Puppet Without Garbage, II

by Denis Lesage

For those willing to give up Garbage Stayman in response to one notrump, this version of Puppet Stayman works well in constructive bidding, especially when responder has invitational strength.

A two-club response does not promise a four-plus-card major. Opener rebids two diamonds with at least one four-card major; two of a major with a five-card suit; otherwise, two notrump (minimum) or three clubs (maximum).

After one notrump -- two clubs -- two diamonds, responder rebids:

(1) two hearts with four spades or no four-card major. [With four spades, opener bids two spades. Then, responder can invite with two notrump or three spades, sign off in game, force to game with three of a minor, or suggest a spade slam with three hearts.][Without four spades, opener bids two notrump (minimum) or three clubs (maximum). Then, responder can (a) force with three of a minor over two notrump or with three diamonds (showing a long minor) over three clubs, then, over a three-heart relay, bid three spades with clubs and three notrump with diamonds; (b) bid Smolen with three of a major; or (c) sign off in game.]
(2) two spades with four hearts. [With four hearts, opener can raise to invite or drive to game, or bid three spades with a good slam hand.][Without four hearts, opener bids two notrump (minimum) or three clubs (maximum). Responder can play in two or three notrump or bid three of a major as Smolen. With a long minor, responder bids as in (1).]
(3) two notrump (minimum) or three clubs (maximum) with four-four in the majors. [Over two notrump, opener can pass, raise to three, invite or bid game in a major, or bid three of a minor as a natural game-force with weakness in the other minor.][Over three clubs, opener can sign off in game, make a slam-try with three of a major, or bid three diamonds as in (1).]

The other responses to one notrump are: two diamonds or two hearts to transfer to hearts or spades respectively,; two spades with (a) long clubs and either (i) weakness or (ii) a slam-try without a three-card major, or (b) both minors with weakness [Opener shows minor-suit preference, using two notrump for diamonds; responder then places the contract at three of a minor or shows a slam-try (three of a major shows shortness).]; two notrump invitational with five spades and four hearts; three clubs with long diamonds and either (i) weakness or (ii) a slam-try without a three-card major [Opener bids three diamonds; any bid by responder is a slam-try, with three of a major showing shortness.]; three diamonds with a slam-try, both minors, and three-card major [Three hearts by opener asks for the major fragment.]; three hearts or three spades as a game-force with five=three or three=five in the majors respectively; four spades or five clubs with a slam-try, both minors, no three-card major, and short hearts or spades respectively.

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