Puppet Stayman
by Walt Sturm
What
do you open holding a balanced 15-17 HCP which contains a five-card
major suit? If you open in the
major, you have no rebid to describe your strength range. Similarly, opening in NT risks missing
a 5-3 major fit. One of the basic
rules of bidding is to look ahead to your rebid to avoid hanging yourself.
Puppet
Stayman is a neat solution to this relatively common problem. In response to
2C, opener bids his five-card major if he holds one. Lacking one, he bids 2D if he holds one or both four-card
majors. Lacking either, he bids
2NT or 3NT according to his strength.
Hearing
that opener holds a five-card major, responder can now invite or bid the
appropriate game. If opener rebids
2D, responder can search for a 4-4 major fit, if indicated (responder bids 2C
with either 3-card major).
Responder now bids the major he does not hold, a la Smolen, or raises to
3D holding both majors, thus allowing opener to select the suit as well
as becoming the declarer, a la Jacoby Transfers. Texas Transfers are still ON after a missed Stayman.
As
even the most devoted Jacoby Transfer fans should know, Stayman is used instead
holding 5-4 in the majors because of the desirability of playing in a 4-4 major
fit rather than a 5-3 fit.
Puppet
Stayman was invented for use over a 2NT opening because many players would not
open 1NT with a 5-card major but would open 2NT. I cannot see any reason not to use Puppet over 1NT as well. However, do not use it over a natural
3NT opening because this crowds the bidding too much.
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