Artificial bids, (Conventions)

Sam Stayman was an American bridge player who died in 1993. He invented this particular convention and it works as follows:

The opening bidder does not have a biddable five card major suit and opens One No Trump. His or her partner doesn't have a five card major suit but does have at least one four card major suit and wonders if their partner might have four of his suit. To find out, the responder bids two clubs which is the start of the Stayman convention.

The bid of two clubs means, "Have you a four card major suit partner?". If the one no trump opener does have a four card suit of hearts or spades they now bid it at the two level. If they don't have such a suit they bid two diamonds which denies a four card major suit.

Assuming the suit bid fits with the Stayman bidder's hand, that player now supports it. If the suit bid does not provide a fit in the hands the Stayman bidder is now expected to bid no trumps.

• In the above hand example North opens the bidding with one one trump with reasonably balanced hand.
• South doesn't like no trumps because of his singleton club and bids 2 Clubs. (Stayman convention)
• North has a four card heart suit and therefore bids two hearts
• South now knows they have a fit in hearts and passes with a week hand or raises if he has strength

The above is a simplified version of the Stayman convention but it should suit most beginners. Note that the person who instigates Stayman should have at least eight HC points.

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