Bridge Conventions Explained: Stayman, Jacoby Transfers, Blackwood and More
Jun 1, 2026
A natural bid says something about the suit you name: 2 hearts means you have hearts. A conventional bid does not. It is a code with a meaning the partnership has agreed in advance. Conventions exist because the 35 available bids cannot describe every hand naturally, so partnerships borrow bids that would rarely be needed for their natural meaning and give them a job. The basics of natural bidding are in Bridge Bidding Basics; this article covers the conventions you will meet first.
One rule before the list. In duplicate bridge, most conventions must be alerted when made, so the opponents can ask what they mean. Playing a convention without telling the opponents is not allowed, and the same applies to robots, which is why the Shark robots publish a full convention card.
Stayman#
After partner opens 1 notrump, a response of 2 clubs asks whether the opener holds a four-card major. It says nothing about clubs. The opener replies 2 diamonds with no four-card major, 2 hearts with four hearts, or 2 spades with four spades and not four hearts. Responder uses Stayman with a four-card major and enough points to invite game, hoping to play in a 4-4 major fit rather than in notrump.
Jacoby transfers#
Also after 1 notrump. A response of 2 diamonds asks the opener to bid 2 hearts, and a response of 2 hearts asks the opener to bid 2 spades. Responder has at least five cards in the major being transferred to. The point of the transfer is that the strong hand becomes the declarer and the weak hand stays hidden as dummy. After the transfer, responder passes with a weak hand, invites with a medium one, or bids game with a strong one.
Blackwood#
When the partnership has agreed a trump suit and is thinking about a slam, a bid of 4 notrump asks how many aces partner holds. The replies are 5 clubs for zero or four aces, 5 diamonds for one, 5 hearts for two and 5 spades for three. If two aces are missing, you stop below slam. Many partnerships now play Roman Key Card Blackwood, which counts the trump king as a fifth ace and can also locate the trump queen. Agree which version you play before you need it.
Takeout double#
A double of an opponent's opening bid at a low level is not a claim that they will fail. It asks partner to bid their best suit. It shows opening-bid strength, shortness in the opponent's suit and support for the other suits. Partner must bid unless they have a strong holding in the opponent's suit and want to defend. This is the most useful competitive tool a beginner can learn.
Negative double#
When partner opens, the next opponent overcalls, and you hold a hand that would have responded in a new suit but can no longer do so cheaply, you double instead. The negative double shows the unbid suits, usually with an emphasis on an unbid major, and about 6 or more points. It is alertable and it is standard in nearly every modern system.
Weak two bids#
Openings of 2 diamonds, 2 hearts and 2 spades show a six-card suit and a hand too weak to open at the one level, typically 5 to 11 points. They describe the hand in a single bid and make it harder for the opponents to find their own contract. Because 2 clubs is used as the strong opening in this scheme, weak twos and the strong 2 clubs come as a package.
Michaels cue bid and the unusual 2 notrump#
Two conventions for showing a two-suited hand in competition. A direct cue bid of the opponent's suit (they open 1 heart, you bid 2 hearts) shows at least five cards in each of two other suits, both majors when the opponent opened a minor. A jump to 2 notrump over an opponent's one-level opening shows the two lowest unbid suits. Both let you show two suits with one call before the auction gets high.
How many conventions do you need?#
Fewer than you think. A partnership playing five-card majors, a 15 to 17 notrump, Stayman, transfers, Blackwood, takeout and negative doubles and weak twos is playing what many clubs call the standard card. Add conventions only when a specific problem keeps coming up. The best way to make a convention stick is to play it under time pressure, and Shark Bridge Game lets you deal hands that fit the convention and see how the robots handle the same auction. Teachers can build a whole lesson around one convention in Teacher's Console using pre-set deals, as described in How to Teach Bridge Online.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a convention and a natural bid?
A natural bid says something about the suit or strain it names: 2 hearts shows hearts, 1 notrump shows a balanced hand. A convention gives a bid an artificial meaning the partnership has agreed in advance. The 2 clubs of Stayman says nothing about clubs; it asks about majors. Conventions must be alerted to the opponents in duplicate bridge, while natural bids usually need no alert.
Which bridge conventions should a beginner learn first?
Start with Stayman and Jacoby transfers over a 1 notrump opening, because that opening comes up often and finding a major-suit fit changes the score. Add the takeout double next, since it is the most useful competitive call. Blackwood can wait until you bid slams, and negative doubles until you compete regularly. Five or six conventions carry most club players for years.
What is Stayman used for in bridge?
Stayman is the 2 clubs response to a 1 notrump opening. It asks the opener whether they hold a four-card major. The opener bids 2 hearts or 2 spades with one, or 2 diamonds without. Responder uses it with a four-card major and enough points to invite game, hoping to play in a 4-4 major fit, which usually takes one more trick than notrump does.
What is the difference between Blackwood and Gerber?
Both ask partner how many aces they hold before a slam is bid. Blackwood uses a bid of 4 notrump after a trump suit has been agreed. Gerber uses a jump to 4 clubs directly over a 1 notrump or 2 notrump opening, where 4 notrump would be a natural invitation. Many partnerships now replace plain Blackwood with Roman Key Card Blackwood, which counts the trump king as well.
Do you have to tell opponents about your conventions?
In duplicate bridge, yes. Most artificial bids must be alerted when they are made, and the opponents may ask what a bid means when it is their turn to call. Partnerships also fill in a convention card listing their agreements. The rule applies to robots too, which is why the Shark robots publish their full convention card so any bid they make can be looked up.
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