available club bid. Over 1 notrump bids it is 2 clubs. Over a 2 notrump bids it is 3 clubs.
The notrump opener or notrump overcaller has these three options:
a. 2 diamonds - meaning he/she has no 4 card major
b. 2 hearts - meaning he/she has 4 hearts and may or may not
have 4 spades
c. 2 spades - meaning he/she has 4 spades and may or may
not have 4 hearts
For 3 clubs Stayman the responses are 3 diamonds, hearts or spades.
ACBL04F - Notrump: Understanding Stayman Jun 3, 2012
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To invoke (bid) Stayman, the responder needs:
1. One four card major, two four card majors or 4/5+ cards in the
majors. Note that for 5+/5+ in the majors another convention
is used – see ACBL04A.
2. Enough HCP to at least get to (rebid) the next notrump level if
partner does not name responder’s major(s).
Notrumper’s Bid Responder Needs
--------------------------------------- -------------------------------------
1 notrump (15-18 HCP) 8+ HCP to get to 2 notrump
2 clubs/2 notrump (19-21HCP) 5+ HCP to get to 3 notrump
If the 1 notrumper does not name the responder’s major(s) suit,
responder’s rebids are:
2 notrump with 8-9 HCP
3 notrump with 10-15 HCP
4 clubs (Gerber) with 16+ HCP - this is a slam try in notrump
If the 2 notrumper does not name responder’s major, the
responder’s rebid options are:
3 notrump with 5 HCP – for the 19-21 HCP 2 notrump
4 clubs (Gerber) with 12 HCP – for the 19-21 HCP 2 notrump
9 HCP 22-24 HCP
This is a slam try in notrump.
ACBL04F - Notrump: Understanding Stayman Jun 3, 2012
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1. If responder rebids 2 notrump, it indicates a non-fit for his/her
major. If the notrumper has the other major, he/she should/must
rebid it at the 3 or 4 level. See Notrumper’s Recount below.
If the notrumper does not have responder’s major suit, the 2
notrump response is asking:
“Are you at the bottom (15-16) or top (17-18) of your HCP?”
Bottom passes, and top bids 3 notrump.
2. If responder rebids 3 notrump, it indicates a non-fit for his/her
major. If the notrumper has the other major, he/she should/must
rebid that major at the 4 level. If not, pass.
If the notrumper names the responder’s major, he/she MUST
immediately recount the hand points, adding distribution points if
any.
With 8-9 points, bid 3 of the major. This asks partner to go to game
in that major if the pair has 25+
points.
With 10-15 points, bid 4 of that major.
With 16+ points, bid 4 clubs (Gerber), a slam try in that major.
ACBL04F - Notrump: Understanding Stayman Jun 3, 2012
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If responder indicates a fit by support bidding 3 of the notrumper’s
major, he/she is indicating 8-9 points. The notrumper MUST
immediately recount the hand, adding distribution points if any. With
still only 15-16 points, he/she should pass, With 17+ points, he/she
should bid 4 of the major.
If the responder’s right hand opponent (RHO) makes in intervening
bid at the two level, the responder’s options are:
1. If the RHO bid is 2 clubs, responder doubles to indicate that was
his/her bid, that is, Stayman.
2. For any other RHO bid at the two level, responder bids 3 clubs
for Stayman.
Note: If your pair has less than 25 points, this may cause your
pair to still bid game at 3 notrump or 4 of a major and
possibly go set.
Damn those intervening bids.
3. If the RHO bid is at the 3 level, you will not be able to invoke
Stayman via bidding 3 clubs. What you do bid depends on:
take a shot a 3 notrump.
pass.
ACBL04F - Notrump: Understanding Stayman Jun 3, 2012
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3. If the RHO bid is at the 3 level (continued)
pair has enough points for game (25+) but can’t get a 4-
major fit via the Stayman convention.
1). If you are the lucky type, bid 3 notrump and the
notrumper hand will have a stopper (s) in the
overcall suit.
2). If you are the unlucky type, pass.
3). Or you can double for penalty.
However, the notrumper just might take this as a
transfer double, i.e., “that’s the suit I was going to
bid”. If you do double, hold your breath and hope
partner doesn’t blurt out “transfer”.
1. Bids 2 of a major if notrumper doesn’t bid his/her major.
2. Bypasses Stayman because his/her major has no ace or
facecard.
3. Doesn’t do the responder/notrumper hand recount when there is
a major suit fit.