In this featured lesson I discuss the basics of Stayman, which situations it applies in and then what continuations are.
2 Comments on “How To Play Stayman”
Howdy. I am wondering how you show ST with 5+/5+ in the majors. Ran into a problem hand where I had a ST with a 5530. (Used 4C’s and was awkward) I’m thinking the below overall structure could work OK.
Weak hands obviously Garbage Stayman.
G.F. only hands: 5/4 – Smolen convention
6/4 – 4-level Smolen
5/5(+) – 4C
Slam Tries: 5/5(+)- TRF to S then bid 3H (3S then accept ST in Spades, 4C accept ST in H’s and have 3NT as 22(54))
6/4 – 4-level Smolen using 4C/4D
Invitational Hands 5/4 – There is none
5/5 – Transfer to Hearts at the 2-level then bid 2S
Your ideas here would be gold. I maybe over complicating it. It doesn’t feel like we are losing much by using TRF’s like this as with both majors it seems relatively easy to make a decision between G.F. and a weak hand.
Howdy. I am wondering how you show ST with 5+/5+ in the majors. Ran into a problem hand where I had a ST with a 5530. (Used 4C’s and was awkward) I’m thinking the below overall structure could work OK.
Weak hands obviously Garbage Stayman.
G.F. only hands: 5/4 – Smolen convention
6/4 – 4-level Smolen
5/5(+) – 4C
Slam Tries: 5/5(+)- TRF to S then bid 3H (3S then accept ST in Spades, 4C accept ST in H’s and have 3NT as 22(54))
6/4 – 4-level Smolen using 4C/4D
Invitational Hands 5/4 – There is none
5/5 – Transfer to Hearts at the 2-level then bid 2S
Your ideas here would be gold. I maybe over complicating it. It doesn’t feel like we are losing much by using TRF’s like this as with both majors it seems relatively easy to make a decision between G.F. and a weak hand.
Yeah I like transfer to Spades and bid 3H. This means you don’t have an invite with 5S and 4H but I am always willing to give up on invites.