Partner opens 1NT (15 to 17). Your hand has less than invitational strength, lacks a long biddable suit, has a shape along the lines of 4-3-4-2 or 2-4-5-2 or 3-4-1-5. They tell you to pass these holdings, even though in passing you will leave many fine major-suit fits on the table. Scramble Stayman argues that you should hunt down those fits. Two times out of three, the contracts you scramble to will matchpoint better than 1NT, and they will gain an average of about 1 IMP per hand.

Scramble Stayman explains (1) which kinds of hands qualify to scramble, (2) the...