The origin of this variation of the Stayman convention is unknown. It is designated as an 'extension' of the Extended Stayman conventional method. This designation, however, is somewhat of a misnomer in its application since the partnership agreement is first to employ the Stayman conventional method. Nevertheless, since the continuances after the denial bid are very similar to the responses of the Extended Stayman conventional method, the designer(s) has chosen this designation.

Basic Principle of the Extension

The partnership agreement is to first employ the Stayman conventional method after partner opens 1 No Trump. If, and only if, the first rebid by the No Trump bidder is 2 Diamonds, the denial bid showing no 4-card Major suit, does the Extension of Extended Stayman take effect.

In order to initiate this extension of Extended Stayman the responder is required to hold at least one 5-card Major suit and at least 4 cards in the other Major suit. The responder may hold 5-card suits in both Major suits also. Consequently the distribution of the responder in both Major suits must either be 5-5 or 5-4. The responder must also hold game values.

On a hand containing game values of at least 12/13 plus points, and 5-5 or 5-4 distribution in both Major suits, the responder would still like to find a Major suit game, but only after a first denial bid response by the No Trump bidder. A bid of 3 by the responder following the negative 2 response by the No Trump bidder forces to game, and asks the No Trump bidder to now show a three-card Major suit. The informative responses of the No Trump bidder are shown below. Source: (Presently off line).

Opener		Responder		Meaning
1 NT		2		NOTE: Stayman convention. NOT the Extended Stayman convention.
2				Shows minimum values and denies a 4-card Major suit.
		3		NOTE: Extension of Extended Stayman convention. This bid is game forcing and requests partner to show a 3-card Major suit.
3				With a three-card suit in Hearts, but only a two-card Spade suit, opener bids 3. The responder should now choose between 3 NT and 4. Note: Any other suit bid will be a cuebid, implicitly agreeing Hearts as trumps.
3				With a three-card suit in Spades, but only a two-card Heart suit, opener bids 3. The responder should now choose between 3 NT and 4. Note: Any other suit bid will be a cuebid, implicitly agreeing Spades as trumps.
3 NT				Shows no 3-card Major suit. The responder will normally pass unless strong enough for a slam in No Trump.
4				With 3 cards in both Major suits, the opener bids an artificial 4. The responder should now choose the better Major suit.

The following example should clarify this concept, which is first initiated once the No Trump bidder has denied holding a 4-card Major suit after bidding 1 No Trump.

Opener		Responder		Meaning
AQ4 K7 KQ103 QJ98		K9865 Q1098 A8 K6
1 NT				Generally a strong No Trump range between 15 and 17 high card points and a balanced holding.
		2		Stayman convention.
2				Denies a 4-card Major suit.
		3		With this bid the responder triggers the extension of Extended Stayman convention. This bid is game forcing and requests partner to show a 3-card Major suit.
3				With a three-card suit in Spades, but only a two-card Heart suit, opener bids 3. The responder should now choose between 3 NT and 4. Note: Any other suit bid will be a cuebid, implicitly agreeing Spades as trumps.
		4		After discovering that the partner holds a 3-card suit in Spades, the responder bids game in Spades knowing that there is a 5-3 fit.

 

 

If you wish to include this feature, or any other feature, of the game of bridge in your partnership agreement, then please make certain that the concept is understood by both partners. Be aware whether or not the feature is alertable or not and whether an announcement should or must be made. Check with the governing body and/or the bridge district and/or the bridge unit prior to the game to establish the guidelines applied. Please include the particular feature on your convention card in order that your opponents are also aware of this feature during the bidding process, since this information must be made known to them according to the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. We do not always include the procedure regarding Alerts and/or Announcements, since these regulations are changed and revised during time by the governing body. It is our intention only to present the information as concisely and as accurately as possible.