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The original concept of the Stayman convention became so popular that it became one of the most modified methods in the game of bridge. There are multiple variations, various versions, and multi-form modifications. The attempt has been made to list these variations in order that the bridge player realize and recognize that there are multiple response methods. This list will never be complete as this concept continues to be modified.
Stayman and Variations
The initial concept of the conventional method designated as Stayman was employed in the early days of the game of bridge by Mr. Ewart Kempson, 1895-1966, of England and was further developed by Mr. Seca Jascha Skidelsky, or Mr. S. J. Simon, or better known just as Skid, born in the year 1904, in Harbin, Manchuria, and died in the year 1948, to exchange additional information about the holding of partner following an opening of 1 No Trump.
In the following years the concept was devised independently by Mr. John C.H. Marx, (aka Jack), born in the year 1907 and died in the year 1991,of England, and Mr. George Rapee, born in the year 1915 and died in the year 1999, of New York, United States. The concept originated around the year 1945. The playing partner of Mr. George Rapee was Mr. Samuel M. Stayman, born in the year 1909 and died in the year 1993. It was Mr. Samuel M. Stayman, who promoted, advanced, and further developed the concept, this strategy, and response method.
It was also Mr. Samuel M. Stayman, who first published and promoted this concept publicly to and within the bridge community, and therefore became henceforth known as the Stayman convention.
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The concept of a No Trump opening bid changed forever the game of bridge since the very first bid by a bridge player limited the holding not only to a certain pre-determined number of values, but also to a pre-determined and agreed upon distribution. The bridge player, who made such an opening bid, had with this one particular bid limited the holding and the partner of the No Trump bidder became the captain of the partnership.
The first response, even a call of pass, became the determining factor for the final contract. The imagination of the bridge community at large was without limit and many response methods were developed, devised, tested, fabricated and formulated. As a result many ensuing concepts received justifiably a designation, and soon afterwards variations, variants, revised, and modified concepts were developed and authored.
This almost universal response method, the Stayman convention, has perhaps the most variations and covers most of the possible purposes of the partner of the No Trump bidder, but there are many conventional methods, approaches, and treatments to be considered and reviewed.
Afair Conventional Responses
The origin of this conventional method is unknown. These responses are employed by the responder after partner opens with a strong No Trump to show a certain distributional pattern.
Allen
A convention allowing responder to explore for a 4-4 Minor suit fit.
August Two Diamonds - August 2 Diamonds
The August 2 Diamonds convention is designed to show a weak holding of a 4-card Major suit and a 5-card Minor suit. The No Trump range is not quantified and therefore the conventional method can be employed by any No Trump range and adapted to corresponding values.
Carrot Club 1 No Trump Opening
The opening of 1 No Trump shows a range between 14 and 16 high card points. Any holding with fewer or more high card points may not be opened with 1 No Trump. This limiting bid does not exclude the No Trump bidder from remaining an active participant in any continuing bidding sequences.
Club Bust - Diamond Bust
A colloquialism to describe a holding with a long Club suit, generally a 6-card suit, and insufficient values for game after a No Trump opening by partner. The second designation, a Diamond bust referring to the other Minor, is also a colloquialism used in the bridge community. This particular method, origin unknown, has several variations, which have been included.
Four Suit Transfer Bids - 4 Suit Transfer Bids
This is the extended version of the Jacoby Transfer after an opening of 1 No Trump by the responder to transfer to all four suits.
Jacoby Transfers Bids - Jacoby Transfers
A convention for the responder to show length in the Major suits.
Jacoby Super Accepts
Compiled by Mr. Chris Hasney and Mr. Jerry Pottier. This is a discussion about the possibility of super accepting a Jacoby Transfer bid by partner. Pros and cons are weighed and considered. The feature of the Ogust super accept is also discussed and explained. Mr. Chris Hasney and Mr. Jerry Pottier are co-authors of The American Bridge Series of bridge books. The link is to a .pdf file. This file has also only been preserved and archived on this site in .pdf file format for purposed of future reference.Jacoby Transfers For The Minor Suits
This convention, originally devised by Mr. Oswald Jacoby, is used by the responder whose partner has opened the bidding with 1 No Trump, and is an extension of the Jacoby Transfer convention. The concept of this convention was created for the responder, whose holding includes a long Minor suit and, generally, very little values.
Joppen No Trump - Joppe's No Trump Continuances
Devised by Mr. Jukka Mattila of Finland. According to a rough translation this concept was devised based on the Jacoby-esque transfer bids, but which include a more enhanced method than the Two-Way Stayman conventional method. This presentation is the original as found on the website of Mr. Jukka Mattila. The first link is to the website and the second link is to Joppe's NT, which has been translated to English by Mr. Jari Böling (website). This information has also only been preserved and archived on this site in .pdf file format for future reference.
Kiri Convention
The origin of this conventional method is unknown. The concept allows the partnership, following a No Trump opening bid by partner to determine the strength of the No Trump opening as minimum, average, or maximum.
KIVI Convention - Tarp 4 Diamonds
This conventional method was originated by Mr. Kaj Tarp, (also written Kai), of Denmark. This conventional method is also known under the designation of Tarp 4 Diamonds after the name of the person, who devised it. This method was published in the Dansk Bridge magazine, (The Danish Bridge magazine) in the year 1958, written by the author.
Miles Responses to Two No Trump Openings
A method of responding to opening bids of 2 No Trump devised by Mr. Marshall Miles to assist in the safe exploration for slams, games, or partscores in any suit.
Smolen Convention
A convention allowing the weaker hand to force the No Trump bidder to become the declarer. This conventional method was originated by Mr. Michael Smolen. The responder holds a 4-5 distribution in both Major suits, but employs first the Stayman conventional method, and by a 2 Diamonds denial bid, employs Smolen to find a Major suit fit.
Two No Trump Response as a Relay to Three Clubs - This treatment is used by many partnerships, which utilize the response of 2 Spades as a slam try in a Minor suit. The concept is easy since, after a 1 No Trump opening by the partner, a 2 No Trump first response is a Relay to Clubs.
Venezuelan Transfers
This style of responding to a No Trump opening by partner was developed by and originated with Mr. Roberto Beniam of Venezuela. The systemized method was employed when responding to and also continuances (rebidding) following a strong No Trump opening. This response method was first approved for official application by the Venezuelan Team participating in the Bermuda Bowl in the year 1966. This method has become obsolete and is no longer practiced. No additional information is presently available and any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Note: Mr. Roberto Benaim was born in the year 1924 and is of Caracas, Venezuela, and was officially ranked among the most expert bridge players during the 1960s. He was a South American Champion in the years 1965 and 1966. He represented the country of Venezuela in the World Team Olympiad in the year 1968, placed third in the Bermuda Bowl in the year 1966 with team mates Venezuela David Berah, Robbie de Leeuw, Mario Onorati, Roger Rossignol, and Françis Vernon. He also participated in the Bermuda Bowl in the year 1967. He won the South American Championships seven times and he accumulated eleven victories in national tournaments including wins in Open Teams.
Note: Mr. Alan Truscott, in his bridge column for The New York Times relates, as published in his column dated April 15, 2000, a board played In the 1964 South American Championships, played in Punta del Este, Uruguay. The player sitting East and who defeated the No Trump game contract by six tricks was Mr. Roberto Benaim partnering with Mr. David Berah, also of Venezuela.
Weissberger Convention
The Weissberger method is a conventional variation of the Stayman convention. The concept behind this variation evolved within the Acol bidding system and was devised by Mr. Alan Truscott, Mr. John Pressburger, and Mr. Maurice Weissberger, after whom the conventional variation was named.
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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