Back home a lot poorer
If you have been wondering why there have been no blogs recently Ray and I were in Sarasota Florida, one of the loveliest small cities I have seen. We were there to buy a winter home and mission accomplished. I was reminded during this process that buying a home is quite stressful but perhaps not as stressful as selling one in a poor market.
There is a large bridge club in Sarasota called the In-Between and it turned out that the seller’s real estate agent was a bridge player and played at that club. I am sure that I will too and who knows maybe I can drag Ray along.
We are in a lovely gated community called the Landings. The Landings is built around a tennis club which was exactly what Ray wanted. I have been thinking about volunteering to teach bridge since they do have quite a few bridge players. It is a long time since I have taught “in person”.
Meanwhile I have been working through the mysteries of 2NT auctions using Francine’s system. It actually works fairly well when you consider that you are starting at the two-level. It incorporates a version of puppet Stayman. I have never actually used puppet before except in casual play. Does that make me a dinosaur? Here is the version Francine likes (and I have now mastered).
Responses to Puppet Stayman over 2NT
- 3♦ an unknown 4-card major
- 3♥ no 4 or 5 card majors
- 3♠ 5 spades
- 3NT 5 hearts
The responses are designed to economically allow responder to show their shape too (5-4 majors or 5-5 majors or 5+m with something in the majors). There is more than just puppet Stayman and its continuations, of course.
I have found when I learn something new like this I have to think it through. How do you handle different hand patterns and strengths. What do various continuations mean? Like what is 4NT in a complex auction. I can’t remember it unless I completely understand it. I know we will bid some hands when Francine is available but I feel a lot more confident about it now. Of course chances are that it will be a long time before any of it comes up,
I am glad to back home but I keep thinking about my beautiful new home in Sarasota. There is a lot of furnishing to do.
Siesta Key … not far from our condo.
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The shopping in St. Armand’s Circle is lovely, and they can use all those over-par Canadian dollars they can get–enjoy!
This is called Muppet Stayman. I haven’t used it but my partner is interested in it.
Some one has noted elsewhere (not me) that Super Muppet Stayman is like Puppet Stayman, except with a name a thousand times cooler and better by one deal in 10,000 or so.
That’s living on the edge.
Thanks for telling me the name. Its true 2NT deals don’t come up and lot and then you need an appropriate hand to make the conventions you play useful. It is a tradeoff between brain cell overuse and a teeny chance that you will have an edge sometimes.
That picture is amazing! I can’t wait until March break next year 🙂 (which will probably will be march 11-24, by the way)
Wow what a small world. We just closed on a condo in Sarasota. Ours is further inland in a golfing community called The Meadows. I play at The In Between Club a couple times a week. I see a few familiar faces there: Doug Drew, Jim Bridges, Gloria Bart to name a few. We used to vacation on Siesta key but am more interested in golf than the gulf. Email me when you get back down next fall.
It is a small world and I am glad to hear that you will be there, Mike. I planned to play a bit of bridge at the In Between Club too.