Smolen or Puppet Stayman over 2NT?

[gene]

Any thoughts on this subject?

Gene

[Jerry6421]

Post by gene
Any thoughts on this subject?

Edgar Kaplan discussing whether to open 1c or 1s with 5-5 in the blacks(he was
a one spade bidder) noted that if several treatments are popular one is not
much better than the other the difference in merit is probably small. In this
case what counts is how frequently your partnership opens 2nt with a 5 card
major. If you do it with almost all 5332's then puppet probably right. If not
Smolen looks good. Also what does 2nt 3c 3nt mean?. if it shows a 5 4 in the
minors than again puppet might be best. if you define it as 5s and 3h you can
get most of the benefits of puppet and can play smolen. Showing 5h and 3s
would be of equal merit. 5s and 2 hearts would then probaably have to open one
of a major.

[Dannysprung]

I vote Smolen.

Danny

[David Stevenson]

Post by Dannysprung
I vote Smolen.

What is Smolen over 2NT?

[Barry Margolin]

Post by David Stevenson

Post by Dannysprung
I vote Smolen.

What is Smolen over 2NT?

Just a guess: 2NT-3C-3D-3H/3S shows 4 of the named major, 5 of the
other, and game forcing values.

[Eric Leong]

Post by David Stevenson

Post by Dannysprung
I vote Smolen.

What is Smolen over 2NT?

2NT 3C(1)
3D 3M(2)

(1) Stayman
(2) Shows 4 cards in M and five card in the other major.

Eric Leong

[Gordon Rainsford]

Post by David Stevenson

Post by Dannysprung
I vote Smolen.

What is Smolen over 2NT?

2NT-3C (Stayman)
3D-3H shows 5-4 majors
-3S shows 4-5 majors

[vida]

Post by David Stevenson

Post by Dannysprung
I vote Smolen.

What is Smolen over 2NT?

I never hear of smolen over 2NT before, so I am actually guessing.
2N-3C-3D-3H -> 5S & 4H
2N-3C-3D-3S -> 5H & 4S
??

[Dannysprung]

Post by David Stevenson
What is Smolen over 2NT?

Same as over 1NT, expect responder does not have to jump to show the 54.

Danny

[Gerben Dirksen]

Post by Jerry6421

Post by gene
Any thoughts on this subject?

Edgar Kaplan discussing whether to open 1c or 1s with 5-5 in the blacks(he was
a one spade bidder) noted that if several treatments are popular one is not
much better than the other the difference in merit is probably small. In this
case what counts is how frequently your partnership opens 2nt with a 5 card
major. If you do it with almost all 5332's then puppet probably right. If not
Smolen looks good. Also what does 2nt 3c 3nt mean?. if it shows a 5 4 in the
minors than again puppet might be best. if you define it as 5s and 3h you can
get most of the benefits of puppet and can play smolen. Showing 5h and 3s
would be of equal merit. 5s and 2 hearts would then probaably have to open one
of a major.

I use puppet. It is great because it covers so many situations, for example:
2C - 2D ; 2NT
2D Multi - 2H ; 2NT
(2 in something) 2NT
etc.

All these bids can be made with a 5-card major, you really don't want to
sell

AKxxx
KQx
Kx
AQx

as 1S or a strong 2-bid (2C - 2D ; 2S shows an unbalanced hand for me).

I am ready to consider Smolen over 2NT if someone tells me what it is and
why it is so good.

Gerben

[Ron Johnson]

Post by gene
Any thoughts on this subject?

I vote for my opponents to use Smolen.

I've *never* seen Smolen lead to an actual
gain of imps or matchpoints. I *have* seen it
screwed up frequently.

I suppose it's just fine for long-standing
partnerships that play a lot together.

Pretty much a disaster waiting to happen for
anybody else.