Heidi's Bridge Blog
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Bidding After 1NT Opener Responds 2 Spades to our Stayman Bid and we have Game or Slam Forcing Values (Easier)
This post will help practice what to do after our Partner opens 1NT, we respond 2♣ (Stayman) and Partner then responds 2♠ (I have 4 ♠ and I do NOT have 4 ♥).
If you are not sure what Stayman is, please check out the previous Stayman posts before reading this one:
Introducing Stayman (Easier)
Responding to Stayman (Easier)
Let's practice our responses to Partner's 2♠ Stayman response when we have a game forcing or slam forcing hand.
What is a game forcing hand you ask? Basically a hand that just wants to bid game no matter what. If Partner opened the bidding 1NT these would be fairly balanced hands with about 10 to 15 HCPs.
What is a slam forcing hand you ask? Basically a hand that wants to bid a slam no matter what. If Partner opened the bidding 1NT these would be fairly balanced hands with about 18 or 19 HCPs.
In order to bid Stayman Partner must have opened the bidding 1NT (or 2NT but we'll do that later). We had a 4 card Major and decided to bid Stayman to see if we could find a 4-4 Major suit fit. In these examples Partner responded 2♠. That says "Partner I have a 4 card ♠ suit. I do NOT have a 4 card ♥ suit." Now we have to decide what to do from here.
When Partner opened the bidding 1NT we knew they had between 15 and 17 HCP. We know that if we have between 10 and 15 points we have enough for a game but not enough for a slam. Even if Partner has the lowest point count they could possibly have it is still 15 points. Their 15 points plus our 10 points is 25 points. That is enough for a game. If we have 15 HCP Partner only has 17 at the very most. 15+17=32. We need 33 to make a small slam. Just not enough for a small slam.
If we have 18 or 19 HCP we know we have enough for a small slam. But NOT a grand slam. After all Partner must have 15 points. 15+18 is 33 at the least. That's enough for a small slam. If Partner has 17 HCP even if we had 19 HCP 19+17=36. That is not enough for a grand slam.
So with 10 to 15 points we know we have enough for a game but not a slam. We just didn't know where since we have a 4 card major and wanted to find a fit. But when Partner responded 2♠ we now know if we have a fit. If you have found a 4-4 ♠ fit you need to bid 4♠. If you did not find a fit you still need to bid game. You can now place the contract in 3NT.
So with 18 or 19 points we know we have enough for a small slam but not a grand slam. We just didn't know where since we have a 4 card major. But when Partner responded 2♠ we now know if we have a fit. If you have found a 4-4 ♠ fit you need to bid 6♠. If you did not find a fit you still need to bid the slam. You can now place the contract in 6NT.
So on ALL these hands Partner opened the bidding 1NT (15-17). You decided to bid 2♣ (Stayman). Partner then responded with 2♠. That response says that Partner has a 4 card ♠ suit and does NOT have a 4 card ♥ suit. It says nothing else about Partner's hand. With that in mind it is your turn to bid. What will you respond?
Hand 1
♠ AKT6
♥ A53
♦ AK42
♣ J2
Hand 2
♠ A73
♥ J432
♦ AQ52
♣ A2
Hand 3
♠ KJ87
♥ A974
♦ KT4
♣ T4
Hand 4
♠ A7
♥ AQ83
♦ AJ86
♣ A54
Hand 5
♠ K532
♥ T94
♦ KQT4
♣ K4
Hand 6
♠ KJ6
♥ AK86
♦ A7
♣ K976
Hand 7
♠ AT9
♥ A852
♦ 92
♣ KQJ4
Hand 8
♠ KT
♥ KT84
♦ QT5
♣ QT98
Hand 9
♠ K643
♥ AJ42
♦ A4
♣ AQ2
Hand 10
♠ AJT5
♥ KT
♦ 32
♣ AK983
Hand 11
♠ A5
♥ J753
♦ K42
♣ KJ72
Hand 12
♠ AJ73
♥ Q3
♦ J963
♣ A83
Hand 13
♠ A86
♥ Q632
♦ A974
♣ J2
Hand 14
♠ KQ92
♥ 7543
♦ KT9
♣ A3
Hand 15
♠ A5
♥ J983
♦ K86
♣ AK73
Hand 16
♠ J5
♥ Q973
♦ A82
♣ A985
Hand 17
♠ KJ54
♥ AK54
♦ K7
♣ A72
Hand 18
♠ JT84
♥ A4
♦ AJ976
♣ 83
Hand 19
♠ AJ7
♥ AJ85
♦ KQ97
♣ A8
Hand 20
♠ AK74
♥ 954
♦ K975
♣ K3
Hand 21
♠ J2
♥ KQ65
♦ JT5
♣ A872
Hand 22
♠ 65
♥ J872
♦ AKQ9
♣ Q92
Hand 23
♠ AK83
♥ A6
♦ 965
♣ AKJ8
Hand 24
♠ AK8
♥ K942
♦ A7
♣ KQT2
Hand 25
♠ QJ62
♥ KQT
♦ J7
♣ K853
Hand 26
♠ AT
♥ AJT7
♦ AJ
♣ AJT94
Hand 27
♠ A986
♥ AKQ8
♦ A4
♣ Q42
Hand 28
♠ 83
♥ 9873
♦ AK54
♣ AK4
Hand 29
♠ QJ64
♥ 43
♦ 64
♣ AK942
Hand 30
♠ Q72
♥ AQ87
♦ AKT7
♣ A9
Hand 31
♠ AKT4
♥ 8652
♦ K76
♣ Q2
Hand 32
♠ AT7
♥ Q942
♦ QT
♣ AK62
Hand 33
♠ AK83
♥ K95
♦ A9
♣ A943
Hand 34
♠ A2
♥ KJ73
♦ 53
♣ AQJ96
Hand 35
♠ AK54
♥ T3
♦ T3
♣ AK962
Hand 36
♠ KT73
♥ KT6
♦ AT
♣ KJ73
Hand 37
♠ J8
♥ J652
♦ KT4
♣ AQJ9
Hand 38
♠ KT6
♥ KQ87
♦ A985
♣ AQ
Hand 39
♠ K873
♥ QJ4
♦ KQ54
♣ 82
Hand 40
♠ A9
♥ AKQ6
♦ Q4
♣ AT764
Hand 41
♠ KQT5
♥ J97
♦ A732
♣ KT
Hand 42
♠ AQJT
♥ A7
♦ A62
♣ AT94
Hand 43
♠ KJ53
♥ KJ92
♦ K3
♣ AKJ
Hand 44
♠ 98
♥ JT42
♦ A93
♣ AJ73
Bidding After 1NT Opener Responds 2 Hearts to our Stayman Bid and we have Game or Slam Forcing Values (Easier)
This post will help practice what to do after our Partner opens 1NT, we respond 2♣ (Stayman) and Partner then responds 2♥ (I have 4 ♥ and I MIGHT have 4 ♠).
If you are not sure what Stayman is, please check out the previous Stayman posts before reading this one:
Introducing Stayman (Easier)
Responding to Stayman (Easier)
Let's practice our responses to Partner's 2♥ Stayman response when we have a game forcing or slam forcing hand.
What is a game forcing hand you ask? Basically a hand that just wants to bid game no matter what. If Partner opened the bidding 1NT these would be fairly balanced hands with about 10 to 15 HCPs.
What is a slam forcing hand you ask? Basically a hand that wants to bid a slam no matter what. If Partner opened the bidding 1NT these would be fairly balanced hands with about 18 or 19 HCPs.
In order to bid Stayman Partner must have opened the bidding 1NT (or 2NT but we'll do that later). We had a 4 card Major and decided to bid Stayman to see if we could find a 4-4 Major suit fit. In these examples Partner responded 2♥. That says "Partner I have a 4 card ♥ suit. I MIGHT have a 4 card ♠ suit." Now we have to decide what to do from here.
When Partner opened the bidding 1NT we knew they had between 15 and 17 HCP. We know that if we have between 10 and 15 points we have enough for a game but not enough for a slam. Even if Partner has the lowest point count they could possibly have it is still 15 points. Their 15 points plus our 10 points is 25 points. That is enough for a game. If we have 15 HCP Partner only has 17 at the very most. 15+17=32. We need 33 to make a small slam. Just not enough for a small slam.
If we have 18 or 19 HCP we know we have enough for a small slam. But NOT a grand slam. After all Partner must have 15 points. 15+18 is 33 at the least. That's enough for a small slam. If Partner has 17 HCP even if we had 19 HCP 19+17=36. That is not enough for a grand slam.
So with 10 to 15 points we know we have enough for a game but not a slam. We just didn't know where since we have a 4 card major and wanted to find a fit. But when Partner responded 2♥ we now know we might have a fit. If you have found a 4-4 ♥ fit you need to bid 4♥. If you did not find a fit you still need to bid game. You can now place the contract in 3NT.
So with 18 or 19 points we know we have enough for a small slam but not a grand slam. We just didn't know where since we have a 4 card major. But when Partner responded 2♥ we now know we might have a fit. If you have found a 4-4 ♥ fit you need to bid 6♥.
So on ALL these hands Partner opened the bidding 1NT (15-17). You decided to bid 2♣ (Stayman). Partner then responded with 2♥. That response says that Partner has a 4 card ♥ suit. They also MIGHT have a 4 card ♠ suit. It says nothing else about Partner's hand. With that in mind it is your turn to bid. What will you respond?
Hand 1
♠ AT7
♥ Q942
♦ QT
♣ AK62
Hand 2
♠ AJT5
♥ KT
♦ 32
♣ AK983
Hand 3
♠ K873
♥ QJ4
♦ KQ54
♣ 82
Hand 4
♠ KJ54
♥ AK54
♦ K7
♣ A72
Hand 5
♠ AT9
♥ A852
♦ 92
♣ KQJ4
Hand 6
♠ A73
♥ J432
♦ AQ52
♣ A2
Hand 7
♠ AKT4
♥ 8652
♦ K76
♣ Q2
Hand 8
♠ AJ7
♥ AJ85
♦ KQ97
♣ A8
Hand 9
♠ 83
♥ 9873
♦ AK54
♣ AK4
Hand 10
♠ KJ87
♥ A974
♦ KT4
♣ T4
Hand 11
♠ Q72
♥ AQ87
♦ AKT7
♣ A9
Hand 12
♠ A2
♥ KJ73
♦ 53
♣ AQJ96
Hand 13
♠ A9
♥ AKQ6
♦ Q4
♣ AT764
Hand 14
♠ A5
♥ J983
♦ K86
♣ AK73
Hand 15
♠ KQ92
♥ 7543
♦ KT9
♣ A3
Hand 16
♠ AK8
♥ K942
♦ A7
♣ KQT2
Hand 17
♠ J8
♥ J652
♦ KT4
♣ AQJ9
Hand 18
♠ QJ62
♥ KQT
♦ J7
♣ K853
Hand 19
♠ AT
♥ AJT7
♦ AJ
♣ AJT94
Hand 20
♠ AK74
♥ 954
♦ K975
♣ K3
Hand 21
♠ KJ53
♥ KJ92
♦ K3
♣ AKJ
Hand 22
♠ KT
♥ KT84
♦ QT5
♣ QT98
Hand 23
♠ J2
♥ KQ65
♦ JT5
♣ A872
Hand 24
♠ KJ6
♥ AK86
♦ A7
♣ K976
Hand 25
♠ K532
♥ T94
♦ KQT4
♣ K4
Hand 26
♠ A7
♥ AQ83
♦ AJ86
♣ A54
Hand 27
♠ QJ64
♥ 43
♦ 64
♣ AK942
Hand 28
♠ AK54
♥ T3
♦ T3
♣ AK962
Hand 29
♠ A986
♥ AKQ8
♦ A4
♣ Q42
Hand 30
♠ 98
♥ JT42
♦ A93
♣ AJ73
Hand 31
♠ KQT5
♥ J97
♦ A732
♣ KT
Hand 32
♠ KT6
♥ KQ87
♦ A985
♣ AQ
Hand 33
♠ JT84
♥ A4
♦ AJ976
♣ 83
Hand 34
♠ A86
♥ Q632
♦ A974
♣ J2
Hand 35
♠ A5
♥ J753
♦ K42
♣ KJ72
Hand 36
♠ K643
♥ AJ42
♦ A4
♣ AQ2
Hand 37
♠ 65
♥ J872
♦ AKQ9
♣ Q92
Hand 38
♠ J5
♥ Q973
♦ A82
♣ A985
Hand 39
♠ KT73
♥ KT6
♦ AT
♣ KJ73
Hand 40
♠ AJ73
♥ Q3
♦ J963
♣ A83
Bidding After 1NT Opener Responds 2 Diamonds to our Stayman Bid and we have Game or Slam Forcing Values (Easier)
This post will help practice what to do after our Partner opens 1NT, we respond 2♣ (Stayman) and Partner then responds 2♦ (I do NOT have a 4 card major).
If you are not sure what Stayman is, please check out the previous Stayman posts before reading this one:
Introducing Stayman (Easier)
Responding to Stayman (Easier)
Let's practice our responses to Partner's 2♦ Stayman response when we have a game forcing or slam forcing hand.
What is a game forcing hand you ask? Basically a hand that just wants to bid game no matter what. If Partner opened the bidding 1NT these would be fairly balanced hands with about 10 to 15 HCPs.
What is a slam forcing hand you ask? Basically a hand that wants to bid a slam no matter what. If Partner opened the bidding 1NT these would be fairly balanced hands with about 18 or 19 HCPs.
In order to bid Stayman Partner must have opened the bidding 1NT (or 2NT but we'll do that later). We had a 4 card Major and decided to bid Stayman to see if we could find a 4-4 Major suit fit. In these examples Partner responded 2♦. That says that we did NOT find a 4-4 Major suit fit. Now we have to decide what to do from here.
When Partner opened the bidding 1NT we knew they had between 15 and 17 HCP. We know that if we have between 10 and 15 points we have enough for a game but not enough for a slam. Even if Partner has the lowest point count they could possibly have it is still 15 points. Their 15 points plus our 10 points is 25 points. That is enough for a game. If we have 15 HCP Partner only has 17 at the very most. 15+17=32. We need 33 to make a small slam. Just not enough for a small slam.
If we have 18 or 19 HCP we know we have enough for a small slam. But NOT a grand slam. After all Partner must have 15 points. 15+18 is 33 at the least. That's enough for a small slam. If Partner has 17 HCP even if we had 19 HCP 19+17=36. That is not enough for a grand slam.
So with 10 to 15 points we know we have enough for a game but not a slam. We just didn't know where since we have a 4 card major and wanted to find a fit. But when Partner responded 2♦ we knew we didn't have a fit. Now we know we have to play in some form of NT. We can now place the contract in 3NT.
So with 18 or 19 points we know we have enough for a small slam but not a grand slam. We just didn't know where since we have a 4 card major. But when Partner responded 2♦ we knew we didn't have a fit. Now we know we have to play in some form of NT. We can now place the contract in 6NT.
So on ALL these hands Partner opened the bidding 1NT (15-17). You decided to bid 2♣ (Stayman). Partner then responded with 2♦. That response says that Partner has NO 4 card major. It says nothing else about Partner's hand. With that in mind it is your turn to bid. What will you respond?
Hand 1
♠ J5
♥ Q973
♦ A82
♣ A985
Hand 2
♠ KJ53
♥ KJ92
♦ K3
♣ AKJ
Hand 3
♠ AKT4
♥ 8652
♦ K76
♣ Q2
Hand 4
♠ AJT5
♥ KT
♦ 32
♣ AK983
Hand 5
♠ KT6
♥ KQ87
♦ A985
♣ AQ
Hand 6
♠ A5
♥ J983
♦ K86
♣ AK73
Hand 7
♠ JT84
♥ A4
♦ AJ976
♣ 83
Hand 8
♠ J8
♥ J652
♦ KT4
♣ AQJ9
Hand 9
♠ AK8
♥ K942
♦ A7
♣ KQT2
Hand 10
♠ AK83
♥ K95
♦ A9
♣ A943
Hand 11
♠ AT7
♥ Q942
♦ QT
♣ AK62
Hand 12
♠ QJ62
♥ KQT
♦ J7
♣ K853
Hand 13
♠ A986
♥ AKQ8
♦ A4
♣ Q42
Hand 14
♠ A73
♥ J432
♦ AQ52
♣ A2
Hand 15
♠ A2
♥ KJ73
♦ 53
♣ AQJ96
Hand 16
♠ AK83
♥ A6
♦ 965
♣ AKJ8
Hand 17
♠ A5
♥ J753
♦ K42
♣ KJ72
Hand 18
♠ AJ73
♥ Q3
♦ J963
♣ A83
Hand 19
♠ QJ64
♥ 43
♦ 64
♣ AK942
Hand 20
♠ A7
♥ AQ83
♦ AJ86
♣ A54
Hand 21
♠ AK74
♥ 954
♦ K975
♣ K3
Hand 22
♠ KQT5
♥ J97
♦ A732
♣ KT
Hand 23
♠ A9
♥ AKQ6
♦ Q4
♣ AT764
Hand 24
♠ KT
♥ KT84
♦ QT5
♣ QT98
Hand 25
♠ 83
♥ 9873
♦ AK54
♣ AK4
Hand 26
♠ AJ7
♥ AJ85
♦ KQ97
♣ A8
Hand 27
♠ A86
♥ Q632
♦ A974
♣ J2
Hand 28
♠ AT
♥ AJT7
♦ AJ
♣ AJT94
Hand 29
♠ KT73
♥ KT6
♦ AT
♣ KJ73
Hand 30
♠ KQ92
♥ 7543
♦ KT9
♣ A3
Hand 31
♠ 98
♥ JT42
♦ A93
♣ AJ73
Hand 32
♠ K643
♥ AJ42
♦ A4
♣ AQ2
Hand 33
♠ KJ87
♥ A974
♦ KT4
♣ T4
Hand 34
♠ K532
♥ T94
♦ KQT4
♣ K4
Hand 35
♠ AKT6
♥ A53
♦ AK42
♣ J2
Hand 36
♠ AT9
♥ A852
♦ 92
♣ KQJ4
Hand 37
♠ KJ6
♥ AK86
♦ A7
♣ K976
Hand 38
♠ K873
♥ QJ4
♦ KQ54
♣ 82
Hand 39
♠ J2
♥ KQ65
♦ JT5
♣ A872
Hand 40
♠ AQJT
♥ A7
♦ A62
♣ AT94
Hand 41
♠ 65
♥ J872
♦ AKQ9
♣ Q92
Hand 42
♠ Q72
♥ AQ87
♦ AKT7
♣ A9
Hand 43
♠ AK54
♥ T3
♦ T3
♣ AK962
Hand 44
♠ KJ54
♥ AK54
♦ K7
♣ A72
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