The origin of this variation of the Stayman conventional method is unknown. This conventional methods a variation of the Two Way Stayman, which was devised by Mr. Alan Fraser Truscott. The concept is rather simple in this variation.

General Information About Concept

In general, the Two Way Stayman conventional method utilizes the 2 Diamonds response after a No Trump opening by the partner to ask for specific responses according to the partnership agreement. The concept of using a 2 Diamonds response to a 1 No Trump opening can signify several different things. This response can guarantee game, can force to game, can request that the 1 No Trump bidder to name any Major suit with a 5-card length, can be a sign-off sequel for the 1 No Trump bidder, and can ask the 1 No Trump bidder to further define his distribution.

The Two Way Stayman conventional method can be varied in the sense that the partnership can alter the bidding process of using a first response of 2 Clubs, rather than 2 Diamonds, as Two Way Stayman, and use then the idle bid of 2 Diamonds as a method of discovering whether the partnership has all of the suits stopped for a final contract in No Trump.

This variation arose through the necessity of being able to show a singleton and/or a void in the holding, but with sufficient values for a game contract in No Trump, but needing to know if all suits were stopped and/or guarded.

The typical holding of the responder is shown below in the bidding auction with continuances by the No Trump bidder:

Opener		Responder		Meaning
AJ64 A76 AJ7 K54		6 54 AQ53 Q9762
1 NT				The No Trump range can be flexible and the partnership makes the appropriate adjustments.
		2		Inquiry about stoppers. The responder has a singleton in a Major suit and asks whether partner has stoppers.
2				Promises a Heart stopper: Qxxx is minimum. Denies a Spade stopper.
2				Promises a Spade stopper: Qxxx is minimum. Denies a Heart stopper.
2 NT				Promises at least one stopper in both Major suits.

In responding 2 Diamonds, the responder is asking the No Trump bidder whether he has any Major suit stopped and/or guarded. In the above example, if the No Trump bidder responds 2 Hearts, then the No Trump bidder does not have the short suit of the responder, Spades, stopped and/or guarded. This informs the responder that he must explore other means in finding the most optimum contract.

Note: The consensus is that the initiation of the Stayman Showing Stoppers conventional method signifies that the responder holds game values in points. However, the partnership may rely on the Losing Trick Count method to calculate the number of losing tricks (or winning tricks). This means that the conventional method can be initiated with slightly fewer than game values and the partnership can still reach a game contract.

Note: The inquiry is an artificial bid just as the response by the No Trump bidder is an artificial bid. Once the responder makes his forced rebid, then the responder may not pass unless the responder bids 2 No Trump.

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.