[kongo]

What will you open if you hold 5-3-3-2 hand with a 5 card major and the strong nortrump opening strength?

Some guys choose to bid 1 major and meet the rebid problem when partner bid 1S/1NT. (I chose that)

Some guys choose to bid 1NT and meet the problem of losing the major fit. Actually puppet stayman can solve the problem here, but I want to know would it really a good convention and what's the full version of the responses of puppet stayman?

Thank you for reading this article!

kongo

[Yzerman]

Hi Kongo,

This is one the most common problems among partnerships (especially new partnerships).  Here are a few ways to play puppet that i am aware of;

a) 1N-2C - Obviously substitute puppet for regular;

1N-3C - Some play 3c as game forcing puppet;

It is my opinion that option (a) does not reward you a return on your risk of giving up reglar stayman.  In case a, you lose the ability to bid "garbage stayman", and in some cases "invitational stayman".

It is my opinion that option ( has some merit.  Depending on your partnership agreements for 3 level bids after opening a strong NT.  You may have the ability to use 3C for this and keep the 3 level structure relatively intact.

Other Methods:

This does not apply to the spade suit however some play that after a 1H opener, 1NT and 1S are interchanged (1S=forcing NT allowing 1NT, and 1N=spades).  I do not play this, however those that do swear by it.

This is my preference: Here is common 2/1 treament for balanced hands with majors (where 1N is forcing);

1M-1N-2N = 17+/19 balanced (good 17 will do)
1M-1N-2m-2M-2N = 15+/17-
*1M-1N-3N = Running spade suit (AKQxxx is min), hand has 7 1/2 + tricks.

*This bid is GROSSLY abused.  3N should be the hand I have mentioned above, then the responder can pull 3N to 4S on appropriate hands.

[kongo]

Thanks, Yzerman. For the response of 1M-2m-2NT, would it be a risk that pd will pass your 2m?

[Yzerman]

See my posting in Advanced section titled;

- Requirements for Rebids After (1M-1N) -

Between inquiry and myself it might make some sense.  Once partner partner bids 1NT he shoud strive to make a second bid.  So only under extreme circumstances does your partner pass 2m.  Below are some criteria (consistent with other thread) that I abide by;

Passable 1M-1N-2m hands after 1NT (forcing) -

6-7  points and no 9 card fit and no 7 card major fit
8-9  points and extreme non-fitting hands

In both cases above, I would not worry about missing game with 17 hcp opposite 9 hcp when hands are non-fitting. The values are marginal and tricks will be hard to come by (you may even be at an advantage to those in 3NT by playing in 4-3 minor fit @ 2 level - you could be +).

* Dont want to sound like wussy, I can overbid with the best of them, but only with fit and 'good' cards.

Some Example  (after 1S-2N-2C) Rebids -

xx  AJxx xxxx  Qxx (Bid 2S)
xx  AJxx xxx Qxxx (BID 2S - too many people pass)
x AJxx  Jxxx  Qxxx (Pass)
x QJxx KJxx  Qxxx (Pass - Bad cards)
x KQxx K109x J10xx (Bid 2N - Good cards and positional)
x KQxx Kxx  J10xxx (Bid 3C - 8/9 cd fit with 9 hcp)
x Jxxx xxx KQxxx (Pass)
* x Qxxx xxx KQxxx (Despite criteria, I would bid 3C)
x Kxxx xxx KQxxx (Bid 3C - 8/9 cd fit with 8 hcp)

* I saw a quote here one time by a member as such;  "Bridge is not a game of rigid rules, being flexible and allowing room for judgement within a set of system rules is paramount to winning bridge".

[Rado]

Here is the standart Puppet Stayman responses(used mainly after 2NT opening)
********
2NT-3C(puppet)
3D=4M(uncpecified or bot Majors)
3M=5M
3NT=no 4+M
************
after 2NT-3C-3D the weak hand bids the Major which does not have, the idea is the NT to play the hand
3H= 4 cards in S
3S= 4 cards in H
3NT= no 4M (3C was bid to check 5M only)
4C= Slam interest with fairly balanced hand without 4M
4D=4H+4S (both nmajors)

Same scheme may be used after 1NT with some usefull amendments since the level is lower