Stayman and transfers are the two replies you use most after partner opens 1NT. Stayman (2♣) asks opener for a four-card major, and a transfer (2♦ or 2♥) shows five or more cards in the next suit up and asks opener to bid it.
Both tools serve one goal: find an eight-card fit in hearts or spades when you have one, and stay in notrump when you do not. A major-suit fit usually takes one more trick than notrump, because your short suit can ruff.
This lesson uses the 15-17 1NT of 2/1 Game Force (Standard American uses the same range). Acol players open a weak 1NT of 12-14 and use the same two tools; only the points you need to invite or bid game go up by about three.
Stayman: Asking for a Major
Bid 2♣ over partner's 1NT when you hold at least one four-card major and at least 8 HCP. The 8 points matter: opposite 15-17 you want enough to invite game, because after Stayman you cannot stop in 2♣.
The 2♣ bid says nothing about clubs (see what 2♣ means in every system). Opener answers the question and nothing more:
| Opener bids | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 2♦ | No four-card major |
| 2♥ | Four hearts (may also hold four spades) |
| 2♠ | Four spades, not four hearts |
Now you place the contract:
- Fit, 8-9 points: raise to three of the major (invite). Opener passes with 15 and bids game with 16-17.
- Fit, 10-15 points: bid four of the major.
- No fit, 8-9 points: bid 2NT (invite).
- No fit, 10-15 points: bid 3NT.
One detail catches new players. If opener bids 2♥ and you bid 2NT or 3NT, you must hold four spades: why else did you ask? So opener with both majors moves to spades.
Transfers: Showing Five Cards
Jacoby transfers are the other half of the system. Over 1NT, 2♦ shows five or more hearts and 2♥ shows five or more spades. Opener must bid the next suit: 2♥ over 2♦, 2♠ over 2♥.
Why not just bid 2♥ with hearts? Two reasons. The strong 1NT hand becomes declarer, so the opening lead comes up to its honors instead of through them. And the transfer works with any strength, because you get a second bid:
| Your hand | After opener completes the transfer |
|---|---|
| 0-7 points | Pass |
| 8-9, five cards | 2NT (invite) |
| 8-9, six cards | Raise to three (invite) |
| 10-15, five cards | 3NT: opener picks 3NT or four of the major |
| 10-15, six cards | Bid game in the major |
With four-card support and a maximum, opener may super-accept by jumping to three of your major instead of bidding two. With five of one major and four of the other and invitational values, start with Stayman; the Smolen convention handles the game-forcing hands.
South transfers with 2♦, then bids 3NT to show five hearts and game values. North holds three hearts and chooses 4♥.
Watch It in a Deal
North opens 1NT and you are South. Reveal East and West to see why 3NT would fail.
You ask with 2♣, partner shows four spades, and you bid the game.
You hold 11 HCP with four spades and a singleton heart. Partner has 17 with four spades. Your 2♣ asks, partner's 2♠ answers, and now you know about the eight-card fit: bid 4♠.
Now look at the hearts. East and West hold the ♥A, ♥K, ♥J and ♥10 between them. In 3NT the defense leads hearts and runs them, and double-dummy analysis gives 3NT only eight tricks. In 4♠ your singleton heart is an asset: declarer ruffs hearts in your hand, and 4♠ takes twelve tricks. Same cards, a four-trick swing, and one question found it.
The Habit to Keep
Rule of ThumbBefore you bid notrump over partner's 1NT, ask one thing: could we have eight cards in a major? With a four-card major and 8+ points, bid 2♣. With a five-card major, transfer. Only then think about notrump.
Weak hands matter too. With a long major and almost nothing, transfer and pass: two of a major is a safer spot than 1NT when your hand has no entries. Stayman is the bid you must not make with a normal weak hand, because you have no safe place to stop after 2♦ (the one exception, garbage Stayman with short clubs, is in the Stayman article). Details and more examples are in the Stayman convention and Jacoby transfers.
Practice: Stayman and Transfers
Partner opens 1NT (15-17). Your bid?
Partner opens 1NT. What do you bid with this hand?
Your hand:
These auctions come up at almost every session, so practice them until they are automatic. In the BridgeDummy Bidding Room you bid random deals with EPBot robots in 2/1, SAYC or Acol, so a 1NT opening shows up often and you can try Stayman and transfers on real hands.
Previous lesson: Lesson 13: Opening 1NT. Next lesson: Lesson 15: Raising Partner. Full course: Bridge lessons for beginners.