[Phil]

This is a big win for non-Garbage Stayman where 1N - 2♣ - 2N shows a max and 4-4 in the majors. I think West would opt for the 4-4 grand. 3♥ 'transfers' spades back to opener, and then responder can just RKC.

Otherwise, I think I would end up on the same track as others: 1N - 2♣ - 2♥ - 3♠ - unbalanced slam try.

[gszes]

TWO4BRIDGE, on 2011-September-29, 20:24, said:

What is your method to reach slam ?
Do you start with Stayman ... planning on Smolen if a 2D reply ?
But here, partner replies 2H -- he's got 4 cards to your 6 cards Hts.

---

--- - 1NT
2C! - 2H
?? continue ( how do you show a splinter ? )

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
EDIT: Can you find the 4-4 Sp fit ? ( Do you want to ? )

there will be hands (like this one) where responder does not care
about kings (in this case because opener cant have any more) but where
they need a queen or a jack in a certain suit to get to a grand. A
splintered suit is useless for this but one of the other two suits
can be asked for by using 6c to stand for the lower ranking suit and
6d the higher ranking suit. You would not use this unless the honor will
allow you to choose 6n or 7 level. One could save a tad more space
(on hands like this where another k is impossible) by using 5n and
6c but the extra flexibility doesnt save much and messing with a normal
system (ie 5n asking for kings) creates an error prone situation.

opener step bids

no key card
key card but less than 4 cards
key card and 4 cards

1n 15-17
2c normal stayman
2h 4 hearts maybe 4 spades
4c agreeing to hearts splinter
4d cue bid promising a good hand for slam
4n rkc 0314 (or yours)
5d 1 or 4
6d asking about spades
6n (3rd step) spade honor and 4 spades
7s places contract\

this same system can also work with a search for
7 in a minor as long as it is safe to bypass 6 of
your minor usit fit (ie play 6n)

[ArtK78]

TWO4BRIDGE, on 2011-September-30, 07:40, said:

More common is for 2S as invitational:
1NT - 2D!
2H - 2S = 4s/5h, 8-9 hcp

Since I do not play Garbage Stayman, I use Stayman for invitational hands. So 1NT - 2♣ - 2♦ - 2M is 5/4 with 5 of the bid major and invitational.

I don't know that 2♠ as inviational after the transfer to hearts as invitational is more common. That depends on whether Garbage Stayman is more common or not.

[TWO4BRIDGE]

jjbrr, on 2011-September-30, 08:38, said:

Probably slightly better to switch your 4♣ and 4♦ responses. It's better to have more room to explore after the quantitative raise, and you have plenty of room for keycards with 4D. So you lose nothing by switching but gain an extra cuebid for the bal slam try.

Thx..... good idea !

[TWO4BRIDGE]

Zelandakh, on 2011-September-30, 07:46, said:

Are you posting from work too, Don?!

Multi-tasking isn't my strong point .

[aguahombre]

TWO4BRIDGE, on 2011-September-30, 13:50, said:

Multi-tasking isn't my strong point .

So, don't work.

[the hog]

aguahombre, on 2011-September-30, 14:01, said:

So, don't work.

I wish..................................

[masse24]

jjbrr, on 2011-September-30, 08:38, said:

Probably slightly better to switch your 4♣ and 4♦ responses. It's better to have more room to explore after the quantitative raise, and you have plenty of room for keycards with 4D. So you lose nothing by switching but gain an extra cuebid for the bal slam try.

Agree

Called "Modified Baze"

A link to Billy Miller's write-up of it in ACBL Bulletin: Mod Baze

[Zelandakh]

I have posted this before but I really do not understand the attraction of this scheme other than that it has been put forward by experts. It is simpler and, imho, more effective to simply play transfers.

1NT - 2C; 2H
============
2S = range ask, a natural 2/4NT bid or a Baron type hand
2N = clubs
3C = diamonds
3D = GF heart raise
3H = INV
3S, 4m = splinter
3N = choice of game
4H = to play

The disadvantage is that you cannot play 2S should Opener have a minimum hand with both majors, a double-edged sword anyway since quite often Responder would quite like to bid the spade game if there is a fit but is only good enough for 2NT without a fit. In return you get a full set of cue bids for your GF hands with heart fit. Secondary benefits include 3S as a splinter; the Baron sequences that can find a 4-4 minor fit below 3NT; the ability to stop in 3NT with a 4NT invite; and being able to channel your weak take-out in diamonds through 2C, which sometimes allows you to bail out in 2D rather than at the 3 level. Overall, I believe this method is simply better, even when it does not have an expert tag on it. It is also easy to remember, especially if you already play 1NT - 2S as a range ask rather than showing some minor-based hand..

[kenrexford]

ArtK78, on 2011-September-30, 07:11, said:

That's funny. I play exactly the opposite.

All Smolen auctions are game forcing without slam interest. With this shape and a minimum game forcing hand, I would bid 2♣ then, over the expected 2♦ response, I would Smolen with 3♠. Over partner's expected 3NT call, I would bid 4♦ (transfer to hearts).

With a slammish hand, I would transfer to hearts and bid 2♠, showing 5+ hearts and 4+ spades with slam interest. It should be easy to reach the spade grand after that start.

That's not exactly the opposite, because you have no delayed Texas sequences.

The idea to the Smolen sequences as potentially slammish is similar to what you seem to be trying to accomplish, namely cuebids when the 5-3 or 6-3 fit is found.

The reason that I do not bid transfer...2♠ as GF is that I play this as game invitational.