Imagine that you hold this hand opposite a 1NT opening bid:
With 11 HCP opposite partner’s 15 to 17 HCP, you have enough points for game. But which game? If partner has 4 (or 5) Spades, it is better to play with Spades as trump (4♠). Otherwise, you should play 3NT.
Good news: you are going to have two tools for finding major-suit fits (in Hearts or Spades) after 1NT, and I will give you the first one here. It is known all over the world, from Abidjan to Vladivostok. It is “2♣ Stayman,” named after its inventor, American champion Sam Stayman.
This will be your first artificial bid: even though you bid “Clubs,” it promises nothing in Clubs.
It is simply a question: “Do you have 4 (or 5) cards in a major?”
Of course, if you ask the question, you must be interested in the answer.
That means you hold 4 cards in a major yourself, so you can find an eight-card fit (4 with opener and 4 with you as responder).
The responses to 2♣ Stayman:
- 2♥ means yes, in Hearts, and 2♠ means yes, in Spades. Nothing Nobel Prize-worthy so far.
- There are two more to remember: 2♦ means no, and 2NT means both.
Partner opens 1NT. You have 9 HCP, four Hearts, and three Spades. What do you do to choose between a possible major-suit game and notrump?
Section quizYou hold four Hearts, two Spades, and 10 HCP opposite 1NT. You respond 2♣ Stayman and partner responds 2NT. Which contract do you choose?
Section quiz| South | West | North | East |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1NT | Pass | ||
| 2♣ | Pass | 2NT | Pass |
Here is a very common sequence using the hand I gave you:
North’s hand
| South | West | North | East |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1NT | Pass | 2♣1 | Pass |
| 2♥2 | Pass | 3NT3 | Pass |
| Pass | Pass |
- North 2♣ “I have at least 8 HCP and 4 cards in a major. How about you?”
- South 2♥ “Yes, I have 4♥”
- North 3NT “No fit there—I had 4♠. Good news: I have enough to play game”
You have four Hearts, two Spades, and 11 HCP. After the auction shown below, what do you bid?
Section quiz| South | West | North | East |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1NT | Pass | ||
| 2♣ | Pass | 2♥ | Pass |
After a 2NT opening, it works the same way but one level higher and with at least 5 HCP:
| South | West | North | East |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2NT | Pass | 3♣1 | Pass |
| Possible responses — choose one line only | |||
| 3♦2 | |||
| 3♥3 | |||
| 3♠4 | |||
| 3NT5 | |||
- North 3♣ “Do you have 4 or 5 cards in a major?”
- South 3♦ “No, neither 4 ♥ nor 4 ♠”
- South 3♥ “I have 4♥ (or 5)”
- South 3♠ “I have 4♠ (or 5)”
- South 3NT “I have 4♥ and 4♠”
Partner opens 2NT. You have 6 HCP and four Hearts. After your 3♣, partner responds 3♦. Which contract do you choose, with no slam interest?
Section quiz| South | West | North | East |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2NT | Pass | ||
| 3♣ | Pass | 3♦ | Pass |
Have fun with your new tool—it is the best way to learn!