Responding to an Opening 2NT

Muppet Stayman

The version of Puppet Stayman we're using is commonly referred to as Muppet Stayman, and it's based on Sally Brock's article in the August 2010 edition of English Bridge [reproduced by kind permission of Elena Jeronimidis].

The essence of this version is that:

• after a 3♣ Stayman enquiry, the normal meanings of 3♥ and 3NT are reversed, 3♥ denying either a 4-card or 5-card major, whereas 3NT shows five hearts. The rationale of this is that responder can enquire about opener's major-suit holdings but still bid 3♠ over 3♥ to show a 5-card suit. The basic objective here is to unearth either a 5-3 heart fit or a 3-5 spade fit. The problem is where opener shows a 4-card major, and it happens to be hearts. Now we might miss the 3-5 spade fit, as 3♠ is showing a 4-card heart suit.
• if opener shows a 4-card major, responder can show both 4-card majors by bidding 4♣ with slam interest or 4♦ simply to play in game in opener's suit. If responder bids 4♣ to show both majors and slam interest, 4♦ shows no slam interest on opener's part, and asks responder to bid 4♥ for pass or correct. To accept the slam try, opener bids his/her major.

Other Responses

• the 3♠ response to 2NT is used to show both minors, at least 5-4. Opener rebid options are:
  -   rebid 3NT to show no particular enthusiasm for a minor-suit contract
  -   bid 4♣/♦ as RKCB in that suit. Whether a slam is possible will depend on responder's key-cards, and signing off in 5-minor is still possible
• responding four of any suit is RKCB in that suit. The stepped responses are just the same as for 4NT, except starting at a lower point.

Breaking Transfers

We're following Article 8 in Andrew Robson's Modern Bidding Developments. The essence of this is that where responder bids either 3♦/♥ as a transfer, opener breaks the transfer with at least 3-card support.

If the auction starts 2NT - 3♦:

• 3♥ denies a fit, just two hearts
• 3♠ shows five spades and two hearts
• 3NT typically shows a 4333 hand with three hearts, offering a choice of game
• 4♣ is the best break, usually with four-card support [nothing to do with clubs]
• 4♥ is not the best break, usually with three-card support.

Over the 3NT and 4♣ rebids, responder can now bid 4♦ as a re-transfer back to 4♥ to right-side the contract.

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