The concept of the Stayman conventional method is logical in its concept. After a 1 No Trump opening by one partner the responder bids 2 Clubs asking whether the No Trump bidder holds a 4-card Major suit. The only requirement of the responder is to hold either a 4-card Heart suit, a 4-card Spade suit or 4 cards in both Major suits and sufficient values, generally around 8 high card points, to bid on the two level.

Note: The designation for the employment of both non-forcing Stayman and forcing Stayman is referred to as Two-Way Stayman. This is per partnership agreement.

Note: This presentation illustrates the difference between the concept of the non-forcing Stayman principle and the forcing Stayman principle. In general, the non-forcing Stayman principle can be employed for all No Trump ranges. The forcing Stayman principle, on the other hand is normally employed by bridge players, whose partnership agreement is based on any form of the Precision bidding system.

Note: The concept of forcing Stayman is employed by bridge players, whose agreement is based on the Precision bidding system, because sponsoring organizations, especially on the international level, permit a No Trump range between 10 points and 15 points, but do not permit the use of transfer bids. In order to overcome this situation the necessity of creating an additional method of forcing Stayman was developed.

The reason is that the No Trump bidder can be immediately infomed as to whether a game contract is viable since the No Trump range by Precision is between 10 point and 15 points with a balanced distribution. However, the concept of the non-forcing Stayman conventional method can be employed for other No Trump ranges.

The Difference in Both Concepts

The parameters of the non-forcing and forcing Stayman conventional methods are differentiated as below.

Opener		Responder		Meaning
1 NT				The No Trump range is is agreed by the partnership.
		2		This first response is non-forcing Stayman. This first response is considered only one-round forcing.
		2		This first response is forcing Stayman promising game values. Partner may not pass until game is reached.

Non-Forcing Stayman

In generally accepted approaches the response methods are practically identical as to the original response method as established by Mr. George Rapee and named for Mr. Samuel Stayman.

Answering the Stayman inquiry by the responder by the No Trump opener is considered non-forcing for the responder. Although considered non-forcing according to the partnership agreement, the responder will, however, generally continue the bidding sequence except when holding a singleton or void (Garbage Stayman).

Opener		Responder		Meaning
1 NT				The No Trump range is is agreed by the partnership.
		2		This first response is non-forcing Stayman. This first response is considered only one-round forcing.
2				Denies holding a 4-card Major suit.
2				Promises possession of a 4-card Heart suit, but does not deny holding also a 4-card Spades suit.
2				Promises possession of a 4-card Spade suit. (Note: the No Trump bidder may hold also a 4-card Heart suit, and this means that the No Trump bidder holds a 5-card Spade suit as shown in the example.)
AJ754 Q1087 KJ KQ		Opening this holding with this particular shape with an opening bid of 1 No Trump , range 15-17, is possible according to the Conditions of Contest by most sponsoring organizations. Whether it is preferable to open with 1 Spade followed by a bid in Hearts is a matter for the partnership to decide.

Forcing Stayman

The reader should be made aware of the fact that the forcing Stayman concept is for No Trump ranges between 10 points and 15 points. This concept is owing to the fact that bridge players employing the Precision bidding system or any variation thereof may not employ transfer bids, since they do not apply according to many sponsoring organizations, and especially in international competitions.

It is for this reason that the concept of forcing Stayman (or Two-Way Stayman) was conceived and it is under these circumstances that the forcing Stayman concept should be understood and employed. The bridge student should also be aware that the concept, when employed, guarantees game values in combination with the agreed No Trump ranges between 10 points and 15 points.

Opener		Responder		Meaning
1 NT				The No Trump range is is agreed by the partnership.
		2		This first response is forcing Stayman. This first response is considered game forcing.
2				Promises at least a 4-card Heart suit, but does not deny holding also a 4-card Spades suit.
2				Promises at least a 4-card Spade suit.
2 NT				This bid informs the responder that no 4-card Major suit is held.
3				Promises at least a 5-card Club suit.
3				Promises at least a 5-card Diamond suit.

 

 

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.