Saturday, September 09, 2006 11:58 PM

Smolen Jumps

PITBULLS:

Playing two level Smolen , means we do not have the jumps after a 2♦ response anymore to show the Smolen ( 5-4 majors ) hands. We play a direct 3♠/♥ jump after a 1NT opener to show the fragment and 5-4 in the minors. Why not just use Re-Stayman with these hands ? The answer is quite simple as showing the stiff and locating duplication of value is far too valuable.

OK what do the old fashioned jumps in a major mean after a Stayman sequence and a 2♦ reply ? These hands are a close cousin of the direct jumps in the majors. Instead of 5-4 in the minors , the bid shows 4-1-5-3 with a stiff in the major in which you jumped. It may also show 4-0-5-4 with a void in the major in which you jumped. It can also show a 6 card minor and a 4 card major as long as you have a stiff major. It also shows the 4-4-4-1 hands with a four card major and a stiff major.

Lets try a few hands. ♠Axxx ♥x ♦KQxx ♣KQxx Partner opens 1NT with

♠KQx ♥10x ♦AJxx ♣AJxx so you bid Stayman in hopes of a spade fit. Partner bids 2♦ so you have a choice of bids. You can Re-Stayman to find the minor fit or show partner your stiff heart. You bid 3♥ and partner bypasses 3NT to 4 of a minor. This is shows no duplication of value and the lowest ranking or only 4 card minor. Partner takes control and you get to your cold slam.

Another example hand. ♠x ♥Axxx ♦xx ♣AKJxxx . Partner opens 1NT and you have a choice of bids. You could ignore the hart suit and show a strong club hand with 2♠ or bid Stayman and Re-Stayman to find out partners distribution. The best option is to bid Stayman and when partner bids 2♦ you leap to 3♠ to ferret out any spade duplication. Partner holds ♠Axx ♥KQx ♦Axxx ♣Qxx and bids 4♦ saying she likes the spade stiff. You correct to 6♣ or bid Blackwood as partner does not have spade duplication value win the absence of a 3NT bid.

Still another example. Partner opens 1NT and you have ♠KQxx ♥x ♦AKxxx ♣Jxx . You bid Stayman and partner bids 2♦. You bid 3♥ and partner bids 3NT with ♠AJx ♥KQJ ♦Jxxx ♣KQ10 so you give up despite holding a maximum hand for diamonds..

If you have a 4 card major and a 6 or 5 card minor without a stiff major, these hands are shown with the 2♠ relay to 2NT after a 2♦ response to your Stayman. What if you have a 4-4-4-1 or 5-4-3-1 with a stiff diamond ? This is handled by a raise of partners 2♦ bid after Stayman. If you had a weak hand with diamonds you would just pass. A raise to 3♦ should show the stiff diamond hand and we go from there. I think every possible distribution is covered when we finally learn 2 level Smolen inside & out. Possibly by the year 2008 J .