Wednesday, February 14, 2007 7:57 PM
Hand Evaluation – Puppet Stayman IV
PITBULLS:
Most
experts use Puppet Stayman after a 2NT opening as it is a more effective Stayman
tool. The bid identifies 5 card majors
as well as facilitating slam tries with 4-4 major fits. We do not play Puppet
Stayman after a 1NT opener or do
we ? In effect , we do play puppet
Stayman & we can find a 5-3 major fit via Re-Stayman. Do not forget to use
Re-Stayman for that purpose when you have a nice 3 card major fragment.
We
play systems on after 1NT
overcalls & the opponents open 1♠. You hold ♠Q987 ♥J10xxx ♦AK ♣AQ
so what is your bid ? Most experts would overcall 1NT to show your HCP’s &
flatish hand . With so many HCP’s concentrated in your doubletons , overcalling
2♥
would be a distant 2nd choice. Partner has ♠x ♥KQx ♦QJ10xx ♣K109x
so should she make the mundane 3NT call ? I think a better sequence of bids is
Stayman followed
by Re-Stayman . If partner has minimum duplication of value in spades , there may be a
minor slam. Also it is not beyond the realm of possibility that partner has a 5
card heart suit.
You
bid Stayman , partner bids 2♥ so
you Re-Stayman. Partner bids 3♥ ,
you bid 4♥.
You make +650 in hearts but your partners bring back +100 for defeating 3NT
! Match point players complain
that their partners open 1NT with a 5 card major. Well , use Re-Stayman to check back for your
5-3 fit ! ♠AJxxx ♥Jxx ♦KQx ♣AJ opposite ♠KQx ♥x ♦J10xxx
♣Kxxx . Why not bid Stayman & Re-stayman to
find your 5-3 spade fit . If partner bids diamonds or clubs you have identified
a heart weakness so maybe a 4♠
Moysean is a nice spot ! This bid is one of Tom Gandolfo’s favourite
conventions for a reason . J
Over
2NT , we play Re-stayman only after a 3NT
response to our query. The responses to 4♣ re-Stayman are exactly
the same as at the 3 level after a 1NT opener. 4♦ says 4-4 in the minors , 4NT –4-3-3-3 , 4♥ shows a 5 card ♣ suit & 4♠ shows a 5 card
♦
suit. This is the only sequence
for Re-stayman after a 2NT opener.