Bidding After 1NT Opener Responds 2 Spades to our Stayman Bid and we have Game or Slam Forcing Values

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
Responding to Stayman

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. 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