Minor Suit Stayman

Minor Suit Stayman is an extension of the Stayman and Jacoby Transfer conventions. If you play transfer bids over 1NT, then a 2 response shows spades, thereby making a direct 2 response an idle bid. Playing Minor Suit Stayman, 2 becomes an artificial inquiry asking opener for a 4-card minor.

Opener	Responder
1NT	2

The 2 response to 1NT is artificial, showing:

• 5-4 shape or longer in the minors. 4-4 distribution is okay with strong hands interested in slam.
• Interest in game or slam. Minimum strength depends on the opening 1NT range. Opposite a strong 1NT, responder should have a minimum of 8 points.
• Denies a 4-card major. Otherwise, responder should use Stayman.

Responder's minor suit length may vary depending on the overall strength of his hand. With minimum strength, e.g. 8 points opposite a strong 1NT, responder should have at least 5-4 distribution in the minors. With interest in slam, responder need only be 4-4 in the minors.

Examples of Minor-Suit Stayman hands (opposite a strong 1NT opener):

A2 KJ2 KT98 AJ83

3 JT3 KT98 A9832

7 K2 KQ953 A8765

After hearing 2 response, opener's rebids are as follows. Note that unlike regular Stayman, opener has some latitude in judging whether to reveal a 4-card suit. Specifically, opener is allowed to bid 3/ with a major suit control and a 4-card minor. This is because identifying a minor-suit fit may be less important than reaching a good 3NT contract.

Rebid	Meaning
2NT	Denies a 4-card minor. Implies stoppers in both major suits.
3	Shows 4+ clubs. With 4-4 shape in the minors, opener should bid 3.
3	Shows 4+ diamonds. (Denies 4+ clubs.)
3	Shows a heart stopper, and invites partner to bid 3NT with a spade control. Forcing. Opener may have a 4-card minor with highly balanced shape and strength, and merely looking to see if 3NT is the best fit.
3	Shows a spade stopper, and invites partner to bid 3NT with a heart control. Forcing. Opener may have a 4-card minor with highly balanced shape and strength, and merely looking to see if 3NT is the best fit.
3NT	Denies a 4-card minor. Shows maximum strength with stoppers in both major suits.
4	Shows 4+ clubs and maximum strength.
4	Shows 4+ diamonds and maximum strength.

Most of responder's rebids are natural. The exception is bidding a new major suit, which shows a singleton or void. For the sake of completeness, though, below are all of responder's rebids based on opener's rebid.

After Opener Rebids 2NT

Responder's Rebid	Meaning
Pass	Minimum strength, relatively balanced. Probably 5-4 in the minors. Responder should bid a minor with 5-5 distribution (or longer.)
3	Natural and non-forcing with 5+ clubs. Suggests 5 diamonds because opener is allowed to run to 3.
3	Natural and non-forcing with 5+ diamonds. Opener is expected to pass.
3	A singleton or void in hearts with slam interest. Forcing.
3	A singleton or void in spades with slam interest. Forcing.
3NT	To play.
4	Strong and forcing with 5+ clubs.
4	Strong and forcing with 5+ diamonds.

After Opener Rebids 3

Responder's Rebid	Meaning
Pass	Minimum strength.
3	Strong and forcing with 5+ diamonds.
3	A singleton or void in hearts with slam interest. Forcing.
3	A singleton or void in spades with slam interest. Forcing.
3NT	Natural and non-forcing. Responder may be something like 2-2-5-4 shape and willing to stop in no-trumps.
4	Natural and invitational to 5. Shows unbalanced shape because it bypasses 3NT.
4	Open for partnership discussion. Could be a cuebid with interest in a diamond slam, OR natural and forcing with 5+ diamonds.

After Opener Rebids 3

Responder's Rebid	Meaning
Pass	Minimum strength.
3	A singleton or void in hearts with slam interest. Forcing.
3	A singleton or void in spades with slam interest. Forcing.
3NT	Natural and non-forcing. Responder may be something like 2-2-4-5 shape and willing to stop in no-trumps.
4	Open for partnership discussion. Could be a cuebid with interest in a club slam, OR natural and forcing with 5+ diamonds.
4	Natural and invitational to 5. Shows unbalanced shape because it bypasses 3NT.

After Opener Rebids 3

Responder's Rebid	Meaning
3	A singleton or void in spades with slam interest. Forcing.
3NT	To play.
4	Natural and forcing with 5+ clubs.
4	Natural and forcing with 5+ diamonds.

After Opener Rebids 3

Responder's Rebid	Meaning
3NT	To play.
4	Natural and forcing with 5+ clubs.
4	Natural and forcing with 5+ diamonds.
4	A singleton or void in hearts with slam interest. Forcing.

The following examples assume a 15-17 1NT opening bid. You can of course tailor Minor Suit Stayman to fit your own 1NT range.

		Opener			Responder
		KT93			5
		AK74			63
		J83			AT542
		A5			KJ832
		Opener 1NT 2NT (2)			Responder 2 (1) Pass

1. Minor Suit Stayman
2. Denies a 4-card minor and suggests minimum strength.

		Opener			Responder
		J95			AK3
		A92			K3
		AQ8			KJ52
		A932			QJT4
		Opener 1NT 3 (2) 5 (4)			Responder 2 (1) 4NT (3) 6

1. Minor Suit Stayman
2. Showing 4+ clubs
3. 1430 Roman Key Card Blackwood
4. 3 key cards
5. Signoff. It's worth pointing out that clubs as trumps will yield an extra ruffing trick compared to 6NT.

		Opener			Responder
		AKQ			8
		J54			AT3
		KQ5			A7632
		J983			A752
		Opener 1NT 3 (2)			Responder 2 (1) 3NT(3)

1. Minor Suit Stayman
2. Showing a spade stopper and asking responder for a heart control. Note the decision to bypass 3 with 4-3-3-3 shape and a bad suit.
3. Natural, promising a heart stopper.

Over a 2NT Opening Bid

You can also play Minor Suit Stayman after a 2NT opening bid. In that case, 3 is game-forcing with 4-4 minors or longer. Responder should have slam interest since opener's reply might bypass 3NT.

In Competition

If the opponents double 2, opener can:

• Make her normal conventional rebid.
• Redouble for penalties with a strong 4-card spade suit.

If the opponents bid over 2, opener can:

• Make her normal conventional rebid, if possible.
• Double for penalties.
• Pass with a minimum.