[shevek]

Is there merit in this?
How many do it? (minor transfers)

If 2NT = 20-21(22) and 5-card major ok, how about

3♣ = Puppet (or your favourite version thereof)
3♦/♥ = transfers, then 4m & 4NT natural
3♠ = clubs (right-siding a plus)
4♣ = diamonds (ditto)
4♦/♥ = Texas (then 4NT - RKC)
4♠ = minors (OK, 3♠ minors clearly better but something had to give)

There are similarities with method over 1NT (2♠ = clubs) which has to be good.
Can bid 3♠ with 4-5 minors say, then 4♦ natural, 4M self-splinters.
In Puppet, assume 2NT - 3♣ - 3♦ - 4♦ = 4-4 majors.

[helene_t]

This is what I would assume with a random dutch expert. However, some of the follow ups after puppet are poorly standardised.

[Trinidad]

The problem with puppet is the hand with 5 spades and 4 hearts. The 3NT response is often used for this hand type. This, in turn, means that you have to do something else if you want to play 3NT.

Traditionally, players bid 3♣ and ignore the response. They then bid 3NT: to play. This leaks information about declarer's hand.

I like to play 3♠ as a puppet to 3NT (opener has to rebid 3NT). It is used to:

• sign off in 3NT (responder passes)
  
• make a quantitative raise (responder bids 4NT)
  
• make a slam try in diamonds (responder bids 4♣)
  
• make a slam try in clubs (responder cues at the four level)

Rik

[Vampyr]

Trinidad, on 2015-May-15, 01:33, said:

The problem with puppet is the hand with 5 spades and 4 hearts. The 3NT response is often used for this hand type. This, in turn, means that you have to do something else if you want to play 3NT.

This is not really a problem if you use 3NT to show five hearts and 3♥ to show no majors.
Then you can use 3Nt as something else.

Here the hand with 5♠4♥ is traditionally shown by a 3♠ response.

Quote

I like to play 3♠ as a puppet to 3NT (opener has to rebid 3NT). It is used to:
[list]

[*]sign off in 3NT (responder passes)
[*]make a quantitative raise (responder bids 4NT)
[*]make a slam try in diamonds (responder bids 4♣)
[*]make a slam try in clubs (responder cues at the four level)

I much prefer, over this 3NT, to use 4m as a 2-suited minor suit slam try and 4M as a single-suited minor slam try.

What do you use a direct raise to 4NT as?

[steve2005]

Traditional puppet has the 5♠4♥ problem. However, there are other versions which avoid this problem. There are many here's one:

3♦: denies a 5-card major and 4-card ♥ suit but may have 4-card ♠ suit
3♥: 4 or 5 ♥ not 4♠ - other option 4♥
3♠: 5♠
3N: 4-4 in majors - other option 5♥

now after 2N-3♣-3♦ -
3♥: 4♠
3♠: 5♠4♥

------------------------------------------

Minor Suit Stayman belongs at 3♠ if only for the possibility of playing in 3N if opener has majors well stopped.

One possibility for clubs is to use 4♠ as a slam try in ♣. Can stop in 4N or 5♣ if no slam. 4♣ is transfer to ♦.

Another possibility is to use 3N as a transfer to ♣. Of course this has the problems associated with having to use puppet on all hands wanting to play 3N.

Perhaps using 3♠ as a puppet to 3N then showing a minor 1 suiter or 2 suiter is the best compromise.One variation I've seen you rebid 4♣ with ♦ and 4♦ with ♣ to right-side things.

[Trick13]

+1 for steve2005's suggestion to use ROMEX Stayman, also discussed here.

[Cyberyeti]

Trinidad, on 2015-May-15, 01:33, said:

The problem with puppet is the hand with 5 spades and 4 hearts. The 3NT response is often used for this hand type. This, in turn, means that you have to do something else if you want to play 3NT.

If you play 2N-3♣-3N as 2♠/2-3♥ in a 5 card enquiry setting, then you can cover this problem as you just bid 3♣ then pass 3N with the 5♠/4♥ hand and if you have a 5-4 you can bid again over 2N-3♣-3♦(no 5M and not necessarily a 4 in this style)-whatever leading to 3N knowing you have a 5-3 fit, although you do leak some info.

[Zelandakh]

Your 3♠ is underutilised. Play it as showing 5+ clubs, thus allowing Opener to show a club fit, but include the slammy hands with both 5-5 minors here too. As already mentioned, the 5♠4♥ hand is easily bid using various versions of Puppet. A 4♠ can become a range ask incorporating Baron. 4NT can be whatever you like really - I continue the transfers up to 5♣ personally but it really doesn't matter very much. You can also continue the right-siding theme by using transfer rebids over 3♦ - 3♠ = clubs or cog; 3NT = 5♥4♠; 4♣ = diamonds. And one last touch is to handle the slammy 5-4 minor suit hands through 2NT - 3♣; 3♦ - 4M. If you run a search you can find my complete structure around on BBF - I have posted it a few times already.