Stayman is a conventional bid used after an opening of 1NT (or 2NT) to look for a 4-4 major fit and choose the best contract (major or NT). This page explains Stayman 4 responses, its continuations, its variants (weak Stayman, Stayman, Puppet) as well as adjustments when the opponents double.
Educational objective
Know when to use Stayman (and when to avoid it).
Be able to interpret opener’s responses and choose the right continuation.
Understand the variants (3 responses, Puppet) and the logic behind them.
Vocabulary and conventions used
NT = No Trumps
4-4 fit = 4 cards each in a major
Jacoby transfer = transfer to a major
Forcing = bid that requires a response
"Misère dorée" = bid showing 5 cards in the major in an invitational hand
Smolen = bid showing 5-4 in the majors
Tip: If you want a quick read, start with “The principle of standard Stayman”, then “Continuations after Stayman”.
Stayman, a key convention
Stayman is one of the most famous conventions in modern bridge. Designed to look for a 4-4 fit in a major after a NT opening, it has given rise to several variants over time.
Depending on the habits of your partnership, you can use Stayman 4 responses, Stayman, Garbage Stayman, or the more modern Puppet Stayman. They all aim for the same goal: to explore the majors more effectively and choose the right contract.
A conventional bid (2♣ over 1NT) used to find a 4-4 fit in a major suit.
The principle of standard Stayman
2 Stayman is a conventional bid by the responder after the opening of 1NT (15–17 HCPs). Over an opening of 2NT (20–21 HCPs), the same principle applies, but the corresponding bid becomes 3. Over 1NT, the bid promises at least 8 HCPs and at least one four-card major, with the aim of finding a 4-4 fit in a major.
You use Stayman when responder holds at least one four-card major, no five-card major, and a minimum of 8 points over 1NT (or 5 HCPs over 2NT). Stayman is forcing for one round, opener must respond.
⚠️ However, avoid using Stayman with a 4-3-3-3 hand with scattered honours: being too flat, it is more suitable for a NT contract than for a major-suit contract.
Over 1NT, generally from 8 HCPs. Over 2NT, you can use it more easily, from as little as 4-5 HCPs.
Avoid it with very flat hands (4-3-3-3) with scattered honours: they often play better in NT.
Continuations after Stayman
Once the 2 Stayman bid has been made, opener describes their major-suit distribution. Depending on the response and the strength of their hand, responder adjusts the auction to find the right contract.
Opener’s responses
2: no four-card major
2: four cards in
2: four cards in
2NT: both four-card majors
💡 When your partner overcalls 1NT over a minor opening, the principles stay the same: Stayman and Jacoby transfer keep their role. Stayman and Jacoby transfer also apply to 3m 3NT P 4 sequences, or a 2NT overcall over a multi 2: since you don’t know which major they have, you have to stick with the standard system.
Continuations after 2
When opener denies holding a four‑card major, responder can:
Use "misère dorée": 2 and 2 show five cards in the major and a game-invitational hand.
Bid NT according to the strength of their hand.
Use Smolen:
3 to show 5 and 4.
3 to show 5 and 4.
Use 4 or 4 as transfers to a six‑card major (4 to , 4 to ).
Continuations after 2 or 2
When opener shows only one four-card major:
3 in the major is non-forcing and game-invitational.
The bid of 3 in the other major shows the slammy fit in opener’s major.
Continuations after 2NT
When opener shows both four-card majors, responder must clarify their strength and their own major:
3 or 3: invitational hand with four cards in the corresponding major (3 to , 3 to ).
3 or 3: fit confirmed and slam interest.
4 or 4: transfer to game (4 to , 4 to ).
Choose a rebid in NT according to your strength, or show your distribution (e.g. "misère dorée" or Smolen) if you are still aiming for a major-suit contract.
Generally, no. With a 5-card major, you would normally prefer a Jacoby transfer. Stayman is mainly used to find a 4‑4 fit. However, if the majors are 5‑4 with at least a game‑invitational hand, Stayman is ideal, so you can continue with either "misère dorée" or Smolen over 2♦.
Yes. The same conventions (Stayman, Jacoby transfer) still apply if the NT overcall was made over a minor opening.
Weak Stayman with a short club suit
Even in a standard system, you can use 2 with a weak hand and a short club suit, planning to pass over any response. This “weak” version simply tries to avoid playing in 1NT with an unbalanced hand, most often 4‑4‑4‑1, sometimes 5‑4‑3‑1 or 5‑4‑4‑0.
However, there is still a problem: if opener responds 2NT, the system doesn’t provide any rebid with the weak hand. It is precisely to remove this possible response that Stayman was created.
Yes, if the hand is short in clubs and holds both 4‑card majors. This is called weak or Garbage Stayman.
Stayman
Stayman modernises the traditional system.
It is used:
Like the standard version, with a hand of at least 8 points and a 4-card major.
With a weak hand (often 4-4 in the majors) and the intention to pass over any response.
Opener’s responses
2 → No 4-card major
2 → 4 (and possibly also 4)
2 → 4 without 4
💡 The big advantage of this system: the 2NT response disappears, which prevents opener from “pushing” the side too high when responder is weak. This lets you play safer part-scores at the 2-level, gives less information to the opponents, and still remains fully compatible with standard conventions like Jacoby transfers and Stayman 4 responses.
Stayman removes opener’s 2NT response, which avoids going too high when responder is weak and short in clubs.
In case of a double over Stayman
When Stayman is doubled, the bids become transfers, so that responder becomes declarer (and therefore lead-directing doubler):
2 → Jacoby transfer to with four cards
2 → Jacoby transfer to with four cards
2/2NT → Five cards in /
3 → Both four-card majors
This system makes it easier to find a major fit and avoids confusing sequences. Responder then naturally completes the transfers to set the final contract.
If opener passes over the double, they bid their five‑ or six‑card major naturally at the 3- or 4-level, still aiming to play the contract from their own hand.
An effective method is to play transfers after the double so that responder becomes declarer (and the doubler is put on the lead).
Example: playing from the right hand after doubled Stayman
This deal is brought to you by Giovanni Donati, a member of the Italian Open team.
South’s pass shows no 4-card major in their hand. In a standard auction, North would then use Smolen. But after East doubles Stayman, it is now the responder who has to play the hand.
North therefore bids hearts naturally at the 3-level to show the game-forcing 5-4 shape. South, holding an excellent hand with a heart fit, raises to 4.
With a very promising 17 HCP-hand, North bids Blackwood, then quite logically signs off in 6 after their partner’s response. The contract will only make if North becomes declarer.
Puppet Stayman over 1NT
With the evolution of modern bridge, where players open 1NT with a 5-card major more and more often, it became necessary to distinguish between two types of Stayman:
2 standard Stayman → Looking for a 4-4 fit
3 Puppet Stayman → Looking for a 5-3 (and also 4-4) fit
Puppet Stayman is used after a 1NT opening with a balanced hand of at least 9 HCPs, without a singleton and with at most a three-card major. It is game-forcing. It also helps to hide the distributions further from the opponents.
Opener’s responses:
3 → No 5‑card major
3 → 5
3 → 5
(Optional) 3NT → 5 + 4
Consequences
2NT becomes a transfer to diamonds.
2 becomes two-way (transfer to or game-invitational in NT).
If you give priority to Puppet with a four-card major and no shortage in the other, Stayman will then only include hands that are not game-forcing, or unbalanced hands.
A 3♣ Stayman variant, game-forcing, that looks for either a major 4-4 or 5-3 fit.
When you are game-forcing with a balanced hand.
Conclusion
Stayman is a key convention in modern bridge. It helps you find major fits, avoid fragile NT contracts, and guide the auction towards the best possible game.
Each variant meets a specific need: it is up to you to choose the one that suits you and agree on it with your partner.
Explore further with...
Here is a video lesson by Dominique Fonteneau, also known as the Professor, focusing on the continuations after Stayman.
