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Stayman Convention - One of the most popular conventions used by
Bridge players, using a 2C response to partner's 1 Notrump or 2 Notrump
opening bid to locate a major suit fit.
Sam Stayman's tournament partner George Rapee introduced the artificial 2
Club response to partner's 1 Notrump opener. However, George was less
interested in popularizing the conventional treatment than enjoying the
benefits of its use, generously allowing Stayman its namesake in 1945.
Throughout the years, the Stayman convention has been one of the top three
conventions in the card game of Bridge.
Over Opener's 1 Notrump opening bid, the responder generally uses the
2C response with invitational or better values (3C when opener
bid
2N, etc). |
Picture of Sam Stayman |
Note 1: Stayman is not recommended with a 4-3-3-3 distribution since
the dummy then has no ruffing power. With a completely balanced hand,
consider using Stayman only when the super-balanced hand containing a 4 card
major is headed by Ace, King, and Queen.
Note 2: This discussion assumes the partners are also playing Jacoby
Transfers, which affects the treatment of certain Stayman bids. See
comments.
Note 3: Most of the treatments below do not apply to Puppet Stayman.
Note 4: This discussion covers the
Non Forcing Stayman, with examples assuming opener's 1 Notrump range is
15-17 points (also see Doublebarrel
Stayman).
|
1 Notrump
Opener |
Game Points
Needed |
Responder's Minimum
Invitational Points to use Stayman |
|
10-12 (weak) |
25 |
13-14 points |
|
12-14 (weak) |
25 |
11-12 points |
|
15-17 (strong)
Most commonly used range |
25 |
8-9 points |
|
16-18 (strong) |
25 |
7-8 points |
|
Any |
Does not apply |
0 points,Garbage Stayman
with shortage in Clubs |
|
2 Notrump
Opener
|
|
20-21 |
25 |
3-4 points |
In response to the 1N - 2C Stayman bid, opener must make one of 3
rebids:
| Case |
Example |
Description |
| A. |
1N - 2C;
2D |
No 4 card major |
| B. |
1N - 2C;
2H |
Promising a 4 card Heart fit;
with both 4 card majors, first bid 2H "up the line"; Note - alternative
methods are to play "down the line" or to simply first bid the stronger 4
card suit |
| C. |
1N - 2C;
2S |
Promising a 4
card Spade fit, denying 4 Hearts |
Case A. After 1N - 2C; 2D responder's rebids
are:
| Auction |
Description |
1N - 2C;
2 any - Pass |
With a sub-minimum hand and a
shortage in Clubs, simply pass. This technique is known as a
"Garbage Stayman" indicating responder wishes to place the contract in any
suit other than Notrump or Clubs. |
|
If opener rebids 2D: |
1N - 2C;
2D - P; |
Pass with a sub-minimum
hand and a shortage in Clubs
(if Responder's intentions shows a "Garbage Stayman") |
1N - 2C;
2D - 2H |
Bid 2H with an
invitational hand, 5 Hearts and 4 Spades (although some play this says
nothing about Spades) ; Note - others play an alternative "Crawling
Stayman", showing 0-7 points and require opener to either pass or
correct to 2S holding 3 Spades. |
1N - 2C;
2D - 2S;
|
Bid 2S with an
invitational hand, 5 Spades and 4 Hearts (although some play this says
nothing about Hearts); Note - others play an alternative "Crawling
Stayman", showing 0-7 points and require opener to pass. |
1N - 2C;
2D - 2N
|
Bid 2N with an
invitational hand and less than 5 cards in a major (8-9 points by responder,
assuming 15-17 point opener). |
1N - 2C;
2D - 3C;
|
Bid 3C/3D to show a slam
invitational hand in the respective minor. Note: some players (that do
not play Jacoby Transfers to the minors) prefer to play 3C/3D as a
weak signoff bid with a long minor suit; further, some players play this as
showing game invitational values; Note: an advanced treatment uses this bid
to show a 4 card major and 5+ cards in the minor. |
1N - 2C;
2D - 3H; |
Bid 3H/S to show a game
forcing hand with 5 in the major; Note: some play this as showing the
other major (Smolen Convention). |
1N - 2C;
2D - 3N;
|
Bid 3N with a game
promising hand, just above the invitational range but less than slam range
(10-14 points by responder, assuming 15-17 point opener) |
1N - 2C;
2D - 4N;
|
Bid 4N (Quantitative
Slam try) with a slam invitational hand (15-16 points by responder,
assuming 15-17 point opener). |
1N - 2C;
2D - 5N;
|
Bid 5N (Quantitative
Grandslam try) with a grandslam invitational hand (19-20 points by
responder, assuming 15-17 point opener). |
1N - 2C;
2D - 6N;
|
Bid 6N with a slam
promising hand, (17-18 points by responder, assuming 15-17 point opener) |
Case B. After 1N - 2C; 2H by opener promises a 4+ card
Heart suit:
1N - 2C;
2H |
2H by opener promises
4+Hearts, may have 4+ Spades
(bidding "up the line") with both 4 card majors, first bid 2H; Note -
alternative methods are to play "down the line" or to simply first bid the
stronger 4 card suit |
1N - 2C;
2H - 2N; |
Bid 2N with an
invitational hand and no 4 card Heart suit (8-9 points by responder,
assuming 15-17 point opener) |
1N - 2C;
2H - 2S: |
Bid 2S with an invitational hand and a 5 card Spade suit (8-9 points
by responder, assuming 15-17 point opener) |
1N - 2C;
2H - 3C;
|
Bid 3C to show a slam
invitational hand in the respective minor. Note: some players (that do
not play Jacoby Transfers to the minors) prefer to play 3C/3D as a
weak signoff bid with a long minor suit; further, some players play this as
showing game invitational values |
1N - 2C;
2H - 3H; |
Bid 3H to show a 4+ card
Heart fit and an invitational hand (8-9 points by responder, assuming 15-17
point opener) |
1N - 2C;
2H - 3S; |
Bid 3S with a game
forcing hand and a 5 card Spade suit (10-14 points by responder, assuming
15-17 point opener); Note - an advanced treatment uses this as a slam try in
Spades (remember the acronym "ST TOMAS" Stayman Then The Other Major Asks
Slam") |
1N - 2C;
2H - 3N; |
Bid 3N with a game
forcing hand and no 4 card Heart suit (10-14 points by responder, assuming
15-17 point opener) |
1N - 2C;
2H - 4C; |
Bid Blackwood asking 4C
with a slam invitational hand and 4+ card Heart suit (16+ points by
responder, assuming 15-17 point opener); Note - an advanced treatment uses
this as a Splinter bid in Clubs/Diamonds |
1N - 2C;
2H - 4H; |
Bid 4H with a game
forcing hand and a 4+ card Heart suit (10-14 points by responder, assuming
15-17 point opener) |
1N - 2C;
2H - 4N; |
Bid Quantitative Slam asking
4N with a slam invitational hand and no 4 card Heart suit (15-16 points
by responder, assuming 15-17 point opener) |
Case C. After 1N - 2C; 2S by opener promises a 4+ card
Spade suit:
1N - 2C;
2S |
2S by
opener promises 4+Spades, denying 4+ Hearts
(bidding "up the line"); Note - alternative methods are to play "down the
line" or to simply first bid the stronger 4 card suit |
1N - 2C;
2S - 2N; |
Bid 2N with an
invitational hand and no 4 card Spade suit (8-9 points by responder,
assuming 15-17 point opener) |
1N - 2C;
2S - 3C;
|
Bid 3C to show a slam
invitational hand in the respective minor. Note: some players (that do
not play Jacoby Transfers to the minors) prefer to play 3C/3D as a
weak signoff bid with a long minor suit; further, some players play this as
showing game invitational values |
1N - 2C;
2S - 3H; |
Bid 3H to show a 5+ card
Heart suit and a game forcing hand (10-14 points by responder, assuming 15-17
point opener); Note - an advanced treatment uses this as a slam try in
Spades (remember the acronym "ST TOMAS" Stayman Then The Other Major Asks
Slam") |
1N - 2C;
2S - 3S; |
Bid 3S to show a 4+ card
Spade fit and an invitational hand (8-9 points by responder, assuming 15-17
point opener) |
1N - 2C;
2S - 3N; |
Bid 3N with a game
forcing hand and no 4 card Spade suit (10-14 points by responder, assuming
15-17 point opener) |
1N - 2C;
2S - 4C; |
Bid Blackwood asking 4C
with a slam invitational hand and 4+ card Spade suit (16+ points by
responder, assuming 15-17 point opener); Note - an advanced treatment uses
this as a Splinter bid in Clubs/Diamonds |
1N - 2C;
2S - 4N; |
Bid Quantitative Slam asking
4N with a slam invitational hand and no 4 card Spade suit (15-16 points
by responder, assuming 15-17 point opener) |
If opponent interferes:
|
i. |
A cuebid by responder in
opponent's suit is "Stayman", implying 4 cards in the other major |
|
ii. |
Some play a Double of
opponent's 2C bid is also a "Stayman" bid by partner |
|
iii. |
A penalty Double of opener's
1N bid by the opponent does not affect the Stayman conventional bids;
1N - (X) - 2C still conveys a Stayman bid. Note: some others play
2C as natural, showing Clubs |
|
iv. |
See
Lebensohl for further uses of
Stayman over opponent's 2 level overcall |
Other:
|
i. |
If 1 Notrump opener has a 5
card major, opener may rebid the major if responder makes a Notrump response |
|
ii. |
If the 1 Notrump opener has 4 cards in both majors and the auction begins:
1N - 2C;
2H - 2N/3N; Opener may infer
responder has 4 Spades and rebid 4S
|
|
iii. |
Stayman may also be used in alternative auctions, as:
1 minor - 1 major;
2C - 2D;
(1 any) - 1N - (P) - 2C;
2N - 3C;
2N - 3C;
"Systems on after overcall"
|
|
iv. |
When 3N is played as a
natural 25 point opening hand, some play 4C as Gerber while others play
4C as Stayman; either way, 4D may be used to show the "other"
convention - a preferred treatment is to use 4C as Gerber (to
preserve space) and 4D as Stayman. |
Also see: Forcing Stayman,
Minor Suit Stayman,
Puppet Stayman,
Crawling Stayman,
Garbage Stayman (Drop Dead
Stayman), and Doublebarrel
Stayman
Also see Books on
Stayman
The ACBL nominated Sam (Samuel) Stayman to the "Hall of Fame",
providing the following testimonial:
Sam Stayman was a leading bridge administrator, an innovator, an
author and a successful business man.
Stayman's name became a household word in bridge circles when
he described ( The Bridge World , June 1945) a convention
developed by his partner George Repée. In response to a 1NT
opening bid, 2? asks for a major suit. This became known as the
Stayman Convention – familiar to bridge players
throughout the world.
He contributed to the Official Encyclopedia of Bridge
and wrote three books: Expert Bidding, The Complete Stayman
System of Contract Bridge and Do you Play Stayman?
His contributions to bridge theory include Namyats (Stayman
spelled backwards) which used an opening 4? bid to show a strong
hand with a long hearts suit and 4? to show a strong hand with a
long spade suit.
Stayman (1909-1993) won his first major NABC titles in 1942
when he took both the Vanderbilt and the Spingold, and his last
(the Reisinger) more than four decades later in 1984. In all he
captured 20 North American championships and was runner-up 14
times.
A World Bridge Federation Brand Maste, he and George Repée,
Charles Goren, Howard Schenken, John Crawford and Sidney Silodor
won the inaugural Bermuda Bowl in 1950. The January-February 1951
Bulletin reported.
All the close of the eighth and final session of the
grueling battle of brains the American led England by 3660 points
and were ahead of the Europeans by 4720 points.
Dr. Einar Werner, captain of the European team, said: “The
American made few mistakes and had the advantage of a team
composed of six good players, familiar with each other's play.”
The following year, Stayman and Crawford, Schenken, Repée and
B. Jay Becker represented America in the World Team Championship
in Rome .
They defeated Italy , winner of a European round-robin
tournament, in a 320 board match played over a period of one week.
Julius Rosenblum, 1951 ACBL president and non-playing captain of
the team, reported in the January-February 1952 Bulletin
.
It gives me great happiness to say that the members of the
American team distinguished themselves by their courtesy as well
as by their bridge skill. It was a friendly, enjoyable match, and
it will build for future international goodwill in bridge
The same team – with Theodore Lightner as a sixth member –
defended their title successfully in 1953. In all, Stayman
represented the ACBL six times in international competition. He
won the silver in the 1964 World Team Olympiad.
As a bridge administrator, Stayman served several years as ACBL
Treasurer and was trustee of the ACBL Charity Foundation. He was
named ACBL Honorary Member in 1969 and American Bridge Teachers'
Association Honorary Member in 1979. He was president of the
Cavendish Club in Manhattan from 1958 to 1972.
Born in Worcester MA in 1909, he took his A.B. degree from
Dartmouth College in 1930 and his M.B.A. from Tuck Business
College in 1931.
He was president of Stayman & Stayman until the mid-Sixties
when he sold the business and became a portfolio and investments
manager.
His wife Josephine, known as “Tubby”, is a tireless worker for
her favorite charity, bridge games which contribute to the United
Jewish Appeal.
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