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Stayman is a convention used after partner opens the bidding with a trump no trump (1NT). Its purpose is to locate a 4-4 fit in hearts or spades. A two-club response is Stayman, asking “Partner, do you have four hearts or four spades?” To use Stayman, responder must have at least a four-card major suit (hearts and/or spades) and 7 high card points or more (the equivalent of an ace and a king).

The purpose of Stayman is to use hearts or spades as trumps, if the hands play better than a no-trump contract.

If partner does not have four hearts or four spades, you must rebid two diamonds. With a four-card heart suit, he should rebid two hearts. And with four spades, he should again bid two spades. Note that with 4-4 in both major suits, partner must bid two hearts. After hearing partner’s offer, the responder can bid naturally.

Stayman can also be used after a two trump no trump opening bid (2NT). A three-suited response is then Stayman.

The Stayman convention was popularized by Sam Stayman, a wealthy businessman and bridge expert in the mid-20th century.

Blackwood is a convention for bidding on slam contracts. It is used when a trump suit has been agreed and a player thinks a small slam or grand slam is possible. A four notrump bid (4NT) asks partner how many aces he has.

Partner must bid five clubs with 0 or 4 aces; five diamonds with 1 ace; five hearts with 2 aces; and five spades with 3 aces. A follow-up bid of five trumps asks partner how many kings he has. Partner must bid six clubs with 0 or 4 kings; six diamonds with 1 king; six hearts with 2 kings; and six spades with 3 kings. The trump five bid should only be used if there is a possibility of a grand slam.

After hearing the partners’ responses, the Blackwood bidder’s subsequent bids are natural.

There are certain times when 4NT is No Black wood. The most common example is when partner opens the bidding with one, two or three trumps. In those cases, then a 4NT response invites opener to bid slam slam (6NT) with maximum strength.

Blackwood has a reputation as a convention that is abused; It should only be used when there are no other good bids available to slam.

Blackwood is named after Easley Blackwood, a bridge expert and contemporary of Sam Stayman.

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