From bwleach@delphi.com Fri Jan 27 00:04:36 CST 1995 Article: 14068 of rec.games.bridge Path: news.tamu.edu!cs.utexas.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!news2.near.net!news.delphi.com!usenet From: Brett Leach Newsgroups: rec.games.bridge Subject: Re: Puppet Stayman Date: Wed, 25 Jan 95 21:56:08 -0500 Organization: Delphi (info@delphi.com email, 800-695-4005 voice) Lines: 28 Message-ID: References: <3g01on$adl@kitten.umdc.umu.se> NNTP-Posting-Host: bos1g.delphi.com X-To: "Beng Kriström" Puppet Stayman is typically used to allow an opener to make a 2NT call on an otherwise balanced hand with a 5 card major suit and however many HCP you normally require for the bid (usually 20 to 21 nowadays.) The reason you want to be able to open this hand 2NT is that you don't want responder to pass a 1H or 1S opening unless he is totally devoid of useful values, yet the hand is too weak for a strong 2C opening. The puppet stayman sequence goes like this: Opener Responder 2NT 3C (Puppet Stayman) Opener now bids a 5 card major if he has one, bids 3D with one or both 4 card majors, or bids 3NT with 3 or fewer cards in each major. Responder, if opener bids 3D, can sign off in 3NT, or if he has a four card major, shows it by bidding the *other* major (thus making sure that the strong hand will play the hand in the event of finding a fit) or, holding both major suits, bids 4C with slam interest, or 4D without. You can follow these up with any slam seeking methods you want. It is worth noting that it is possible to play these methods in 1C forcing systems, after either a 1NT or a 2NT rebid by opener. Good luck using puppet stayman. I't doesn't happen that often, but when it does, it allows an unusually clear bidding sequence. Brett Leach (BWLEACH@delphi.com) From joel.levinson@mogur.com Fri Jan 27 00:05:02 CST 1995 Article: 14087 of rec.games.bridge Path: news.tamu.edu!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!news.kei.com!newshost.marcam.com!zip.eecs.umich.edu!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!ix.netcom.com!netcomsv!mogur!joel.levinson From: joel.levinson@mogur.com (Joel Levinson) Newsgroups: rec.games.bridge Subject: Puppet Stayman Date: Thu, 26 Jan 1995 06:55:00 GMT Message-ID: <9501260800101246@mogur.com> Organization: The MOG-UR'S EMS/TGT Technologies, Granada Hills, CA 818-366-1238/8929 Distribution: world References: <3g01on$adl@kitten.umdc.umu.se> Lines: 39 >Does anybody have some notes on Puppet Stayman, or just a brief >summary? The bidding after 1NT-1C-2D interests me the most (e.g what >does a jump to 3 of a major imply and so on). Thanks/Bengt Kristrom it has been a few years, and there are several variations on the theme, but here is my best memory: 1N: 2C asks for 5 card major (or six card minor, the way we played it) 2D: no five card major. with one four card major, you bid the one you don't have, so that the strong hand will still play the hand: 1N-2C-2D-2H: shows 4 spades, denies four hearts. 1N-2C-2D-2S: shows 4 hearts, denies four spades. With 4-4 in the majors, bid 3N: 1N-2C-2D-3N Now, there are many variations on the theme, especially in terms of what all three level bids mean after 2D. (We used to play, for example that 1N-2C-2D-3 suit showed a stiff in the suit bid, and slam interest. Now, there are also variations on the non 2C bids: 1N-2D: some people play transfers, some game forcing stayman here. I would probably play transfers myself, but then as I said, many options available. Hope this helps. I know this isn't complete, but hope it helps. Joel ----------------------------------------------------------------------- From: doug@Deakin.Edu.Au (Douglas Newlands) Subject: Re: Puppet Stayman question Date: 8 Jun 1994 22:47:47 GMT Organization: School of Computing & Mathematics - Deakin University :Paul Davis wrote: :> :>Over a strong 2NT (something like balanced 20-21) I normally play a :>form of puppet Stayman. In my version (many others exist) the usual :>responses are :> :> 2N - 3C - ? :> :> 3D = 1 or 2 4-card majors :> 3H = 5 card Hearts :> 3S = 5 card Spades :> 3N = denial I play this somewhat differently from other correspondents who have replied. 3H and 3S show the 5 card major 3NT shows an unspecified 5 card minor 3D denies any of the above. Over 3D we show 4 card suits up the line. Over 3NT, 4C is an enquiry with 4D showing diamonds 5C clubs and min 4H,S cue with clubs and not min. It seems to work adequately; lose nothing relative to the above sequences and have advantages if there is a minor fit. doug. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- From: yangboy@math (B.Y.) Subject: Re: Puppet Stayman question Date: 10 Jun 1994 01:52:42 GMT [Lots of stuff, the best by B R Rao and Don Varvel IMO so far.] My comment on 2NT methods: It is my experience and the result of lengthy simulations that it is better to have a natural 3NT. Along with this (and transfers), you might use 3S= clubs or minors, 4C= diamonds. Or you might use 3S= diamonds or minors, 4C=NAT. In any event, I have had the occasion to ask the opinion of Bobby Goldman, Marshall Miles and Chip Martel and they all thought that using 3N as an unnatural device is a losing way to play matchpoints, if not IMPs. [I also advise people to use the Romex method of checking for 5-card majors since it is decidedly better IMNSHO. Also, do not use Gerber. You might use 2-under transfers at the 4 level as 1-suited slam tries.] There are many ways of checking for 5-3 and 4-4 fits over 2NT. Of course, I go out of my way to avoid 2NT bids (preferring to start my auctions with a strong 2C or 2D when I am not playing a strong club system). But based on my experience on handling 2NT bids, I have seen at least these manageable structures: Method 1: 2N-3C; 3D Deny a 5-card majors, does not show or deny 4-card major. 3M 5-cards. 2N-3C; 3D- 3H Deny hearts, may have spades 3S Have hearts, deny spades. -> 4C= good H, 4D=BIG H. 3N M's, 4-4. -> 4C/D= good hand H/S. 4m NAT slam tries, no major. 4M Various usages; I used them for 54 or 5-5 minors, 3M. 4N Natural. 2N-3C; 3D-3H; 3S shows 4 => 3N= signoff, 4C=minor checkback, 4D+=SPADES. 3N deny spades. 2N-3C; 3D-3H; 3N -> 4C= minor checkback, 4D= Shows 5-4 or longer M's. 2N-3C; 3D-3S; 3N -> 4H= CLUBS, 4S= DIAMONDS (longer), 4N= Quantitative. Method 1b: The same as 1a, except 2N-3C; 3D- 3H SHOWS spades 3N TO PLAY 4C Minor suit checkback 4D CLUBS, slammish 4H DIAMONDS, slammish 4S GOOD quantitative. 4N Bad quantitative raise. 2N-3C; 3D-3H; 3S DENY spades, SHOWS hearts. 3N NO MAJOR. 4C+ SPADES. Note, sequence starting with 2N-3C; 3D-3H; 3S is awkward compared to above. Method 2: 2N-3C; 3D Shows at least one 4-card major. 3M 5-card suit. 3N No 4-card or 5-card major. 2N-3C; 3D- 3M Shows 4oM, deny 4M 3N TO PLAY 4C SLAM TRY with majors. 4D To play opener's major 4H CLUBS 4S DIAMONDS 4N Quantitative. Method 3: [The Romex Method, discovered independently by many, including M. Miles, A. Wilkocz, and J. Flint.] 2N-3C; 3D none of the below: 3H 4 or 5 hearts, not 4 spades. 3S 5 spades. => 4H agrees spades, 4m NAT. 3N 4-4 majors. => 4D/H are transfers. 2N-3C; 3D- 3H asks for 4 spades 3S 5S 4H (to plug the hole). 4H 6S 4H (!). 2N-3C; 3H-3S asks for length of suit. -- +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | "Bridge is a Science, they said hopefully." ... of M. Miles & E. Kantar. | | "ACBL is for Ayatollah's Correct Bidding Lessons." ... Edgar Kaplan. | | "System is to Judgment as Strategy is to Tactics." ... Eric Rodwell. | | "Only wimps are afraid to prepare!" ... Adam Zmudzinski. | | >>>> Professor WHO??, Bridge Enthusiast, at your Service! <<<< | +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- From: rm10006@hermes.cam.ac.uk Subject: Re: Puppet Stayman Date: Sun, 29 Jan 1995 13:25:17 Organization: Trinity College, Cambridge Brett Leach writes: >Puppet Stayman is typically used to allow an opener to make a 2NT >call on an otherwise balanced hand with a 5 card major suit and >however many HCP you normally require for the bid (usually 20 to 21 >nowadays.) The reason you want to be able to open this hand 2NT is >that you don't want responder to pass a 1H or 1S opening unless he is >totally devoid of useful values, yet the hand is too weak for a strong >2C opening. The puppet stayman sequence goes like this: > >Opener Responder >2NT 3C (Puppet Stayman) > >Opener now bids a 5 card major if he has one, bids 3D with one or both >4 card majors, or bids 3NT with 3 or fewer cards in each major. > >Responder, if opener bids 3D, can sign off in 3NT, or if he has a four >card major, shows it by bidding the *other* major (thus making sure that >the strong hand will play the hand in the event of finding a fit) or, >holding both major suits, bids 4C with slam interest, or 4D without. > >You can follow these up with any slam seeking methods you want. > >It is worth noting that it is possible to play these methods in 1C forcing >systems, after either a 1NT or a 2NT rebid by opener. > >Good luck using puppet stayman. I't doesn't happen that often, but when >it does, it allows an unusually clear bidding sequence. > >Brett Leach (BWLEACH@delphi.com) A slightly better (I think) system of responses, which allows stayman to be used on 5S-4H hands, is as follows: 2N-3C (5card/puppet stayman) 3D Most hands 3H Denies 4H 3S shows 4S 3N sign off (The only way to sign off after bidding 3C) 3N denies 4S 3S Shows 4H 3N denies 4H (note that this implies 3S because of the 3N response) Higher, shows 4H 3N Shows 4H and 4S Obvious really. 4C,4D show good hands with link major, perhaps. 3H Shows 5H 3S Shows 5S 3N Shows 2S,3H or worse in the majors. Responder can then use 3C, following 3D by 3S on a hand like Axxxx Kxxx x xxx. Since the sequence 2N-3C-3D-3S-3N shows 3S. Of course, he/she can then pass the auction 2N-3C-3N with no major fit found. Robin ------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: miriam@math.gwu.edu (Miriam Harris) Subject: Re: Puppet Stayman Date: 2 Feb 1995 03:09:26 GMT Organization: GWU Department of Mathematics, Washington DC Beng Kriström wrote: >Does anybody have some notes on Puppet Stayman, or just a brief >summary? The bidding after 1NT-1C-2D interests me the most (e.g what >does a jump to 3 of a major imply and so on). Thanks/Bengt Kristrom Here is a summary of the Puppet Stayman that my husband and I play: 1NT-2C (asks for a 5 card major or 6 card minor, and shows invit+ values)- 2D denies either of the above; neither promises nor denies a 4 card M 2H denies 4 H's, shows either 4 S's or invit in NT *** Opener can bid 2NT or 3NT without a 4 card S suit (min/max), or 2S or 3S (min/max) with 4 S's (This allows a correction to 3NT) **you can also play that 3H by opener shows 4 S's, a max, and an interest in NT (usually 4-3-3-3);responder bids 3N (to play) or 4H (asking opener to bid 4S), or 4S (with tenaces to protect) ***if you play 1NT-2NT as an invite, then 2H promises 4 S's 2S shows 4 H's and denies 4 S's; Opener can bid 2/3NT or 3/4H (min/max) **you can also play 3S by opener to show 4 H's, a max, and an interest in NT (usually 3-4-3-3); responder bids 3NT, 4D, or 4H (as above) 2NT shows both majors (4-4 or better), invitational values Opener can pass, sign off in 3 of a major, or accept with 4 of a major or 3NT *Over responder's 2H,2S,or 2N, opener's 3 of a minor shows a 5 card suit that needs help for 3NT; responder should bid 3NT with a high honor or with a GF hand 3C shows both majors (4-4, 4-5, or 5-4), GF values 3D denies a 4 card major, but shows interest in a 5-3 fit, if responder has a 5 card major 3H,3S shows 4 of the bid major and 5+ of the unbid major 3NT shows exactly 4-4 3H,3S shows 4 of the suit bid, and a max; tends to deny other Major 3NT denies a 4 card major or interest in responders 5-card suit 4C shows both 4 card majors, asks for responders preference (4D=H's, 4H=S's) 4H,4S shows 4 of the suit bid, and a min 3D shows 5-5 or better in the majors, with slam interest 3H,3S set trumps and show slam interest by opener 3NT shows 2-2 in the majors 4H,4S are sign-off, denying any interest in slam *3H,3S show a 3 card fragment in the suit bid, 5-4 or 5-5 in the minors, and slam interest (thus short in the unbid major) Opener can sign off in 3NT with wastage opposite the shortness, raise the fragment to suggest a 4-3 fit, set a minor as trumps, or bid the other major to show interest and ask further *many people prefer to bid the shortness here, rather than the fragment; we have found the fragment bid superior, because it is more dangerous for the opponents to make a lead director 3NT to play (no 4 card or longer major worth showing) 4C Gerber 4NT Quantitative slam try 2H shows a 5 card suit (could be min or max) 2S sets H's as trumps, invites cue-bidding 2NT invitational, denies 3+ card support 3m natural, forcing (implies 4 of other major) 3H natural, invitational 3S slam try with unspecified shortness, opener bids 3N to ask 3NT to play 4C plain Gerber 4D Roman Keycard Gerber 4H to play 4S Quantitative with a (3-card) fit 4NT Quantitative without a fit 2S shows a 5 card suit (min or max) 2N,3m,3NT,4C,4D,4NT as above 3H artificial; relay to 3S; Then: 3NT sets S's as trumps, invites cue-bidding 4C,4D,4H set S's as trumps and show shortness in the suit bid 3S natural, invitational 4H Quantitative with a fit 4S to play 3C,3D shows a 6 card suit (not solid or semi-solid) 3M shows a Smolen-type hand (4 of bid M, 5+ of other M, looking for 5-3 fit) 3NT shows either GF values or invite WITH HELP in opener's minor 4same minor asks for cue-bidding 4 other minor =RKG 4NT quantitative Other responses to 1NT: 2D,2H,2S,2N are transfers (with pre-acceptances) 3C = 5 H's + 3 S's, GF (fast arrival applies to opener's rebids) 3D = 5 S's + 3 H's, GF (as above) 3H = 5 S's + 5 H's, invitational 3S = 5 S's + 5 H's, GF but without slam interest Note that the 3C and 3D responses allow you to reach either 8 card major suit fit on GF hands; if responder transfers to a major and follows with 2NT (invitational), opener can show 5 cards in the other major on the way to 3NT Miriam Harris-Botzum miriam@math.gwu.edu ------------------------------------------------------------------------