Read the Introducing Stayman post first.
When you open the bidding 1NT sometimes Partner wants to know if you hold a 4 card major in your hand. To ask you they bid 2♣ Stayman. Just like when Partner opens 1 of a minor we bid our 4 card suits up the line. That means if you have both 4♥ and 4 ♠ you tell Partner about the ♥ first. If you do not have a 4 card major you reply 2♦. This says nothing about your ♦ suit. It just says you do not have a 4 card major.
Summary that states your only possible responses when Partner bids 2♣ Stayman to your 1NT opening bid:
Bid
What the bid means
2♦
Partner I do NOT have a 4 card major.
2♥
Partner I have 4 ♥. I MIGHT have 4 ♠.
2♠
Partner I have 4 ♠. I do NOT have 4 ♥.
Question: Why can't I jump to 3NT to show partner I have a nice hand?
Answer: You have told Partner you have a nice hand when you opened the bidding 1NT. It is now up to Partner to decide where to play the hand. Partner knows your hand. You have no idea what Partner's hand is. Partner is asking you a question. Please just answer them.
Question: Can I jump to 3 of my Major if I opened 1NT with a 5 card major?
Answer: No. Opening 1NT with a 5 card major is an easy way to tell Partner you have 15 to 17 points. But once you decide to do that there is no way to let Partner know you have 5 of them. Jumping to 3 of the major will just make things more difficult and confuse Partner. Before you open the hand decide if you want to tell Partner you have a 5 card major or whether or not you want to tell Partner you have 15 to 17 points. You can't do both easily. That would be like having your cake and eating it too. Make your choice and live with it.
Question: I have 4 really bad ♠. Should I tell Partner about them?
Answer: Yes. Maybe Partner has really good ones. Maybe not. Your 4-4 fit rates to be better than NT in any case.
Question: Can I skip over my bad 4 card ♥ suit to show Partner my really good 4 card ♠ suit?
Answer: No. Bid your 4 card suits up the line. You are not saying you have a good 4 card suit. Just a 4 card suit.
Let's test out this knowledge. On each of the following hands you opened the bidding 1NT. Partner answered 2♣ Stayman. What will you bid and what are you telling Partner?
Hand 1
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