[jackchung]

After 2NT openned, if simple stayman used, There is a bidding sequence:
2NT-3C-3H-?? , We can bid 3S as slam try.
But if puppet stayman used, the sequence should be:
2NT-3C-3D*-3S*-4H-??. Now, how to try? I think i would just bid "4 Diamonds", It's nothing about diamond. Am i right?
If the responder has both Major suit, the sequence is:
2NT-3C-3D*-??. Now,what is 4C means ?
Thanks very much for answer.

[Cascade]

jackchung, on Feb 10 2009, 02:46 PM, said:

After 2NT openned, if simple stayman used, There is a bidding sequence:
2NT-3C-3H-?? , We can bid 3S as slam try.
But if puppet stayman used, the sequence should be:
2NT-3C-3D*-3S*-4H-??. Now, how to try? I think i would just bid "4 Diamonds", It's nothing about diamond. Am i right?
If the responder has both Major suit, the sequence is:
2NT-3C-3D*-??. Now,what is 4C means ?
Thanks very much for answer.

2NT 3♣
3♦ 3♠
?

Opener with four hearts can cue-bid clubs or diamonds with a maximum or slam suitable hand. Alternatively you can devise some other meanings for these calls.

If opener does not cooperate with a cue-bid and responder is still interested ...

2NT 3♣
3♦ 3♠
4♥ ?

Responder can bid Blackwood or cue-bid or raise to 5♥ as slam tries.

2NT 3♣
3♦ ?

There are various schemes for both majors. 4♣ and 4♦ can both be used with both majors one showing slam interest and one showing only game interest.

Personally I don't like these methods as I like 4♣ and 4♦ to be used on hands with a long minor say some 6m-3-3-1 hand etc after first looking for a 5=3 major fit.

I play a 3♥ continuation asks for four spades but does not promise them. Opener then must bid 3♠ with four spades and responder can cue-bid with slam interest or just raise to game or without four spades opener bids 3NT. This allows us to bid 3NT over 3♦ with both majors. Over 3NT opener bids 4♥ or 4♠ with a bad 2NT hand and we use 4♣ and 4♦ to show good 2NT hands with four hearts and spades respectively.

2NT 3♣
3♦ 3NT - both majors
4♣ great hand with hearts
4♦ great hand with spades
4♥ bad hand with hearts
4♠ bad hand with spades

[jdonn]

You are pretty much screwed playing normal puppet stayman on that auction. True opener can cuebid on the way but that gives away information when responder usually doesn't even have slam interest. Personally I prefer opener to bid 4♥ with hearts and let responder risk the 5 level if he wants to try for slam, but you choose either style and just accept what it loses. At least you can feel better that slam tries actually improve if you have a spade fit when compared to standard, so I guess it washes out.

As for minor suit slam tries and what opener does with both majors, in the only serious partnership in which I played puppet stayman we did the following.

3♣ 3♦
4♣ was a single suited slam try in clubs.

3♣ 3♦
4♦ was both majors.

3♠ 3NT (forced)
4♣ was a single suited slam try in diamonds.

3♠ 3NT
4♦/4♥/4♠ were slam tries with both minors. (So were a few other random bids but it doesn't really matter).

There were followups over the slam tries of course but I won't get into that since it's not what you were asking. I only mention it since I don't like to play any bid by opener as showing 4-4 in the majors, which some people do. As you could tell from above, I have a general predisposition against a likely declarer giving away information which his partner tends to not even be interested in. Again, you just pick a style and go with it. These auctions are uncommon enough, and there is little enough to choose between reasonable methods, that if you pick something you won't forget and that you are comfortable with then you are making the best choice.

[jackchung]

Cascade, on Feb 9 2009, 09:47 PM, said:

Opener with four hearts can cue-bid clubs or diamonds with a maximum or slam suitable hand.

It's good for me. It's simple enough.