Minor Suit Stayman

A Slam Try. This is a slam try in a minor suit after a 1NT opener.

To start Minor Suit Stayman, responder bids two Spades - an otherwise unused bid because of Jacoby Transfers - which asks opener to bid a four card minor suit, if any.

N	E	S	W
1NT	P	2ª*	P
. . .

South sees a minor slam with a good minor by North.

Opener's Rebids. Lacking a four+ card minor, opener rebids three No Trump or any four+ card major.

1NT	P	2ª	P
3©	P	3NT

North has no good minors, but has 4+ Hearts.

If a fit is found, responder can determine a possible minor suit slam try, bid Blackwood, etc.

N	E	S	W
1NT	P	2ª	. . .

South's hand:

ª xx

©Axx

¨AJxx

§ KQJx

 

A Minor Suit slam is a good bet if a fit in a minor can be found, whereas Spades could be a fatal weakness in a NT contract. If opener has no 4 card minor, NT is the preferred contract. This example could continue:

N	E	S	W
1NT	P	2ª*	P
3§	P	4NT	P
5¨	P	6§

South chances the Club slam.