In of the Stayman convention is unknown. Judging by the evidence it appears that the bridge community itself devised bidding sequences to show certain distributional patterns to overcome certain bidding problems. This treatment is not to be confused with the conventionall method designated as Garbage Stayman, which addresses two definite distributions, namely: 4-4-4-1(Clubs) or 4-4-5(Diamonds)-Club void, although the two designations have, over time, become generally acceptable, accepted and interchangeable by the bridge community.

Clarification of Definition

The point could also be made for the term conventional method when referring to the Trash Stayman conventional method since it is technically a treatment. A treatment is defined by The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge, page 534, as a natural bid that indicates a desire to play in the denomination named (or promises or requests values in that denomination), but that also, by agreement, gives or requests additional information on which further action could be used. Therefore Garbage Stayman is a conventional method since it always employs an artificial bid of 2 Clubs, which requests additional information about the holding. With Garbage Stayman the responder immediately passes whatever the No Trump bidder rebids.

Parameters of the Concept

However, since Trash Stayman conventional method also can employ the artificial 2 Clubs first response, there are some similarities and the concept may also be referred to as both a conventional method and a treatment. This is because Trash Stayman may employ continuances even after the artificial 2 Clubs first response.

Distribution:	Trash Stayman is a treatment employed by holdings, which do not contain game values, and which have a certain distribution. These distributional patterns are defined as: 4-4-4-1, 3-4-5-1, 4-3-5-1, 4-4-5-0, 3-3-6-1, 3-4-6-0, and 4-3-6-0. As the reader can see the two distinct holdings required for Garbage Stayman are also included. All other distributional patterns should be more suitable for play in No Trump, and therefore should be passed.
Point Count:	Purists would argue that the point count is insignificant and that only the distributional pattern is essential. Therefore the point count could be zero. The main feature of the holding is that the point count held by responder, no matter how evaluated, can and will not result in a game contract even if the values of the No Trump bidder are maximum.
Competition:	If there is an immediate call or bid after the No Trump opening, then the partnership should come to an agreement as to the continuances.

Various Treatments

There are several treatments, which were devised to treat certain distributional patterns, and these were varied over time by the bridge community. We have attempted to present as many as possible with their original meanings and also with their modified interpretations.

Treatment 1
Opener		Responder		Meaning
1 NT				Generally a strong No Trump range between 15 and 18 high card points and a balanced holding.
		2		Stayman inquiry. It has not been established that the values of the responder are weak, and therefore the No Trump bidder responds according to the parameters of the Stayman conventional method.
		986 K7543 842 63
2				The No Trump bidder denies possession of a 4-card Major suit.
		2		This is the continuation known as Trash Stayman. The No Trump bidder must pass.

Note 1:	Before the introduction and acceptance by the bridge community of transfers after a No Trump opening by partner, the style of this bidding sequence was quite common. The rebid of 2 by the responder showed a 5-card Heart suit. In the original version this particular rebid was considered to be one-round forcing. The No Trump bidder had to bid again. The practice was to either raise the responder in Hearts, rebid 2 to show a 4-card Spade suit, or rebid 2 No Trump, showing minimum values and a 2-card Heart suit.
Note 2:	However, with the introduction of Trash Stayman and various modifications this bidding sequence still showed a 5-card Heart suit, but the bid was no longer considered one-round forcing. The rebid of 2 by the responder became invitational.
Note 3:	As soon as the concept of the Garbage Stayman became popular this treatment became further modified. This particular bidding sequence showed, after the modification, a 4-card Heart suit and a 4-card Spade suit. If the No Trump bidder had a 4-card Heart suit, then the No Trump bidder would pass and the responder would become the declarer. If the No Trump bidder had a 4-card Spade suit and no 4-card Heart suit, then the No Trump bidder would correct to 2 Spades, and the responder would pass.

Modified Version

An additional modification from the original version was also introduced to include a three-suited holding as in the following illustration. It is important to remember that the partnership may agree to employ other modifications and/or variations.

Opener		Responder		Meaning
1 NT				Generally a strong No Trump range between 15 and 18 high card points and a balanced holding.
		2		Stayman inquiry. It has not been established that the values of the responder are weak, and therefore the No Trump bidder responds according to the parameters of the Stayman conventiona method.
		9865 8 9642 K763
2				Denies a 4-card Major suit.
		2		Shows a 4-card Spade suit and minimum a 4-3 in both Minor suits. The distribution could also be 4-0-4-5 or 4-1-4-4.
Pass				Opener wishes to play in Spades.
3				Opener wishes to play in Clubs.
3				Opener wishes to play in Diamonds.

Treatment 2

Another partnership agreement is the following bidding sequence:

Opener		Responder		Meaning
1 NT				Generally a strong No Trump range between 15 and 18 high card points and a balanced holding.
		2		Stayman inquiry. It has not been established that the values of the responder are weak, and therefore the No Trump bidder responds according to the parameters of the Stayman conventiona method.
2				Denies a 4-card Major suit.
		2		Shows a 5-card Spade suit and a 4-card Heart suit with fewer than game values.

To show invitational values the responder would have to jump to the three level in Spades to show the 5-4 distribution in both Major suits. If the No Trump bidder does have a 3-card Spade suit and maximum values, then game should be bid.

Side Note: There may be other treatments within the bridge community employed with fewer than game values and certain distributional patterns after partner has opened No Trump. If any visitor would like to add to this list, we would greatly appreciate adding your personal agreement to this list.

 

 

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.