The concept of the Stayman conventional method can also be applied after a 2 No Trump opening as well and as effectively as after a 1 No Trump opening. However, in the game of bridge, communication between partners is the ultimate source of information in deciding the level of a playable contract. For this reason, the partnership agreement can vary according to the level of the No Trump opening.

Stayman variation. The origin of this variation is unknown. Following a 2 No Trump opening the responder can inquire whether the opener has a 4-card Major by bidding 3 Clubs. The variation is that the first bid of 3 Clubs by the responder communicates to the No Trump bidder the information that the responder is interested in game only.

Examples and Clarification

The following example of the original Stayman conventional responses is present to show the difference in the concepts:

Regular Stayman Approach

Opener		Responder		Meaning
2 NT		3		Stayman convention inquiring about a 4-card Major suit.
3				Denies holding a 4-card Major suit.
3				Shows a 4-card Heart suit.
3				Shows a 4-card Spade suit.

Different Stayman Approach

Note: Slam Invitational Approach
Opener		Responder		Meaning
2 NT		3		This first response is not Stayman, but rather a slam attempt with corresponding values.
(any)				The partner will initiate the Ace-asking or Keycard-asking bid according to the partnership agreement. The partner may not pass since the responder has become captain and is the player to determine the final contract.
Note: How to communicate no slam invitation.
The Stayman bid becomes 3 Diamonds as follows. The Stayman bid shows no slam interest.
2 NT		3		Stayman convention inquiring about a 4-card Major suit.
3				Shows a 4-card Heart suit.
3				Shows a 4-card Spade suit.
3 NT				Denies holding a 4-card Major suit.

Additional Clarification: The above partnership agreement shows that the meanings of the 3 Clubs and the 3 Diamonds first response are reversed. The first response of 3 Clubs means just the opposite in this partnership agreement, meaning that the responder is interested in game and possibly slam. The first response of 3 Diamonds asks only for a 4-card Major suit. The reason behind this agreement is that there is more bidding space available to the partnership.

Partnership Agreement

If the responder is interested in slam, then the responder will first bid 3 Diamonds to indicate this interest. The 3 Diamonds bid is also asking whether the No Trump bidder has a 4-card Major suit. If the No Trump bidder has no 4-card Major suit, then the No Trump bidder should, by partnership agreement, rebid 3 No Trump, denying any 4-card Major suit.

For example, the following illustration shows one possible bidding auction.

North		South		Meaning
2 NT		3		Showing slam interest.
3				Showing a 4-card Spade suit.
		5		Invites partner to bid slam.

This is the key to the strength of the responder. If the responder only bids game, then there is no slam interest. But if the responder, on his/her second bid, bids above game level, then this bid invites the opener to bid a slam even with minimum values. The trump suit has been established and the responder invites to slam by bidding one level higher than game.

Another such auction illustrates this bidding sequence:

North		South		Meaning
2 NT		3		Showing slam interest.
3 NT				Showing no 4-card Spade suit.
		4 NT		The continuation is not Ace-asking or Keycard-asking since no trump suit has been established. This bid is only a quantitative bid inviting partner to bid slam based on the 2 No Trump holding. For example the No Trump bidder would bid slam holding a 5-3-3-2 pattern and maximum values.

The responder, on his/her second bid, bids one level above game, inviting the No Trump bidder to bid slam.

Bids To Play

Since the bid of 3 Diamonds by the responder can no longer be used naturally when applying the Stayman After 2 No Trump Opening conventional method, for example meaning that a 3 Diamonds first response can no longer be used as a Jacoby Transfer to Hearts, the conventional method of bidding either 3 Hearts or 3 Spades after a 2 No Trump opening must be considered non-forcing, as in the following auctions:

North		South		Meaning
2 NT		3		This first response is non-forcing and is to play in Hearts. The responder normally guarantees a 6-card plus suit. Some partnerships have agreed to bid in this fashion on a 5-card Major suit.
		874 A108653 43 54
		3		This first response is non-forcing and is to play in Spades. The responder normally guarantees a 6-card plus suit. Some partnerships have agreed to bid in this fashion on a 5-card Major suit.
		A108653 874 43 54

The No Trump bidder, if holding maximum values and holding good Spades (or Hearts), can determine whether to bid game. The disadvantage is that the No Trump bidder does not know the actual value of the hand of the responder since the responder can make such a bid holding zero values.

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.