1NT - 3 as Puppet Stayman

When partner opens 1NT and you know they could possibly have a 5 card major you can jump to 3 as Puppet Stayman so long as you have these requirements:

• Game Forcing Values
• One or both Majors. Either 3-3 or 4-3. Never 4-4. With 4-4 use whatever version of Stayman you play.

Responses by opener to 3 are:

Version 1

• With a 5 card major bid it.
• With no 5 card major or 4 card major bid 3NT.
• With one or both 4 card majors bid 3. Responder if interested in finding a 4-4 major fit can now bid:
  • 3 of the major they do not have which shows 4 of the other major.
  • 4 which asks opener to pick their major. (Because responder is 4-4)

Version 2

• With a 5 card major bid it.
• With no 5 card major bid 3. Responder if interested in finding a 4-4 major fit can now bid:
  • 3 of the major they do not have which shows 4 of the other major.

Justin Lall wrote a good article about the reasons for using version 2.

Version 3

3 over partner's 1NT is Puppet Stayman asking for a 5 card major only.

Since we tend to open 1NT with a 5 card major and no other 4 card suit to rebid, a jump to 3 over 1NT with a game forcing hand asks one thing only. Do you have a 5 card major? Opener bids a 5 card major or bids 3, that's it.

This fits in perfectly with our 2 Game Forcing Stayman.

Let me explain.

In our system previously lets's say after partner opens 1NT and we bid 2. We have 5 spades and 3 hearts. Partner responds 2 and we now bid 2 asking partner if they have three card spade support. Now opener's 5 card heart suit will be hidden because bidding 3 would show honor third support for spades and the heart Ace.

Playing the 3 jump over 1NT as Puppet Stayman can be made with a game forcing hand holding one or two three card majors or a 5 card and a three card major.

Opener - 3 4 4 2.

Responder - 5 3 3 2.

1NT	Pass	3*	Pass
3**	Pass	3***

* asking for a 5 card major, ** No 5 card major, *** I have one.

Opener's responses:

• Cuebid an Ace showing honor third support in spades.
• Raise to 4 with 3 small or any 3 with no Ace to cuebid.
• Bid 3NT with no fit.