Puppet Stayman: Find 5-Card Majors After 2NT Opening

When partner opens 2NT showing 20-21 high card points, you know you’re heading to game. But what if you have a five-card major? Playing in a 5-3 major suit fit usually plays better than notrump, even with all that power. That’s where Puppet Stayman comes in.

What is Puppet Stayman?

Puppet Stayman is a convention used after a 2NT opening bid where responder bids 3♣ to ask opener about five-card majors. Unlike regular Stayman (which asks about four-card majors), Puppet Stayman’s primary mission is finding those valuable 5-3 major suit fits.

Here’s the basic auction:

2NT - 3♣

That 3♣ bid says: “Partner, do you have a five-card major? I might have three-card support and want to know before we settle into 3NT.”

The beauty of Puppet Stayman is that it lets you discover major suit fits that regular Stayman would miss. After all, you don’t use regular Stayman with only three-card support—but with Puppet, you can.

Why Puppet Stayman is Different from Regular Stayman

Regular Stayman (2NT-3♣ in Standard American) asks: “Do you have a four-card major?” The responses are straightforward: 3♦ denies a four-card major, while 3♥ or 3♠ shows that suit.

Puppet Stayman works differently because it’s designed around five-card majors. Think of it as a two-stage interrogation:

First stage (3♣): Do you have a five-card major?
Second stage (responder’s rebid): Now we’ll sort out the details.

The key difference is the relay structure. With Puppet Stayman, opener’s 3♦ response doesn’t deny majors—it’s a relay saying “no five-card major, but I might have one or two four-card majors.” Responder then continues the conversation to find the fit.

This relay structure means the strong hand (opener) often becomes declarer, which is usually what you want. Nobody likes giving the opponents a roadmap to your 20-count.

Opener’s Responses to 3♣

After 2NT-3♣ (Puppet Stayman), opener responds according to this structure:

3♦ = No five-card major, but at least one four-card major

This is the “relay” response. Opener is saying: “I don’t have five hearts or five spades, but I do have at least one four-card major. Ask me which one.”

With 4-3-3-3 shape and one four-card major, bid 3♦. With both four-card majors, also bid 3♦. If you have no four-card major at all, you shouldn’t bid 3♦—bid 3NT instead.

3♥ = Five hearts (may also have four spades)

Opener shows five hearts. This lets responder immediately place the contract. With three or more hearts, responder can bid 4♥. Without heart support, responder explores other options.

3♠ = Five spades (denies five hearts)

Opener shows five spades and denies five hearts. If opener had both majors, hearts would be shown first at the 3♥ level.

3NT = No four-card or five-card major

This shows a balanced hand with no major suit of four cards or longer. Typically 3-3 in the majors or 2-3-4-4 / 2-2-4-5 / 2-2-5-4 shape.

Responder’s Rebids After Each Response

The conversation doesn’t end with opener’s first response. Responder now knows crucial information and can place the contract intelligently.

After 3♦ (opener has four-card major(s), no five-card major)

Responder’s rebids:

3♥ = Four spades, asking opener to bid 3♠ with four spades, otherwise 3NT
3♠ = Four hearts, confirming opener has four hearts (otherwise opener would have bid 3NT instead of 3♦)
3NT = No four-card major, to play
4♥ = Five hearts and fewer than four spades, inviting opener to pass or correct to 4♠ with four spades
4♠ = Five spades, to play

The 3♥ rebid is particularly elegant. By bidding hearts to show spades, responder ensures that if there’s a 4-4 spade fit, the strong hand declares.

After 3♥ (opener has five hearts)

Responder’s rebids:

3NT = Fewer than three hearts, to play
4♥ = Three or more hearts, to play
3♠ = Four spades, asking if opener also has four spades (opener bids 4♠ with four, 4♥ with three)
4NT = Quantitative slam try with heart support

Simple and effective. You’ve found your major or you haven’t.

After 3♠ (opener has five spades, denies five hearts)

Responder’s rebids:

3NT = Fewer than three spades, to play
4♠ = Three or more spades, to play
4♥ = Five hearts, forcing opener to choose between 4♠ and 5♥
4NT = Quantitative slam try with spade support

After 3NT (opener has no four-card or longer major)

Responder can:

Pass = We belong in 3NT
4♥/4♠ = Six-card suit, to play
4NT = Quantitative slam try

When to Use Puppet Stayman vs Regular Stayman

The decision depends on your hand and your partnership agreements.

Use Puppet Stayman when:

You have three-card support for a major and want to find a 5-3 fit
You have four cards in one major and five in the other (you’ll find both 4-4 and 5-3 fits)
You have a five-card major and want to check if partner has three-card support
Finding the 5-3 fit is more important than keeping the auction low

Use Regular Stayman when:

You have four cards in both majors (regular Stayman is simpler)
You’re playing with someone who doesn’t know Puppet Stayman
You prefer simpler methods and don’t mind missing occasional 5-3 fits

Don’t use Puppet Stayman when:

You have only two cards in both majors (no fit possible)
You have a weak hand after a 2NT opening (you’re going to game anyway, so systems are on)

Many partnerships play Puppet Stayman after 2NT openings and regular Stayman after 1NT openings. This is a sensible division since 2NT auctions are always forcing to game.

Four Example Auctions with Full Hands

Example 1: Finding the 5-3 Heart Fit

Opener: ♠ AK4
♥ AQ1087
♦ KJ3
♣ K6

Responder: ♠ Q73
♥ K92
♦ A85
♣ QJ74

Auction:

2NT - 3♣ (Puppet Stayman)
3♥ (five hearts) - 4♥ (three-card support)

Opener shows five hearts immediately, and responder raises to game. The 5-3 fit provides an extra trump for ruffing and better control. In notrump, you might struggle if diamonds don’t split. In 4♥, you have more options.

Example 2: Using the 3♦ Relay

Opener: ♠ AQ65
♥ KJ4
♦ AK8
♣ KJ3

Responder: ♠ K1073
♥ 82
♦ QJ5
♣ A982

Auction:

2NT - 3♣ (Puppet Stayman)
3♦ (four-card major, no five) - 3♥ (four spades, asking)
3♠ (showing four spades) - 4♠ (to play)

The relay works perfectly. Responder’s 3♥ bid asks about spades, opener shows four spades, and the strong hand becomes declarer in the 4-4 fit.

Example 3: No Major Fit Found

Opener: ♠ AQ4
♥ K3
♦ AKJ8
♣ KQ65

Responder: ♠ K75
♥ Q64
♦ Q73
♣ AJ82

Auction:

2NT - 3♣ (Puppet Stayman)
3NT (no four-card major) - Pass

Sometimes Puppet Stayman just confirms that notrump is the right spot. Responder checked, found nothing, and landed in the normal 3NT game.

Example 4: Responder Has Five Spades

Opener: ♠ KJ4
♥ AQ65
♦ AK3
♣ K87

Responder: ♠ AQ1073
♥ 82
♦ Q65
♣ AJ4

Auction:

2NT - 3♣ (Puppet Stayman)
3♦ (four-card major, no five) - 4♠ (five spades, to play)

Responder has five spades and fewer than four hearts. After learning opener doesn’t have a five-card major but has a four-card major, responder knows opener has exactly four hearts (otherwise 3NT). Responder bids 4♠ to play in the 5-3 fit.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake #1: Forgetting 3♦ Doesn’t Deny Majors

The biggest error is treating 3♦ like a denial. In regular Stayman, 3♦ says “no major.” In Puppet Stayman, 3♦ says “ask me more.” Don’t give up after 3♦—the auction isn’t over.

Mistake #2: Bidding 3♣ with Weak Hands

Wait—didn’t we say this earlier? After 2NT, you’re in a game-forcing auction. Still, some players forget and try to “escape” to clubs. You can’t. Don’t bid 3♣ Puppet Stayman with a genuine club suit you want to play in. (If you have a long minor and a weak hand after 2NT, you have bigger partnership agreement issues to discuss.)

Mistake #3: Showing the Wrong Major After 3♦

This is subtle but critical. After opener’s 3♦ relay, responder bids 3♥ to show spades (not hearts!). Responder bids 3♠ to show hearts. It’s counter-intuitive at first, but it ensures the strong hand declares. Practice this until it’s automatic.

Mistake #4: Not Discussing What 3♣ Means

Walking into an auction and assuming your partner plays Puppet Stayman is a recipe for disaster. Some pairs play regular Stayman over 2NT. Some play no Stayman at all. Some play completely different systems. Discuss this before the session starts.

Mistake #5: Forgetting Opener’s Five-Spade Bid Denies Five Hearts

When opener bids 3♠, that shows five spades and denies five hearts. If opener had 5-5 in the majors, the 3♥ bid would come first. Missing this nuance can lead to wrong contracts.

Partnership Agreements to Discuss

Before deploying Puppet Stayman, have these conversations with your partner:

1. After Which Openings?

Do you play Puppet after 2NT only? What about 2♣-2♦-2NT? What about 1NT-2NT-3♣? Clarify which auctions trigger Puppet Stayman.

2. Five-Card Stayman or Puppet Stayman?

Some pairs play “Five-Card Stayman” which is similar but uses different responses. Make sure you’re on the same page about the exact relay structure.

3. What If Opponents Interfere?

If RHO doubles 3♣ or bids over it, what do your responses mean? Do you maintain the system or switch to natural bidding?

4. Smolen Transfers After 3♦?

Some advanced pairs play Smolen-style transfers after the 3♦ relay. This adds complexity but improves hand placement. Discuss whether you’re using basic or advanced methods.

5. Can Responder Have a Weak Hand?

After 2NT (20-21), most hands are heading to game. But clarify whether 3♣ Puppet Stayman can ever be used with invitational values, or if it’s strictly game-forcing.

6. Super-Accept Agreements?

Can opener show extra values (21 points vs 20) or particularly good suit quality when showing a five-card major? Some pairs have agreements about jumping to game to show maximums.

7. Continuation After Finding the Fit?

Once you’ve found your 5-3 or 4-4 major fit, are you playing control-showing bids, Roman Keycard Blackwood, or something else for slam exploration?

Final Thoughts

Puppet Stayman is a precision tool for finding major suit fits after strong balanced openings. It takes a few sessions to make the relay structure automatic, but once it clicks, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.

The key is remembering that 3♦ is a relay, not a denial. From there, everything else follows logically. Keep practicing those example auctions until the responses become second nature.

And don’t forget: the whole point is finding those 5-3 major fits that make game (and slam) easier to make. Every time you reach a cold 4♠ that would have struggled in 3NT, you’ll appreciate the convention all over again.

Now grab a partner, discuss your agreements, and add Puppet Stayman to your bidding arsenal. Your results will thank you.