[glen]

A review of Ron Klinger's new book 5-Card Major Stayman appeared in the November ACBL Bulletin. Three questions for anybody who might know:

1) Is this designed to go with his KERI, or just a more normal notrump structure?

2) What hand types are covered by this Stayman - in particular the review says "they allow your side to play in two of a major if opener does not have a five card major".

3) Are opener's rebids to 2♣ different than in standard Puppet Stayman - the review states "he presents a system of responses and continuations after a 2♣ inquiry that, if not superior to puppet Stayman, are less forgettable."

Review also notes that after 1NT-2♣-2♦(no five card major)-?, now

3♣: Stayman
3♦/♥: Transfers
3♠: Slam try

Mods: Please change description to "What's New Here?" - thanks in advance

[glen]

Here's a useful link:

http://www.australia...le_34-4_5cM.htm

[Blofeld]

I can answer 1) at least - I can't see how this could possibly fit into Keri.

[glen]

Why can't it fit into Keri? The difference would be that 2♣ would go to 2♦ only if opener does not have a five card major, and then the rest of Keri sequences would apply. If opener shows a five card a major, responder if weak with ♦s passes to play 2M or bids 3♣ as a retransfer to ♦s.

[Nadreck]

The article in Australian Bridge clearly indicates that this is a simpler option than using Keri. Quote "The following is an alternative and simple structure"

While it does not refer to Keri by name , the book Bid better, Much bettter is where Klinger details the Keri structure.

[MickyB]

One of my pard's has the book, he said that it didn't mention submarine splinters. Sounds from that article like it is designed for an otherwise regular response structure, which makes sense - there isn't enough room for all the Keri 2C hand-types after 1N:2C, 2S.

[cwiggins]

"5-Card Major Stayman" says "The rest of your 1NT structure need not change."

If you're playing Keri, it does.

How do you invite if you are 1-suited in a minor?

What do you do with 5+m/4+m game forcing hands?

With 4M and 5+ diamonds and not suited for a submarine splinter, are you going to bid 3NT after a 1N:2C, 3C:3D sequence holding a 4CM and 6 diamonds?

Presumably you do not bid 1NT:2S with a balanced invitational hand but go through 1NT:2C, which means that 1NT:2S is left with 1-suited slam hands?

[Flame]

Is this better then puppet stayman ?

[Free]

It's basicly similar, but at 2-level and not GF. Most I know play it as invitational or better (forcing to 2NT), and 2♦ promisses a 4 card M, 2NT denies one. I'm not sure it's necessary to show if you have a 4 card M immediatly or not, seems like you're giving away more information than Klinger's idea.

[glen]

Thanks for all the replies.

For a more typical use of Puppet Stayman see the Richard Pavlicek System at:

http://www.rpbridge.net/7g19.htm#04

It appears the key difference is that Klinger has gone with 1NT-2♣-2♦-2♥/♠s as a natural invite with a 4 or 5 card suit (2♥ can be 4-4 invite in the majors), and 3♣ as a game force Stayman ask for four card majors. By comparison, the Pavlicek System uses 2♥ to show no four card major or 4♠s, 2♠ to show 4♥s, 2NT to show both majors invite, and 3♣/♦ to handle the both majors game force hand types. The Klinger version looks easier to use.

Klinger must use his 96 pages to cover the various follow-ups in considerable detail.

[mikestar]

This seems to superior to puppet stayman, but I wouldn't advocate it. If a partnership can handle this, Keri is not that much harder but is much more powerful.

I recently read Bid Better . . . and I'm convinced that Keri is exteremly worth the effort to learn it. Now if Klinger will just give us something for 2NT, the most difficult constructive opening of all.

[whereagles]

There are a lot of schemes after 2NT that work very well. If minor suit slams are what you want, you can use the 3♠ gadget from Forrester's TRS system:

2NT 3♠ (forces 3NT - to play 3NT or minor suit slammish)
3NT ..?

4♣ = 5 clubs, 4 diams. Opener bids 4♦ fit or cues with club fit. 4NT is misfit.
4♦ = 5 diams, 4 clubs. Opener bids 4M withfit in the corresponding minor or 4NT misfit.
4♥ = 6 clubs. Opener bids 4NT misfit (weak doubleton) or 4♠ with interest.
4♠ = 6 diams. Opener bids 4NT misfit 5♣ with interest.
4NT = 55 minors, slammish but NF. Opener passes or bids 5M with grandslam hopes.
5♣ = 55 minors, forcing. Opener bids 5♦ fit, grandslammish or cues with clubs.

[pclayton]

I thought we taked about this about a year ago even before the book came out. We debated the aspects of Klinger's new stayman versus his 'old' Keri.