Namyats

Variation 1

Namyats is a convention devised by Samuel Stayman, and to prove that fact, if you spell Namyats backwards, it will spell Stayman. It is an opening on the Four Level in either of the Minors. At the same time it is a Preempt Transfer.

• 4 indicates a long suit in Hearts
• 4 indicates a long suit in Spades.

Hand 1 - 4 AQJ98643 75 93

Hand 2 - 4 AKQJ9864 7 AJ3

The difference in the bidding between a normal Preempt and a Namyats Preempt Transfer is the strength of the the long suit.

With Hand 1, the correct procedure would be to open 4. Since Hand 2 is stronger in the long suit, and to give partner a better informative description of the hand, the opener would bid 4. Even if the partner has already passed, he still may have 2 Aces, or 1 Ace and the King of Clubs, which would put both in Slam territory.

The decision can be made by the partner to let the Namyats bidder to become Declarer. The partner simply bids the next higher ranking suit to indicate that he has no slam interest, and that he would rather that the Namyats bidder become Declarer. If, on the other hand, the partner has reasons to believe that it would be better for him to become declarer, and he has no slam interest, then he simply bids the suit indicated. If the partner has a ten-ace to protect, or a King small in one or more of the side suits, it would be preferable if the partner became declarer.

Variation 2

In the course of examining the worthiness and effectiveness of a Namyats Preempt Transfer, it has been noted that the shape of the hand should be more exact. This requirement can prove to be more helpful and informative to the partner, who then can make a better decision as to the correct contract. The Partnership Agreement is that the distribution does not allow for two quick losers in more than one suit, and that the hand contains the King of the Trump Suit. For those Partnerships, who wish to use this more stringent condition regarding the shape of the hand, the response of the partner assumes another meaning. Instead of 4 - pass - 4 being a Transfer, the bid by partner of 4 becomes a Relay Bid. The following examples should illustrate this more informative condition.

Hand 1 - K4 AQJ9864 K5 53

Since this hand does not contain the King of the Trump Suit, 1 would be the correct opening bid.

Hand 2 - K4 AKQJ986 75 62

Since this hand contains two quick losers in two suits, 1 would be the correct opening bid.

Hand 3 - K3 AK98764 7 963

Since this hand meets all of the requirements regarding the shape, 4 would be the correct bid.

If this becomes your Partnership Agreement, then be aware that by Hand 3 the bid of 4 by the Responder is not a Transfer, but rather a Relay Bid, asking the Opener to identify the suit in which he has 2 quick losers. The Opener would then bid that suit. If the Opener does not have 2 quick losers, he can rebid his suit. On the other hand, if the Opener has a solid suit with the King, no suit with 2 quick losers, Opener will bid 4NT asking the his partner for Aces. The 4NT bid is Blackwood. The attempt at Slam is underway with the understanding that the Responder has the necessary Aces and Kings, concluded from his 4 bid. Otherwise the Responder would have simply bid the indicated suit, which the Opener would have then passed.

It does not matter which meaning you apply to the Namyats Preempt Transfer or Relay Bid, it is still of the utmost importance that both partners understand the meaning of the bid. Whatever decision is made, it should become part of the Partnership Agreement, and must be disclosed to the opponents in the proper manner.

Variation 3

This is identical to Variation 1 except that when responder bids the next suit up it is a an artificial slam try. I have as yet to find the follow up bids. Namyats is used in conjunction with Gambling 3NT which now describes either a 4 or 4 pre-empt.

Variation 4

Opening bids of 4 and 4 show strong preemptive openings of hearts and spades, respectively. Thus, 4 and 4 are used to show less strong hands and more strength is needed from partner to make a slam. After 4 and 4, 4 or 4 is used by responder to "re-transfer" the hand to opener and then further bids may be used to find out opener's hand.

Variation 5

• 3NT = 8 card minor, one hole
• 4 (4) = 8-9 tricks, heart (spade) suit missing one honor (strength = at least a 1-bid, but less than 2)
• 4 (4) = traditional preempt
• 2 - DBL - 4 (4) = 8-9 tricks, solid heart (spade) suit (at least A or K outside)

Variation 6

Namyats shows a hand worth exactly 8 or 8½ tricks. Partnership agreement determines what the suit quality will be. Some say the suit must be completely solid while others permit the suit to be missing one honor, either the King or the Queen but not the Ace.

When the suit quality agreement is that the suit has 1 missing honor and opener is dealt a solid suit with 8 or 8½ tricks then he opens the hand 2. After an assumed 2 or 2 (negative) opener jumps to 4 of his suit. The jump to 4 describes exactly the hand described above. With a better hand a jump to 3 of your suit sets trump and shows a better hand with a trump suit that should have no losers. When responder cannot furnish enough additional strength for opener to make his contract the opponents will have been able to make at least a game, and often a slam.

Responder to the Namyats opening bid of 4 or 4 has a choice of continuations. He can sign off by bidding 4 of the suit or he can bid the "relay" suit which ranks between the suit bid and the suit shown by opener. When responder bids the "relay" suit he requires opener to bid his suit to become declarer rather than dummy.

If declarer instead makes a call in a suit beyond the anchor suit as his response, that call is an asking bid. Asking for a control in the bid suit. How to show them ??

Example hands.

a) AQJ10853 6 KQJ 95

b) AKQJ653 A93 5 84

c) AKJ10953 8 A1052 7

With hand (a) you can open with 4 unless your agreement requires a solid suit. In that case you should open 1 and rebid 4. Your hand is too good for an opening bid of 4.

With hand (b) you can open 4 unless your agreement shows a suit missing the king or queen. When you have that agreement you should open this hand with 2, then jump to 4 to show a completely solid suit with 8 or 8½ tricks.

With hand (c) open 4 if your agreement is that Namyats shows a suit missing a honor. If your agreement requires a solid suit open 1 spade and then plan to rebid 4. Your hand is too good to open 4.

Namyats is used in conjunction with Gambling 3NT which now describes either a 4 or 4 pre-empt. 3NT can be passed with all other suits well stopped and entries to the preempt suit. If responders hand is weak he bids 4 and opener will correct if diamonds are his suit, likewise with a good hand responder can bid 5 and opener can pass or correct to 5. If responder has good clubs but bad diamonds and he is willing to play in game or slam in clubs he bids 4 and opener bids 5 or passes 4. If responder has good diamonds but is short in clubs and has a good hand willing to play game or slam in diamonds he bids 4 knowing that opener will pass if clubs is his suit.

A major suit bid over 3NT is an asking bid. Responder is asking for a 1st or 2nd round control in suit bid. How to show them ??

4NT response to Gambling 3NT can be used to ask opener to name and describe his suit quality

• If opener bids 5 or 5 he names his suit but denies holding either the king or the ace.
• If opener bids 5 he shows clubs headed by the ace or king. 5 bid shows diamonds headed by either ace or the king
• If opener bids 6 or 6 he shows his suit and that is headed by ace-queen or king-queen.
• If opener bids 5NT he doesn't name his suit but promises that it is headed by the ace-king.

Responder is the Captain naming slam in the minor or NT.

When responder bids the intermediate suit between opener's suit and known suit, opener bids his suit.

If responder now bids a new suit it is Exclusion Blackwood.

4NT bid after opener bids 4 of known major would be whatever flavor of Blackwood you use.