Strength Showing Stayman
There are many variations of the Stayman convention. The origin of this variation is unknown. This variation is generally used when the partnership has agreed to open a strong No Trump with a point range between 16-18 points and balanced distribution.
The No Trump bidder can show either minimum or maximum strength first before bidding a possible 4-card Major suit. When employing this variation the responder generally holds sufficient values for game.
The following schematic illustrates how this variation functions:
Following either the 3
or 3
rebid by the No Trump bidder showing the possession of both 4-card Major suits, the responder will bid his 4-card Major suit either at the three level, which is invitational, or bid game in his Major suit. If the responder also holds both 4-card Major suits, then the responder first bids up the line or, per partnership agreement, the stronger of the two Major suits.
A clear disadvantage to this variation is the fact that the responder will be unable to establish the trump suit first before initiating any form of Blackwood or Ace-asking conventional method. If the responder bids game in the Major suit, the No Trump bidder is obliged to pass, thereby eliminating the possibility of a slam try. Since the responder, however, knows that the No Trump bidder, after a rebid of 3 or 3, holds both 4-card Major suits, then the responder can initiate slam bidding with an inferrred trump suit. This can be achieved either with the Gerber convention or any form of Blackwood.
Note: When variations of a major concept, which has been adopted by the bridge community, are presented to the bridge community, then it becomes difficult to remember who actually first designed, devised, developed the variation. Such is the case with this variation. Some bridge players have been known to refer to this variation with the designation of Ritter (plus additional descriptive nouns), but this has not been substantiated.
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.
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