[BudH]

The form of 3♣ Puppet Stayman used over 1NT opening bids described by Justin Lall (and congrats to him for winning the Nail Life Master Pairs in Seattle yesterday) at

http://justinlall.co...er-a-1n-opener/

which he credits learning from Joe Grue does a great job of hiding information from the defenders by not giving away needless information about the 1NT opener's hand when responder has a game forcing hand with minimal slam interest.

The major features of this form of 3♣ Puppet Stayman over 1NT are:

1. Opener can only bid 3♦ (denying a 5-card major) or 3 of a major showing a 5-card suit. 3NT is NOT an allowed response.

2. Responder uses 3♣ Puppet Stayman with ONE 4-card major. Responder uses regular 2♣ Stayman with TWO 4-card majors.


One question asked about this method is how you find your 8-card fits when responder is 3-5 (3 spades, 5 hearts) or 5-3 (5 spades, 3 hearts).

I have invented a solution to this problem thanks to the use of this form of 3♣ Puppet Stayman that Justin has described. An additional benefit is that the 1NT opening bidder will be declarer in all cases.

The two auctions 1NT-2♣-2♥-3NT and 1NT-2♣-2♠-3NT cannot theoretically occur because responder would have bid 3♣ Puppet Stayman with a single 4-card major. We can use these two auctions artificially to show 3-card support for opener's major with 5 cards in the other major.

But what if opener bids 2♦ denying a major? Then you fake a Smolen bid, jumping to 3 of your 3-card major, and in the process showing five cards in the other major, the only suit at that point in which you can have an 8-card fit.

In summary,

1. With 3-5 in the majors, use regular 2♣ Stayman and here are your three auctions:

(a) 1NT - 2♣ - 2♦ - 3♠ (shows five hearts via fake Smolen)
(b) 1NT - 2♣ - 2♥ - 4♥
(cc) 1NT - 2♣ - 2♠ - 3NT (choice of games with 3-5 majors)

2. With 5-3 in the majors, use regular 2♣ Stayman and here are your three auctions:

(a) 1NT - 2♣ - 2♦ -3♥ (shows five spades via fake Smolen)
(b) 1NT - 2♣ - 2♥ - 3NT (choice of games with 5-3 majors)
(cc) 1NT - 2♣ - 2♠ - 4♠


Here is a table of the responses I have constructed for several major suit distributions held by responder when he holds a game forcing hand without slam interest after partner opens 1NT:

*** One or two 3-card majors ***

3♣, then raise opener's 5-card major to game or over 3D bid 3NT

*** One 4-card major (possibly with a 3-card major) ***

3♣, then over 3♦ bid the 4-card major you do NOT hold

*** 3-5 or 5-3 majors ***

2♣ - 2♦ - 3 of your 3-card major (faking Smolen to show your 5-card major)
2♣ - 2 of your 3-card major - 3NT (artificial) showing the 3-5 or 5-3 majors
2♣ - 2 of your 5-card major - 4 of the major

*** 4-4 majors ***

2♣, then raise opener's major to game or bid 3NT

*** 4-5 or 5-4 majors ***

2♣, then Smolen over 2♦ or raise opener's major to game

*** 4-6 or 6-4 majors ***

2♣ Stayman, then raise opener's major to game or over 2♦ use delayed
Texas; or use Texas directly and give up on the possible fit in the other
major

*** 5-5 majors ***

Transfer to 2♠ and bid 3♥; OR
Use 3♦, 3♥, or 3♠ to show a 5-5 majors game force



You can also show hands with some slam interest that are 5332 type shape
with a long minor and also 4432 type shapes with one 4-card major and one
4-card minor by first starting with 3♣ Puppet Stayman. You can learn more
about those at the end of Justin's description of the convention.


Bud Hinckley
budh9534@gmail.com