Stayman

Non promissory Stayman and 2 ♠ checkback by responder Some partnerships play that 2 ♣ Stayman does not absolutely promise a four-card major (non promissory Stayman).

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 bidding Stayman with a "garbage" hand.

Checkback Stayman 2 ♣ Checkback Stayman (or simply Checkback) is used after a 1NT rebid by opener rather than a 1NT opening.

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

Alternatively, North, if his hand lacks the values for game in notrump, may double, which by partnership agreement employs Stayman.

But consider what happens if you bid 2 ♣ Stayman rather than passing on the first round, and then pass opener's response.

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.

Forcing and Non-Forcing Stayman If Jacoby transfers are not played, there are two approaches to resolve the situation when responder has a 5-card major but only invitational values.

If an adverse suit bid is inserted immediately after a 1NT opening, Stayman may be employed via a double (by partnership agreement) or a cue bid, depending on the strength of his hand.

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 a 5-card spade suit.

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

New Minor Forcing is an alternative to Checkback Stayman where either 2 ♣ or 2 ♦ can be used as the checkback bid.

Originally published in Bridge Bulletin, date unknown, p. 44. is an adjunct to Stayman for situations in which the notrump opener has denied holding a four-card major and responder has a five-card major and a four-card major with game-going values.

Responses to a 2NT opening or rebid Puppet Stayman is more commonly used after a 2NT opening than after a 1NT opening.

Some of the specific agreements in Standard American Yellow Card (SAYC) that elaborate on basic Standard American are: * A 2 ♣ response to a 1 NT opening is specified as the "non-forcing" version of the Stayman convention.

The cue bid, which is conventional, is completely artificial and means nothing other than invoking Stayman.

This gives the partnership a better than even chance of success in making the contract, whereas without a response (and without Stayman), the contract would likely be set.

This provides the partnership with an advantage that the non-Stayman partnership doesn't enjoy.