Hand 267 — Stayman: Finding a 4-4 Heart Fit

Play this hand
Dealer
S
User Side
N/S
Contract
4H
Declarer
S
Tricks Makeable
10
Recommended Lead
KD
Vulnerability
North-South
System
SAYC

Planning

Stayman asks partner to bid his four-card major and a bid of 2 diamonds or 2 NT would be a denial.

The Deal

North
K 7 5
A Q 7 3
9 8 4
Q 5 3
West
10 8 2
2
K Q J 7 2
A 8 6 4
East
J 9 4 3
10 9 6 5
6 3
J 10 9
South
A Q 6
K J 8 4
A 10 5
K 7 2
North: 11 HCP, 3-4-3-3 (bal)
East: 2 HCP, 4-4-2-3 (bal)
South: 17 HCP, 3-4-3-3 (bal)
West: 10 HCP, 3-1-5-4

Bidding Sequence

S W N E
1NTPass2CPass
2HPass4HPass
PassPass

Final Comments

In a suit contract we count our losers.
0 spades
0 hearts
2 diamonds
1 club
Only 3 losers gives us our contract of 4 hearts.
We should be sure to wait for the opponents to lead the clubs.