The Stayman convention is one of the most widely used manners of bidding in bridge. 

For thousands of bridge players, Stayman is the first convention they’ll learn to use – and sometimes, they’ll continue making use of it until the very end of their last bridge game. 

Stayman happens to be one of the most appropriate conventions for finding the right fit within a major suit (and usually, after 1NT). But the Stayman convention has also evolved, changed and been named a few other things depending on the adaptation since its first use. 

Here are 4 variations of the great Stayman convention (starting with Standard).

#1: The Standard Stayman

The standard Stayman convention is the first that many bridge players are taught; it’s most commonly applied as a response to 1NT or 2NT as opening bid – and the “sign of Stayman” is the appearance of the 2(C) or 3(C) as a response.

What the artificial club response asks is what your partner holds from there.

The right fit (in the right suit)? 

Usually, players will use Stayman to find out.

#2: The Checkback Stayman

The Checkback Stayman convention looks a little bit like the standard version, but also not. 

When you see the Checkback Stayman, it appears as a response to 1 or 2NT as a rebid instead of responding to these two as an opening bid. 

The answer to what the Checkback Stayman does is right in the name.

It checks-back with your partner.

What have you? 

#3: The Garbage Stayman

The Garbage Stayman is almost, almost the same as the Standard Stayman – although instead of checking back with your partner about any other suits, it shows your partner that you’re stuck with a “garbage hand” that could require some more careful play.

When you see it, a re-bid of 2(D) denies a 4-card major.

Bridge players apply the Garbage Stayman when their hand is bad, but their play might be better.

#4: The Puppet Stayman

The Puppet Stayman is a certainly popular variation on the standard Stayman convention – and when you see this one, you’re usually asking your partner about the instance of a 5-5 major (or others, sometimes) in the correct suit. 

It’s another way of asking your partner what they have.

Usually, look for the appearance of 2(H) or 2(S) as a responder to 1 and 2NT openings – it might be the Puppet Stayman. (As for the 2(D), that means nope.)