Puppet Stayman

Rev: October 16, 2000

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The purpose of Puppet Stayman is to explore for an 8-card major suit fit.

A Direct 3C Response to a NT Bid is Puppet Stayman:

	Responder bids 3C over opener's 1NT is Puppet Stayman (2C would be regular Stayman).
	Responder bids 3C over opener's 2NT is Puppet Stayman (there is no regular Stayman here).
	When opener bids 2C, responder bids 2D and opener rebids 2NT, responder's 3C is Puppet Stayman (there is no regular Stayman here).

Requirements:

Must have enough points for a at least a game-going contract in no trump or a major suit.

Must have ruffing potential with at least a doubleton somewhere.

Shape:

At least one 3-card major - example: 3/2/4/4

Or, two 3-card majors - example: 3/3/2/4

Or, a 3-card major and a 4-card major - example: 3/4/4/2

Or, a 4-card major - example: 4/2/5/2

Or, two 4-card majors - example: 4/4/3/2

Not 5/4 in the majors - start with regular Stayman and use Smolen if necessary

A. Advanced Puppet Stayman (My Preference)

Opener's Rebids to Responder's 3C Bid:

	3NT = No 5-card or 4-card major
	3H[3S] = 5-card heart[spade] suit
	3D = 4 cards in one or both majors

Responder's Rebids to Opener's 3NT Rebid:

	Pass = With no major suit fit will play at NT
	4C[4D] = Natural showing strong 5-card minor with slam interest.
	4NT = Quantitative
	5C = “High” Gerber
	6NT = Signoff

Responder's Rebids to Opener's 3H[3S] Rebid:

	3NT = Signoff, no major suit fit.
	4C[4D] = Natural showing strong 5-card minor with slam interest.
	4H[4S] = Signoff
	4NT = Quantitative
	5C = “High” Gerber
	6NT = Signoff

Responder's Rebids to Opener's 3D:

	3NT = No 4-card major.
	3H = You hold 4 spades; if opener has 4 spades he bids 4S, otherwise he bids 3NT.
	3S = You hold 4 hearts; if opener has 4 hearts he bids 4H, otherwise he bids 3NT.
	4D = You hold 4-cards in both majors; opener bids game in his 4-card major.

Responder's Rebids After Opener Bids 4H[4S]:

	Pass, will play it there
	4NT = Quantitative
	5C = “High” Gerber
	6NT = Signoff

B. Simple Puppet Stayman (Not My Preference)

Opener's Rebids to Responder's 3C Bid:

	Opener rebids 3D without a 5-card major
	Opener rebids a major if holding 5-cards

Responder's Rebids to Opener's 3D Rebid:

	3NT = Signoff
	4C[4D] = Natural showing strong 5-card minor with slam interest.
	4NT = Quantitative
	5C = “High” Gerber
	6NT = Signoff

Responder's Rebids to Opener's 3H[3S] Rebid:

	3NT = Signoff
	4C[4D] = Natural showing strong 5-card minor with slam interest.
	4H[4S] = Signoff
	4NT = Quantitative
	5C = “High” Gerber
	6NT = Signoff