Editing Stayman convention (section)

==Puppet Stayman==
Puppet Stayman is similar to Five-Card Stayman. It is more complex but has the major advantage that the strong hand virtually always becomes declarer.

Initially developed by Neil Silverman and refined by [[Kit Woolsey]] and [[Steve Robinson (bridge player)|Steve Robinson]] in 1977-78,<ref name="Puppet1977">{{cite journal | author = Kit Woolsey | author-link = Kit Woolsey | editor = Jeff Ruben | editor-link = Jeff Rubens |date= April 1977 | title = Puppet Stayman | journal = The Bridge World | volume = 48 | issue = 7 | pages = 26–28 | location = New York, NY | publisher = Bridge World Magazine Inc}}</ref><ref name="Puppet1978">{{cite journal | author = Kit Woolsey |date= April 1978 | title = Puppet Stayman Revisited | journal = The Bridge World | volume = 49 | issue = 7 | pages = 22–23 }}</ref> is a variation of the Stayman convention designed to find a 5-3 fit in a major, augmenting the search for a 4-4 major fit by standard Stayman. In 1977, Woolsey wrote<ref name=Puppet1977/> that Puppet Stayman has several advantages over standard Stayman:
* Opener is usually better placed than responder to choose the proper denomination given distributional information about his partner's hand
* Opener becomes declarer in most cases without revealing his distribution, it being deemed less injurious to reveal responder's distribution, usually the weaker of the two hands
* The side can stop in two diamonds
* Since opener can show a five-card major immediately in response to the 2C bid, it is less dangerous to open 1NT with a five-card major
* It is possible to stop at two spades with a 4-4 fit, e.g. 1NT - 2{{clubs}}, 2{{diamonds}} - 2{{hearts}}, 2{{spades}} - All Pass
* Opener may be able to perceive a weakness for a notrump contract and so save to three of a minor or a good 4-3 major-suit game instead
* It is possible that a 3NT contract may be preferred over a 4-4 major fit in certain auctions

===Responder's rebids===
As in standard Stayman, Puppet Stayman begins with a 2{{clubs}} response to a 1NT opening and is at least game invitational; this asks opener to bid a 5-card major if he has one and otherwise to bid 2{{diamonds}}. Over a 2{{diamonds}} response, rebids by responder are intended to disclose his distributional features in the majors as well as his strength. The original 1977<ref name=Puppet1977/> and 1978 revised<ref name=Puppet1978/> rebids described by Woolsey are tabulated below: 
{| class="wikitable"
!Responder's<br>Rebid||Original 1977||Revised 1978
|- 
|align="center"|Pass||to play, having length in diamonds and a weak hand||to play, having length in diamonds and a weak hand
|-
|align="center"|2{{hearts}}||four spades and fewer than four hearts||either a standard raise to 2NT,<br>or four spades and fewer than four hearts
|-
|align="center"|2{{spades}}||four hearts and fewer than four spades||four hearts and fewer than four spades
|-
|align="center"|2NT||four hearts and four spades and invites game||a transfer or takeout to a minor
|-
|align="center"|3{{clubs}}||||minor suited hands
|-
|align="center"|3{{diamonds}}||||five spades and four hearts, game invitational
|-
|align="center"|3{{hearts}}||||four hearts and four or five spades
|-
|align="center"|3{{spades}}||||four spades and five hearts and forces game
|-
|align="center"|3NT||four hearts and four spades and forces game||no four card major, game strength
|-
|align="center"|4{{clubs}}||||six hearts, four spades, opener chooses
|-
|align="center"|4{{diamonds}}||||six spades, four hearts, opener chooses
|-
|align="center"|4{{hearts}}||||transfer to four spades, no slam
|}

Opener and responder continue the bidding having a clearer understanding of each other's distributional features and are better positioned to select the ultimate {{gcb|denomination}} and level of the contract.

===Modern applications===
Many variations to the Puppet Stayman bidding structure have been devised since Woolsey's 1978 summary; partnership review and agreement on the preferred modern treatment is required.

Some no longer advocate use of Puppet Stayman over a 1NT opening preferring to use the concept exclusively over a 2NT opening and reserving other Stayman variations and conventions such [[Jacoby Transfers]] and [[Stayman convention#Smolen convention|Smolen Transfers]] in search of major-suit fits after a 1NT opening.

===Responses to a 2NT opening or rebid===
Puppet Stayman is more commonly used after a 2NT opening than after a 1NT opening. Responses to a 2NT opening or very strong 2NT rebid (20-22 or 23-24):
* 3{{Clubs}} = Puppet Stayman
* 3{{Diams}} = --> hearts
* 3{{Hearts}} = --> spades
* 3{{Spades}} = --> 5 spades and 4 hearts
* 3NT     = no 3+ major, to play

Responder bids 3{{Clubs}} seeking information about opener's major suit holding. Opener replies:
* 3NT denying a 4 or 5-card major
* 3{{Hearts}} showing a 5-card heart suit
* 3{{Spades}} showing a 5-card spade suit
* 3{{Diams}} holding a 4-card major and denying a 5-card major; following this responder bids:
** 3{{Hearts}} showing a 4-card spade suit and denying a 4-card heart suit
** 3{{Spades}} showing a 4-card heart suit and denying a 4-card spade suit
** 3NT denying a 4-card major, to play
** 4{{Clubs}} showing 4 spades and 4 hearts, slam try
*** 4{{Diams}} [[Blackwood convention|RKCB]] in hearts
*** 4{{Hearts}} to play
*** 4{{Spades}} to play
*** 4NT RKCB in spades
** 4{{Diams}} showing 4 spades and 4 hearts, you choose
** 4NT denying a 4-card major, invitational to 6NT

By this means all 5-3 and 4-4 major suit fits can be found.

An alternative pattern frees up the 2NT-3{{Spades}} sequence as a slam try in the minors. To allow 3-5 spade fits to be found when responder holds 5 spades and 4 hearts, some of the responses change:
* After 2NT-3{{Clubs}}, opener's 3{{Diams}} denies a 5-card major but promises 4 hearts or 3 or 4 spades. Following this, responder bids:
** 3{{Hearts}} showing a 4-card spade suit, possibly including a 4-card heart suit, or 5 spades and 4 hearts. Opener's rebids:
*** 3{{Spades}} = showing 3 spades and denying 4 hearts, responder now bids 4{{Spades}} with 5 spades and 4 hearts, or 3NT otherwise
*** 3NT = showing 4 hearts and denying 4 spades, responder now leaves in NT or converts to 4{{Hearts}} with a 4-card heart suit
*** 4{{Spades}} = showing 4 spades.
** 3{{Spades}} showing a 4-card heart suit and denying a 4-card spade suit, responder converts to 3NT or 4{{Hearts}} as appropriate
** 3NT denying a 4-card major, to play.