A Basic Standard Version and Two Modern Ones

Presented by Mike Savage

2NT – Here’s a standard basic version of Puppet Stayman.

3C = Asks if opener has a five-card major.

3D = Shows no five-card major but has at least one four-card major.

3H/3S = Shows 4-cards in the other major – so the big hand will always be declarer.

3NT = Denies a four-card major and is to play

4C = Gerber (some partnerships play 4C as 4-4 in the majors with slam interest)

4D = Shows two four-card majors.

3H/3S = Shows five cards in the bid major.

3NT = Denies either a five-card or four-card major.

3D/3H = Jacoby Transfer to hearts/spades.

3S = Minor Suit Stayman.

3NT = To play

2NT – Shown below is a newer version of Puppet Stayman.

3C = Asks if opener has a five-card major.

3D = No five-card major (regardless if he has or doesn’t have a four-card major).

3H/3S = Shows four cards in the other major.

3NT = To play

4C/4D = Shows at least a five-card minor (often longer) with slam interest.

4H/4S = Shows a stiff or void in the bid major with both minors and slam interest.

3H/3S = Shows a five-card major.

4C/4D = Shows at least a five-card minor (often longer) with slam interest.

3NT = Shows a maximum and no four-card major.

3D/3H = Jacoby Transfer to hearts/spades.

3S = Relay to 3NT, to play (but over 3NT your partnership can assign meanings to 4C, 4D, 4H & 4S).

3NT = Bid with two four-card majors (some 5-4s) & asks opener to bid a 4-card major or pass.

Playing both of these versions of Puppet Stayman, the downside is you may miss 4-4 heart fits when responder has five spades and four hearts. The advantage of playing this newer version of Puppet Stayman is that the big hand does not disclose if it has a 4-card major, unless there is a guaranteed 4-4 fit.

With 5-4 in the majors, there is no perfect solution. With five hearts and four spades, it’s usually best to transfer to hearts and then bid 3S but with five spades and four hearts, responder has a choice of flawed options. He can bid Stayman (3NT) and perhaps miss a 5-3 spade fit or transfer to spades and then bid 3NT (not showing the heart suit) and occasionally the partnership will miss finding a 4-4 heart fit.

Handling 5-4 in the majors at the 3-level, allows 4C & 4D to be natural bids – after bidding 3C first.

Finally here’s a very simple modern version of Puppet Stayman that’s probably the best of the three.

It finds all 8 and 9-card major suit fits at the 3-level while still allowing the 2NT opener to be declarer.

3C = Asks if opener has either a five-card major or four hearts.

3D = Denies having a five-card major or four hearts.

3H asks if opener has four spades (3S shows four spades, 3NT denies four spades).

3H = Shows either four or five hearts.

3S = Asks how many hearts he has (3NT shows four hearts, 4H shows five hearts).

3S = Shows five spades.

3NT = Shows 4-4 in the majors and responder will pass or correct (transfers can be used).