2 Trêfle Stayman

The 2♣ Stayman is a conventionnal bid.
In response to a 1NT opening, a 2♣ bid is a Stayman, looking for an eight-card fit in a major suit. It promises:

at least 8 HCP
and at least 4 cards in one of the majors. It is also used with both majors, 4-4 or 5-4.

Avoid using this convention when you hold a 4333 hand with scattered honors. These hands are too balanced to work well in a trump game. You'd rather play a NT game (9 tricks instead of 10)
2♣ Stayman is forcing for one round, indeed !

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Problem E2062 3NT Even though you've got 4 ♠ cards, don't use the Stayman 2♣ conventional bid. You have a balanced hand, no ruffing added value. Your pair's points are 25-27 HCP. Try a NT game.

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Problem E2068 2♣ First, try to find a ♥ fit. With at least 8 HCP, start bidding 2♣ (Stayman) to look for a fit in one of the majors. That's a priority !

Bidding development : the opener's rebid after his partner's 2♣.

2♦ when he has no major 4th
2♥ with 4 ♥ cards (or 2♠ with 4 ♠ cards)
2♥ with both 4 ♠ and 4 ♥ cards. The opener has the option to bid ♠ later if his partner's 4 carder happens to be ♠. Many players bid 2NT to indicate both majors, but this is giving useful (but unnecessary) information to the opponents.

The responder's 2nd bid after the opener has named a major suit.

With 8 HCP the responder proposes game in NT or in the major suit (when there is a fit, of course). The opener will pass with a minimum hand (15 HCP) or go to game if maximum.
With 10 HCP or more the responder goes directly to game either in NT or in the fitted major. The pair's combined points are enough for game (minimum 15 + 10 = 25)

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Problem E4899 With a minimum Stayman (8 HCP), propose game and let your partner decide.

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Problem E5006 With a support and at least 10 HCP (here, you have 11 HCP), go to game.

Bidding development : when the opener bids 2♥ with 4 cards in both majors

If the responder has 8 HCP but no ♥ support, he bids 2NT, proposing a NT game. Then, the opener bids:

3♠ if minimum
4♠ if maximum.

If the responder has 9 HCP or more, but no ♥ support, he bids 3NT. All the opener has to do is shift to 4♠.
With this system, when there is a ♥ fit, the opponents have no information about the opener's hand. With a 2NT response to the 2♣ Stayman, the opponents know exactly what the opener's distribution is... 4332

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Problem E8008 With 10 HCP and a ♥ support, go to game. The opener will be the declarer and his ♣ tenace will be protected. With both majors, don't use the 2NT bid (it's both unnecessary and dangerous!)

Response to the opener's 2♦ rebid, with both majors 5-4.

With less than 10 HCP, the responder bids :

2♥ with 5 ♥ cards
2♠ with 5 ♠ cards.

The opener will go to game when he is maximum.
With 10 HCP or more, the responder uses the Smolen conventional method. He bids his four-card major at level 3 :

3♥ with 4 ♥ cards and 5 ♠ cards
3♠ with 4 ♠ cards and 5 ♥ cards

The opener can then declare 4♠ or 4♥ with support, 3NT without.

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Problem E8036 With 5 ♠ cards and 8 HCP, the responder bids his major 5th. The opener will decide accordingly, and maybe pass.

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Detail specifications 61BA - Level 2 ★

2♣ Stayman

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