Stayman is a convention used after the partner opens the auction with a no trump (1NT). Its purpose is to locate a 4-4 setting 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 are going to play better than in a no-trump contract.

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

Stayman can also be used after an initial bid of two no trumps (2NT). A three-club answer 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. Used when a trump suit has been agreed and a player thinks a small slam or a grand slam is possible. An offer of four no trumps (4NT) asks partner how many aces he has.

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

After hearing responses from partners, subsequent offers from Blackwood’s bidder are natural.

There are certain times when 4NT is no Black wood. The most common example is when the partner opens the auction with one, two or three no wins. In those cases, a 4NT response invites opener to slam a slam (6NT) with maximum force.

Blackwood has a reputation for being an abused convention; It should only be used when there are no other good offers available to try the slam.

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