Bridge Hands » Stayman, 4-4 fits
Using The Stayman Convention
 
     
Page 1     North
Q J 6 2
J 6
A K 7
6 5 3 2 		 
    West       East
     
     
     
     
      South
 
 
 
 		  
 
"COUNTING DEFENSIVE TRICKS"
 
  South West North East  
  1NT Pass 2 Pass  
  2 Pass 4 Pass  
  Pass Pass      
 
     1NT is 16-18 pts. North bids 2C Stayman to see if South has a 4 card major. 2S shows a 4 carder and North jumps to game with a known 8 card fit and 16+11=27 pts. The QC is led.  

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Page 2     North
Q J 6 2
J 6
A K 7
6 5 3 2		   Bid is 4 S      
     
 
 
 
 
    West
 
 
 
 		       East
9 5 4
A 8 5 4
Q J 10 3
9 7
      South
 
 
 
 		  
 
PLAY OF THE HAND
       
  As the defense you see probably 2 tricks in your hand so partner will have to win some too.
 
1)   West leads the QC and South wins with the King.
2)   Declarer leads the KS which holds.
3)   Declarer leads a low trump to the board's Jack.


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Page 3     North
Q 6
J 6
A K 7
6 5 3		   Bid is 4 S      
  N/S =3
  E/W=0
 
 
 
    West
 
 
 
 		       East
9
A 8 5 4
Q J 10 3
7
      South
 
 
 
 		  
 
PLAY OF THE HAND
       
  Things are routine so far, no surprises yet.
 
4)   The JH is led, you and Declarer play low and West's King wins.
5)   West leads the JC to South's Ace.
6)   South leads a low Diamond to Dummy's King.


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Page 4     North
Q 6
6
A 7
6 5		   Bid is 4 S      
  N/S =5
  E/W=1
 
 
 
    West
 
 
 
 		       East
9
A 8 5
Q J 10
 
      South
 
 
 
 		  
 
PLAY OF THE HAND
       
  We're halfway done and you see 2 more tricks just in your hand.
 
7)   A low Heart is led and you win with the Ace.
8)   No Clubs left so you return a Diamond won with the Ace.
9)   A low Spade is led to Declarer's Ace.


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Page 5     North
Q
 
7
6 5		   Bid is 4 S      
  N/S =7
  E/W=2
 
 
 
    West
 
 
 
 		       East
 
8 5
J 10
 
      South
 
 
 
 		  
 
PLAY OF THE HAND
       
  It looks like you'll win a Diamond and partner's carefully set up Club 10.
 
10)   South leads the QH and pitches Dummy's 7D!
11)   South leads a Diamond and ruffs on the board.
12)   Declarer gives up a club but still has a trump left in hand for their 10th trick.


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Page 6     North
Q J 6 2
J 6
A K 7
6 5 3 2		  
    West
10 7
K 10 9 3
8 6 4
Q J 10 8		       East
9 5 4
A 8 5 4
Q J 10 3
9 7
      South
A K 8 3
Q 7 2
9 5 2
A K 4		  
 
RECAP OF THE HAND
       
1)   West leads the QC and South wins with the King.
2)   Declarer leads the KS which holds.
3)   Declarer leads a low trump to the board's Jack.
4)   The JH is led, you and Declarer play low and West's King wins.
5)   West leads the JC to South's Ace.
6)   South leads a low Diamond to Dummy's King.
7)   A low Heart is led and you win with the Ace.
8)   No Clubs left so you return a Diamond won with the Ace.
9)   A low Spade is led to Declarer's Ace.
10)   South leads the QH and pitches Dummy's 7D!
11)   South leads a Diamond and ruffs on the board.
12)   Declarer gives up a club but still has a trump left in hand for their 10th trick.
   Did you spot your defensive mistake yet? The key play is to win your Ace of Hearts when the JH is led from the board on trick 4. You take the Jack, and partner's King later takes Declarer's Queen.
   Now Declarer can't throw away the board's loser Diamond and they're set! Your AH is never going to take Declarer's QH, so your job is to make sure partner doesn't waste their high card. Second hand low is only a suggestion not a command.


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Page 7     North
6
 
A 7
6 5		   Bid is 4 S      
  N/S =6
  E/W=2
 
 
 
    West
 
10
8 6
10 8		       East
 
8 5
Q J 10
 
      South
K
Q
9 5
4		  
 
RECAP OF THE HAND
       
   Incidentally, note this is also a tricky play problem for Declarer. Assume they draw 3 rounds of trump, and you misplay again by holding up the AH when the JH is led. After a couple more tricks you've just won the AH to end up with the position at left. You now lead the QD.
   The QH is once again setup for a Diamond discard but there is no way back to hand to play it. They can't come back with a trump because then there won't be a trump in dummy to ruff their loser Diamond. So Declarer must only draw two rounds of trump until the end for transportation.


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A Bridge Hand Using Stayman to Find a 4-4 Fit in a Major Suit