Wednesday, June 28, 2006 10:36 PM

Hand Evaluation - Puppet Stayman ( Smolen )

PITBULLS:

One of the advantages of “Smolen” after Stayman is that you can describe the Smolen 5-4-3-1 pattern exhaustively i.e. invitational , game forcing or slam tries. 5-4 of course are the majors either way. This system leads to the best game or slam depending on fit & duplication of value in the stiff.

We do not play Smolen after 2NT , so how does “Puppet Stayman” handle the Smolen hands ? 3NT denying a major is just too pre-emptive to start describing 5-4 in the majors at the 4 level. Describing the Smolen hands only emerge when we have found a fit . This understanding facilitates slam tries. After partner bids 3♦ , every bid by responder at the 4 level implies that we have found a fit i.e. responder has either a 5-4 or 4-4 in the majors with slam interest.

3NT by responder to play after partner announces a 4 card major is silly as you bid 3♥ if you have no interest in a major after initiating Stayman. Therefore 3NT by responder shows a weak Smolen hand with no slam interest or just a weak 4-4 in the majors , so just pick the major contract. 3 level weak & 4 level stronger is a memory aid.

The 4 level bids cater to 4-4-4-1 hands as well as the 5-4-3-1 hands. The 4♦ bid shows specifically 4-4 in the majors as a slam try. The 4♣ bid shows specifically the Smolen hand so partner bids 4♦ as a relay and the 5-4 is specified Smolen style ( transfer ). A jump to 4♥ & 4♠ after 3♦ are reserved to show a club stiff & a diamond stiff respectively with the 4-4-4-1 patterns.

Here is a hand where specifying the Smolen hand was the key to the auction. In the Vanderbilt , they opened 2♣ with ♠ AQJx ♥ AQxx ♦AJx ♣AJ . Partner responds 2♦ with

♠Kxxx ♥K1098x ♦xxx ♣x .

The opener bids 2NT , responder bids puppet Stayman. Opener bids 3♦ , responder bids 4♣ showing a 5-4 in the majors with a slam try. Opener bid 4♦ as a relay so responder bids 4♠ showing 5♥ and 4♠. Opener bids 6♠ and the pitch on the 5^th heart is worth +1430. They reached 6♥ at the other table which unfortunately went down one !

Describing Smolen hands after a 3NT response are just too difficult . With 5-4 in the majors you can just pass 3NT. 6-4 in the majors is another animal though. We have a basic understanding that with a weak 6-4 you would not Stayman the hand but bid Texas initially. Therefore , with a slam invitational 6-4 in the majors , you bid Stayman. Partner bids 3NT so you now transfer into the 6 card major. Partner knows you have something or you would have made a Texas transfer initially. The 4♦ bid is not natural as we would have bid re-Stayman with a 4 card major & diamonds.