Why Stayman?

[Bbradley62]

http://tinyurl.com/28jgvmc

Yes, this hand will look familiar. What is NorthGIB trying to accomplish here? 2♠ is explained as "Other major; 9- HCP; 9+ total points", completely avoiding mentioning anything about distribution.

[vang]

probably trying to punish your 1NT opening ;-)

[ahydra]

1NT was odd; 2S was silly (surely needs 4 for that); 4S sillier still (surely needs 4 for that).

 

Interesting there's no "4+ spades" mentioned on the description of 2S - if it is the "other major" that's what you'd expect, right? Edit: also what is this "9- HCP" and "9+ total points"... seems contradictory, and depending on the method 2S should either be like 5- HCP, to play, or unlimited and F1.

 

ahydra

[Bbradley62]

Yes, I agree that 1NT was odd and possibly deserving of punishment; it wasn't me who made the bid. However, I'm more interested in what GIB does than in what other players do to amuse themselves.

[barmar]

GIB would hardly be the first player to end up in a 3-3 fit because both players thought they had the right kind of hand to be the 3-card hand in a Moysian.

[Bbradley62]

GIB's system notes say that over 2H, 2S is invitational showing 4 spades whereas 2N would be invitational denying 4 spades. So, I'm asking whether (a) there's something in GIB's coding that caused him to bid erroneously bid 2S, or (b) GIB ran a simulation and determined that 2S was more likely to lead to the best contract than 2N was. If (b), maybe this is a sequence I should consider in the future when I hold a hand similar to North's...