Stayman and Transfers in Bridge: How These 1NT Conventions Improve Your Bidding
Stayman and Transfers in Bridge: The Beginner's 1NT Guide
If you just opened 1NT and partner is responding, two conventions unlock most auctions: Stayman and Transfers.
This guide explains what each does, when to use it, the exact responses, and how to practice the sequences online.
If you’re completely new to bidding, check out our How to Start Playing Bridge guide before continuing.
Quick Definition
-
Stayman: responder bids 2♣ over 1NT to ask if opener holds a 4-card major.
Opener replies:- 2♦ = no major
- 2♥ = four hearts (may also have four spades)
- 2♠ = four spades but not four hearts.
Source: ACBL – Bidding in the 21st Century Manual
-
Jacoby Transfers: responder with a 5-card or longer major bids the suit below their major to ask opener to bid the next suit.
2♦ transfers to hearts. 2♥ transfers to spades.
The goal is to show length in the major while letting the strong 1NT hand become declarer, keeping it hidden during play.
Source: BridgeBum – Jacoby Transfers
When to Use Each One
Use this decision rule when partner opens 1NT:
-
Have a 5+ card major → use Transfers
- 2♦ → transfer to 2♥ (shows 5+ hearts)
- 2♥ → transfer to 2♠ (shows 5+ spades)
-
Have a 4-card major (one or both), no 5-card major → use Stayman with 2♣ to search for a 4-4 fit.
(Note: there’s also a convention called Smolen, where you bid 2♣ with 5-4 in the majors, but Stayman as described here is correct for standard play.) -
No 4-card or 5-card major → simply raise notrump, explore a minor, or pass depending on your strength.
If you want to understand how communication and storytelling happen during bidding sequences, you’ll love Bridge Bidding as Storytelling.
Exact Responses and Continuations
Opener’s replies after 2♣ Stayman
- 2♦ = no 4-card major
- 2♥ = has four (or sometimes five) hearts
- 2♠ = has four (or sometimes five) spades and not four hearts
In standard Stayman, opener cannot explicitly show a 5-card major unless a convention like Puppet Stayman is used.
With basic methods:
- 1NT – Pass – 2♣ – Pass – 2♥ shows 4 (or occasionally 5) hearts
- 1NT – Pass – 2♣ – Pass – 2♠ shows 4 (or occasionally 5) spades
Responder continues according to strength and fit:**
- Fit found → invite or bid game in the major
- No fit → settle in notrump or explore a minor
Opener’s duty after a Transfer
- Opener must accept the transfer (2♦ → 2♥, 2♥ → 2♠).
- With four-card support for responder’s major and a strong hand, opener may make a super-accept (jump or show extra strength).
- However, keep in mind that responder may be very weak, so jumping to the three-level can be risky.
- Still, when the partnership holds nine trumps in total, the Law of Total Tricks suggests that it is usually safe to compete to the three-level.
Why transfer? It keeps the strong hand as declarer, which helps protect key honors — similar to how defenders plan based on hidden information, as explained in Bridge Defense Tips.
Example Auctions
Example 1 – Stayman finds a 4-4 spade fit
1NT − 2♣; 2♠ − 4♠
→ Responder had game values and interest in at least one major.
Opener showed 4 cards in spades, and responder, happy to have found the fit, called the game in spades.
Example 2 – Transfer to hearts, invitational strength
1NT − 2♦; 2♥ − 3♥
→ The transfer shows 5+ hearts.
Bidding 3♥ shows 6 cards in hearts — since partner could still have only two hearts — and invites game.
Example 3 – No fit after Stayman, land in notrump
1NT − 2♣; 2♦ − 3NT
→ responder checked for a major fit, found none, and bid game in notrump.
Common Adjustments and Competitive Notes
- After 2NT opening: many play 3♣ as Stayman with identical meaning.
- If opponents interfere: a double often asks for a major.
- If 1NT is doubled for penalties: partnerships must agree whether 2♣ remains Stayman or becomes natural.
Tournament players often think about “the field” — how others played the same hand. You can read more about that mindset in Reading the Field in Bridge Tournaments.
Practical Hand Patterns
Use Transfers when:
Use transfers with 5 or more cards in a major, then:
- Pass if weak.
- Bid 3NT to let opener choose the final contract — pass to play 3NT or bid 4 of the major if there’s a fit.
- Jump directly to 4 in the major with game values and 6+ cards.
- Invite with 2NT or a raise in the major if you need partner’s maximum strength to reach game.
Use Stayman when:
- You have game values (8+ HCP) and interest in finding a 4-4 major fit.
Frequent Mistakes to Avoid
- Using Stayman with a 5-card major – use Transfers instead.
- Forgetting opener’s replies – 2♦ = none, 2♥ = hearts, 2♠ = spades.
- Ignoring super-accepts – clarify when opener jumps after transfer.
- Same tactics despite interference – always discuss doubles/overcalls with partner.
- Jumping to game with only 4 cards after transfer – call 4♥ or 4♠ after transfer only when holding 6 cards, since partner might have as few as 2.
One-Page Decision Table
| Holding after 1NT | Recommended Action | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 5+ hearts | 2♦ → transfer to 2♥ | Shows 5+ hearts, keeps opener declarer |
| 5+ spades | 2♥ → transfer to 2♠ | Shows 5+ spades, keeps opener declarer |
| One or both 4-card majors, no 5-card major | 2♣ Stayman | Searches for a 4-4 fit, keeps opener declarer |
| No 4- or 5-card major | Raise notrump, minor, or pass | No major fit to find |
How to Practice Stayman and Transfers on BridgeChamp
BridgeChamp lets you practice these auctions interactively.
Try creating deals in Deal Source where:
- Responder has exactly one 4-card major → Stayman practice
- Responder has a 5-card major → Transfer practice
Each deal can be replayed to test how different contracts perform.
Once you’re confident, challenge yourself by playing online tournaments and comparing your results to others — just like in Reading the Field in Bridge Tournaments.
Extended Learning
When you’re ready to advance:
- Puppet Stayman – asks for 5-card majors over 1NT or 2NT.
- Minor-suit transfers – for minor-oriented hands or special hand shapes.
- Garbage Stayman – used with weak hands (less than 8 HCP) but a very specific shape, usually 4-4 (or 4-4-5) in the majors and a short minor.
The goal is to use 2♣ Stayman and then pass any response, ensuring the partnership lands in a safer contract rather than 1NT.
You can learn more about these conventions on Wikipedia’s Stayman page.
Summary
- Transfers show a 5-card major and keep opener declarer.
- Stayman searches for a 4-4 major fit when responder doesn’t have a 5-card major — opener may still hold one.
- Practice often to make your 1NT auctions precise and automatic.
