Wednesday, February 14, 2007 7:57 PM

Hand Evaluation – NT ( Re -Stayman )

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 the purpose of finding a 5 card major 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 2^nd 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 . When 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.