[kenrexford]

ONEferBRID, on Sep 27 2010, 09:40 PM, said:

Phil, on Sep 27 2010, 10:04 AM, said:

When I choose not play Puppet (and play Smolen) 2N - 3♦ - 3♥ - 3♠ is a 5-5 slam try and 2N - 3♥ - 3♠ - 4♥ is choice of games.

Playing Puppet this sequence is more of a problem.

with Puppet -- well, Muppet for the 5s/4h problem hand :
You reverse the meanings of the Puppet 3H and 3NT after Responder's 3C!:
3H! = no 4 or 5 cards M
3NT! = 5 cards Hts

2NT - 3C!
3H! - 3S! ( a "reverse Smolen" type bid: 5s/4h )
3NT( 2s/3h) - 4D! (delayed transfer showing 5s/5h, slammish )
?? ( Opener can attempt to sign-off in 4H or go RKC for Hts )

whereas the choice-of-game auction is the one seen previously:
2NT - 3H!
3S - 4H ( 5s/5h )

Why the delayed transfer? Opener already bid hearts.

Strangely, I just discussed this with partner last night, and I think this Muppet approach can be improved.

There are two Muppet routes to Rome.

Option #1. Start with a 3♦ transfer and then bid 3♠, showing 5+♥/4+♠. If partner liked hearts a lot, he will pre-accept hearts before you bid 3♠. If he bids 3♥, and you bid 3♠, he can "flag" super-accept either major by bidding 4♣ for hearts or 4♦ for spades. No re-transfers needed. If Opener bids 3NT, Responder can continue in one of several ways. Two decent options:

Option #1A: 4♣ shows 5-5 majors (spades set as trumps), with 4♦ asking for the shortness up-the-line. 4♦ shows 6-4 slammish; 4♥ 6-4 non-slammish; 4♠ club flag (4504); 4NT diamond flag (4540).

Option #1B: 4♣ shows 5-5 majors (with stiff ask). 4♦ 6-4 with short diamond; 4♥ 6-4 with short club (with 6-4 and no slam interest, just bid Texas).

Option #2. Start with 3♣ Muppet. If partner shows a 5-card major, GREAT! If partner denies even a 4-card major (3♥), bid 3♠ (5♠, 4♥). If partner accepts spades, he can cue. If not, then kick into the 6-4 versus 5-5 structure above. If Opener shows at least one 4-card major, bid 3♥ to show spades. Whether you have just four spades, 4-4 in the majors, 5♠/4♥, or 5-5 majors, partner with four spades can accept spades (with cues and neat stuff). If he declines spades, then with 4-4 majors, 5♠/4♥, or 5♠/5♥, you can set hearts as trumps, knowing that hearts is likely the best contract. Whether you bid 4♥ as natural, or bid 4♣/4♦ as cues (and 4♥ as weak), possibly with 4♠/4NT as minor flags, is to be decided, but all is well.

Either route can be taken without really changing much, other than discussion. The transfer route puts a 3♦ call on the table, has Opener often bidding spades first, and focuses hearts first. The Muppet sequence puts a 3♣ call on the table, focuses spades first, and sometimes has Responder bidding hearts first but other times has Responder bidding spades first. Tactics could tell which is better, or you could even decide upon some theory reason to do one over the other.

[ONEferBRID]

Tyranosaurous-KenRex writes:

Quote

Why the delayed transfer? Opener already bid hearts.

I was hoping no one would notice.
True... you could just bid the final 4H to show the 5-5, slammish .
   But let's say Responder doesn't want Opener to PASS 4H... no matter what.... Hence the 4D! transfer and Responder can remain in charge.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Here is another "tweak" to Muppet... by Larry Lande & Benito:

3S! instead is used as a relay to 3NT "to play" whereas
3NT! is used to show the 5s/4h hand.
It has the advantage to "right-side" the 4S contract, but you give up using
this sequence to show the 5-5 in the Majors ( Opener may pass the 3NT! ):

2NT - 3C! ( Puppet )
3H! ( Muppet reply, no 4 or 5 cards M ) - 3NT! ( 5s/4h ); whereas 3S! relays to 3NT to play
pass ( 2s/3h ) or 4S ( 3s/2h )

[kenrexford]

I also thought of the inversion, but I think the cost outweighs the benefit, in that Responder might not want 3NT to be passed (and the 6-4/5-5 problem). That said, the two-way option might help alleviate that problem.