Tom : BJ & I have scrapped 2 level Smolen so we are starting over with Stayman. Does the below sound all rifgt with you two ?

 

Friday, August 05, 2005 4:00 AM

Stayman - Major Fit Found

 

PITBULLS:

 

          In standard bidding ,  the structure with Stayman after a major response or major fit identified is pretty weak. Usually a jump is a splinter and the other major is a general slam try in the agreed major. 4NT is confusing whether it is KCB or quantitative.

 

The best Stayman structure to announce a fit in our opinion is to use the other major. The other major announces a fit & further shows a splinter somewhere . All other bids means that we have not found a fit. In fact , the key to this structure is knowing when a bid does not imply a fit.

 

Diamonds bid after a major suit response to Stayman , does not show a fit , but shows 4 of the other major and diamonds ( 6-4)  This is a slam try. 3♣ is always re-Stayman which is a “catch-all” with all the other non fit hands. 2♠ after a 2♦ Stayman response is a relay to 2NT to show 6-4 hands. 2♠ after a 2♥ Stayman response says we have found a fit and I have a stiff somewhere. 2NT by the opener asks where the stiff is located.

 

 We do not need splinters anywhere so these jump bids are put to work with other meanings. Having an artificial bid ( other major)  as showing a splinter somewhere is not a new concept. All you need is a series of step responses to identify where the splinter is located. The other major after your major fit is found is well suited for that bid. The structure after a major is shown with Stayman is shown below.

 

          Here is a hand from the Bermuda Bowl .

 

 ♠AKQx ♥ Q10xx ♦ xx ♣Axx  opposite

 ♠Jxxx ♥A ♦AKQ10xx ♣J10           1NT-P-2♣-P

                                                   2♠-P-3♥ (1)-P                     (1) ♠ support any stiff

                                                   3♠(2)-P-4♦(3)-P                  (2) where is your stiff ?

                                                   4NT-P-5♥-P                       (3) stiff ♥ ( steps )

                                                   5NT(4) -P-7♠(5)-P              (4) all controls & trump queen

                                                                                             (5) conclusion

                                                             

          OK we have free use for the former splinters. Playing a jump to the 4 level after we have found a fit as KCB is a waste. Universally 4NT is KCB after a major fit is found so why rock the boat ? Jumps should imply a fit and not be quantitative. So we could define the jumps as a suit showing a 6-4 with a fit or exclusion KCB. 6-4’s with a fit are partially described by the other major & asking for the stiff ( see example above) so we opt for Exclusion KCB.

 

          Getting Exclusion KCB into your system after having found a fit is a decided advantage. Voids are more frequent that you imagine and exclusion KCB is a fine slam tool. Know your Stayman agreements.