Stayman convention

"Stayman" redirects here. For the apple cultivar, see Stayman apple.

In the card game contract bridge, Stayman is a convention used to find a 4-4 trump fit in a major suit after the 1NT opening bid, and it has been adapted for use after an opening 2NT, a 1NT overcall, and many other natural notrump bids. It is named for Sam Stayman, who wrote the first published description in 1945,^[1] but its inventors were two other players: the British expert Jack Marx in 1939, who published it only in 1946,^[2] and Stayman's regular partner George Rapée in 1945.^[3]

The main reason for seeking a fit in a major suit is that the success rate for 4♥ or 4♠ with 26 HCP is about 80%, whereas 3NT with 26 HCP has a success rate of only 60%, or 50% with 25 HCP.^[4] (The extra control from having a trump suit is often worth an extra trick in such situations.) Additionally, in matchpoint scoring, the additional 20 points for making 4♥ or 4♠ versus 3NT can be significant.

Standard Stayman

After an opening bid or an overcall of 1NT (2NT), responder bids 2♣ (3♣) to ask opener or overcaller to bid a four card major suit if he has one. This bid promises four cards in at least one of the major suits and, in standard form, enough strength to continue bidding after partner's response (8 HCP for an invitational bid opposite a standard 1NT showing 15-17 HCP or 5 HCP to go to game opposite a standard 2NT showing 20-21 points). By invoking the Stayman convention, the responder takes control of the bidding since strength and distribution of the opener's hand is already known within a limited range. The opener responds with the following rebids.

• 2♦ (3♦) denies a four or more cards in each major suit.
• 2♥ (3♥) shows at least four hearts.
• 2♠ (3♠) shows at least four spades.

Note that a Notrump opener should have neither a suit longer than 5 cards nor more than one 5-card suit since an opening Notrump bid shows a balanced hand. A Notrump bidder who has at least four cards in each major suit normally responds in the longer or stronger major.

In the standard form of Stayman over 1NT, the responder has four normal rebids.

• If the Notrump bidder names a major suit and the responder has four cards in that suit, the responder bids three of the Notrump bidder's suit (invitational) with 8-9 HCP or four of the Notrump bidder's major suit (game) with 10 or more HCP.
• If the Notrump bidder bids a major suit in which the responder does not have at least four cards or bids diamonds to deny a major suit with four (or more) cards, the responder bids 2NT (invitational) with 8-9 HCP or 3NT (game) with 10 or more HCP.

Over these bids, the Notrump bidder (1) with a maximum hand (17 HCP), goes to game over an invitational bid and (2) with four (or more) cards in each major suit, correct to the previously unbid major suit.

In the standard form of Stayman over 2NT, the responder has only two normal rebids.

• If the Notrump bidder names a major suit and the responder has four cards in that suit, the responder bids four of the Notrump bidder's suit (game).
• If the Notrump bidder names a major suit in which the responder does not have at least four cards or bids diamonds to deny a major suit, the responder bids 3NT (game). If the Notrump bidder has four cards in each major suit, the Notrump bidder corrects to the previously unbid major suit.

In either case, a responder who rebids Notrump over a response in a major suit promises four cards of the other major suit. Thus, a Notrump opener who holds at least four cards in each major suit should "correct" by bidding the other major suit at the lowest level.

Of course, responder who has sufficient strength also may bid 4♣ (Gerber) or 4NT (Blackwood), or cue bid aces, depending upon partnership agreement, to explore slam in any of the above sequences. Some partnerships also admit responder's rebids of a major suit that the Notrump bidder did not name.

A bid of 4♣ over an opening bid of 3NT may be either Stayman or Gerber, depending upon the partnership agreement.

There are many variations on this basic theme, and partnership agreement may alter the details of its use. It is one of the most widely used conventions in bridge.

Using Standard Stayman with Jacoby transfers

Today, most players use Stayman in conjunction with Jacoby transfers. With Stayman in effect, the responder practically denies having a 5-card major, as otherwise he would transfer to the major immediately. The only exception is when responder has 5-4 in the majors; in that case, he would normally use Stayman, and in the case of a 2♦ response, bid the 5-card major at the 2 level (weakness take-out) or at the 3 level (forcing to game). However, the latter hand can also be bid by first using a transfer and then showing the second suit naturally. The Smolen convention (see below) provides an alternative method to show a five-card major and game-going values.

Smolen

The Smolen convention^[5] is an extension of Standard Stayman for situations in which the responder has five cards of one major and four cards of the other, with game-going values. If the Notrump opener responds to the 2♣ (3♣) response with 2♦ (3♦) to deny a four-card major, the responder bids three of the four-card major. The Notrump bidder then places the contract by bidding four of the other major with three cards in the suit or 3NT with fewer than three. This convention allows a partnership to find either a 4-4 fit or a 5-3 fit while ensuring that the Notrump opener, who has the stronger hand, will declare the contract in any case.

"Garbage Stayman" and "Crawling Stayman"

"Garbage" Stayman and "Crawling" Stayman are adaptations of Stayman frequently used for damage control when holding a weak hand opposite a 1NT opening bid. Consider the following hand.

♠ 5432 ♥ 5432 ♦ 65432 ♣ –

One's left hand opponent passes, one's partner bids 1NT (15-17), and one's right hand opponent passes. Now, what?

In this scenario, one's partner has about 16 HCP and one's opponents have about 24 HCP. Thus, 1NT is virtually certain to go down by at least three or four tricks. Indeed, in Notrump, this dummy will be completely worthless.

But consider what happens if one interjects a bid of 2♣ rather than passing on the first round, then passes one's partner's response. If the Notrump hand rebids a major suit, it's an instant 4-4 fit and ability to trump club losers (or, alternately, to sluff the other major on club winners and then to trump losers in the other major). Likewise, a response of 2♦ guarantees no worse than a 5-2 fit in diamonds and, with a fifth trump, a potential additional ruff. The ability to get the board with a couple ruffs also may allow the declarer to take a couple finesses or execute a squeeze that otherwise would not be possible, and which might yield another trick or two. The result is a contract that will go down fewer tricks or that might even make, especially with a somewhat better hand than the example, rather than a contract that is virtually certain to go down at least three or four tricks. The practice of bidding Stayman with a relatively weak hand of this (or similar) shape and then passing the Notrump bidder's reply is often called "Garbage Stayman" because it is, quite literally, bidding Stayman with a "garbage" hand.^[6]

"Crawling Stayman" is an extension of "Garbage Stayman" for situations in which the responder's diamond suit is short. In "Crawling Stayman", the responder rebids 2♥ over the Notrump bidder's 2♦ reply. This conventional bid shows a weak hand with at least four cards in each major suit, asking the Notrump bidder to choose between the major suits at the cheapest level by either passing the 2♥ bid or correcting to 2♠. The name "Crawling Stayman" comes from the fact that the bidding "crawls" at the slowest possible pace: (pass) – 1NT – (pass) – 2♣; (pass) – 2♦ – (pass) – 2♥; (pass) – 2♠; (pass) – pass – (pass).

"Garbage Stayman" and "Crawling Stayman" bids over a 2NT bid work the same way, but occur at the "three" level.

Forcing and Non-Forcing Stayman

If Jacoby transfers are not played, there are two approaches to resolve the situations when the responder has a 5-card major. In one, more common, referred to as non-forcing Stayman, in the sequence:

1NT – 2♣; 2♦ – 2♠

responder's simple rebid of a major suit is only invitational, showing 8-9 points and 5-card spade suit. In forcing Stayman variant, the bid is a one-round forcing.

In the original Precision Club system, forcing and non-forcing Staymans are differentiated in the start: 2♣ by responder shows only invitational values (and the continuation is as in the basic Stayman), while 2♦ is forcing to game (responder bids 2NT without majors).

Puppet Stayman response to a 1NT opening

A frequent dilemma among players is whether to allow 1NT opening with 5-3-3-2 distribution which includes a five-card major suit. On one hand, a 5-3 major-suit can easily be missed if it is allowed; on the other, such hands present an awkward second-round rebid if opened 1 of a major (especially if 1NT is in 15-18 range). Puppet Stayman, invented by Kit Woolsey and Steve Robinson, is a variation of the Stayman convention intended to solve that problem. It serves two purposes.

• It allows the side to find a 5-3 fit when the notrump opener has a 5-card major.
• It allows the side to find a 4-4 fit without revealing unnecessary information about the notrump opener's hand to the opponents.

After 1NT by opener, responder starts by bidding 2♣ just as in the standard Stayman convention, but the opener now responds 2♥ or 2♠ only with a 5-card major. Otherwise, the response is 2♦.

After 1NT – 2♣; 2♦, the responder then tells opener which 4-card major he is interested in, by bidding the other one (or 2NT with both). Thus, 1NT – 2♣; 2♦ – 2♥ shows 4 spades and 1NT – 2♣; 2♦ – 2♠, shows 4 hearts.

Opener can either raise with a fit, or go back to NT. With maximum, he should raise to the game, and with minimum, bid on the lowest level, leaving the decision to the responder.

Here is a typical Puppet Stayman auction:

North	South
1NT	2♣
2♦	2♠
3NT

Note that opener has denied a 5-card major and has denied a 4-card heart suit by not bidding hearts after responder bid 2♠, but opener's bidding has not revealed anything about whether he has a 4-card spade suit as he would have had to do in a standard Stayman auction. This may be an advantage during the play in 3NT.

Puppet Stayman is more commonly used after a 2NT opening than after a 1NT opening.

Five Card Major Stayman response to a 1NT opening

As described by Australian Ron Klinger, it can be played with a weak or strong 1NT.

1NT - 2♣

• 2♦ = minimum, no 5M
• 2M = minimum, 5M
• 2NT = Maximum, no 5M
• 3M = Maximum, 5M

1NT - 2♣, 2♦ OR 2NT

• 3♣ = Stayman
• 3♦ = --> ♥
• 3♥ = --> ♠
• 3♠ = ?
• 3NT = to play

After a transfer, accept it with any 4333, bid 3NT with only 2 trumps, otherwise bid 4M.

1NT - 2♣, 2♦ OR 2NT - 3♣ = Stayman

• 3♦ = 4M333
• 3♥ = 4♥, not 4333
• 3♠ = 4♠, not 4333, not 4♥
• 3NT = no 4M

1NT - 2♣, (2♦ OR 2NT) - 3♣, 3♦

• 3♥ = 4♠, not 4♥
• 3♠ = 4♥, not 4♠
• 3NT = to play
• 4♦ = bid your 4 card Major

An alternative, simpler version of 5 card Stayman is:

1NT - 2♣

• 2♦ = No 5M
• 2M = 5M

This structure permits use by weak hands with 5+ diamonds and 2+ cards in each major.

After 1NT - 2♣, 2♦

• 2M = 4M invitational
• 2NT = invitational, no major
• 3M = 4M game-forcng

With a 5 card major, responder begins with a transfer. After completion of the transfer, bidding the other major at the 3 level shows 4 cards in it and a game forcing hand, in line with the 1NT - 2♣, 2♦ structure above (1NT - 2♦, 2♥ - 2♠ = invitational 5♥-4♠).

Checkback Stayman (two variations)

2♣ Checkback Stayman is used in the following bidding sequences, to "check back" if opener has major suit support, saying nothing additional about the club suit. Bidding Checkback implies that the responder has five cards in his major, and may have four in the other.

1m - 1M - 1NT - 2♣

The 2♣ is Checkback Stayman. Responses are as follows:

2♦ : No three card support for partner's suit, no four cards in other major. Minimum hand.

2♥/♠ : Bidding responder's major shows three, bidding the other major shows four. Minimum hand.

2NT : No three card support for partner's suit, no four cards in other major. Maximum hand.

3♥/♠ : Bidding responder's major shows three, bidding the other major shows four. Maximum hand.

You should agree with your partner how to handle the case of holding both four of the other major and three of partner's suit. You could agree to bid up the line, or support partner's suit first. If partner doesn't like your first suit, they will invite with 2NT or bid game with 3NT. You will then correct to your other suit.

2♠ Checkback Stayman is used to find a fit in spades when the 2♣ does not promise a 4M.

1NT - 2♣, 2♥ -

• 2♠ = 4 spades, not 4 hearts, invitational
• 2N = no 4 spades, invitational
• 3N = 4 spades and game values

New Minor Forcing

New Minor Forcing is used in the following bidding sequences, for responder with invitational values or more to find 3 card support for his major or find a 4-4 heart fit (holding 5 spades and 4 hearts), it also allows a return to the minor to play.

1♣ - 1♥/♠, 1NT - 2♣ (to play)

1♦ - 1♥/♠, 1NT - 2♦ (to play)

2 of the other minor is New Minor Forcing (NMF).

1♣ - 1♥/♠, 1NT - 2♦ (NMF)

1♦ - 1♥/♠, 1NT - 2♣ (NMF)

Your responses to NMF in order of priority are:

• Bid an unbid heart suit with 4 (jump to 3 with a maximum)
• Show 3 card support for partner's suit (jump to 3 with a maximum)
• Bid no trump with stoppers in the two unbid suits (jump to 3 with a maximum)
• Bid an unbid suit (to show a stopper) or rebid your minor without stoppers

Puppet Stayman response to a 2NT opening or very strong 2NT rebid (20-22 or 23-24)

• 3♣ = Puppet Stayman
• 3♦ = --> hearts
• 3♥ = --> spades
• 3♠ = --> 5 spades and 4 hearts
• 3NT = no 3+ major, to play

Responder bids 3♣ seeking information about opener's major suit holding. Opener replies:

• 3NT denying a 4 or 5-card major
• 3♥ showing a 5-card heart suit
• 3♠ showing a 5-card spade suit
• 3♦ holding a 4-card major and denying a 5-card major; following this responder bids:
  • 3♥ showing a 4-card spade suit and denying a 4-card heart suit
  • 3♠ showing a 4-card heart suit and denying a 4-card spade suit
  • 3NT denying a 4-card major, to play
  • 4♣ showing 4 spades and 4 hearts, slam try
    • 4♦ RCKB in hearts
    • 4♥ to play
    • 4♠ to play
    • 4NT RKCB in spades
  • 4♦ showing 4 spades and 4 hearts, you choose
  • 4NT denying a 4-card major, invitational to 6NT

By this means all 5-3 and 4-4 major suit fits can be found.

References

1. ^ "A New Notrump Convention", Samuel Stayman, The Bridge World, June 1945
2. ^ "What? Another Convention?", J.C.H. Marx, Contract Bridge Journal, 1946
3. ^ The Roots of Stayman, Alan Truscott, The New York Times, April 3, 1983
4. ^ Ron Klinger Basic Bridge 1994. Victor Gollancz ISBN 0-575-05690-8
5. ^ The Bidding Toolkit: Smolen, as Published in Bridge Bulletin, date unknown.
6. ^ Marty Bergen, Points, Schmoints!, Magnus Books (Stamford, CT), 1995, ISBN 0-9637533-2-0, pp. 13-14.

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