STAYMAN SHOWING STOPPERS
This treatment is a variation of the Two-Way Stayman, which was devised by Mr. Alan Fraser Truscott. The concept is rather simple in this variation. The origin of this variation is unknown.
In general, Two-Way Stayman utilizes the 2 Diamond 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, can ask the 1 No Trump bidder to further define his distribution.
The Two-Way Stayman treatment 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 his holding, but with sufficient values for a game contract in No Trump, but needing to know if all suits were stopped and/or guarded.
A typical holding by the responder follows:
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6 |
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74 |
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AQ53 |
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Q9762 |
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Partner |
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Responder |
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1 NT |
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2 |
Asking for Stoppers | |
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2 |
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Promises a Heart Stopper: Qxxx is minimum | |
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2 |
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Promises a Spade Stopper: Qxxx is minimum | |
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2 NT |
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Promises stoppers 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 a game contract.
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.