Muppet Stayman is so named because it is modified puppet. It is a powerful convention that enables you to find all kinds of 4‑4 and 5‑3 fits after a 2N opening. Responder uses Muppet when holding a 3- or 4-card major, when holding 5 spades and 4 hearts, or when 5‑5 in the majors. The modification is that opener’s 3♡ and 3N rebids over 3♣ are switched. Opener bids:
- 3♢: no 5c major, but one or both 4c majors
- 3♡: no 5c major
- 3♠: 5 spades
- 3N: 5 hearts
This switch solves the problem shape of 5=4 in spades and hearts because it leaves room for responder to show 5 spades over the 3♡ rebid, which denies a 4c major.
As a general rule, responder’s 4♣ and 4♢ bids serve to show slam tries in the majors, while opener’s 4♡ and 4♠ bids are satelink transfers to clubs and diamonds respectively.
After 2N–3♣–3♢
- Three hearts shows 4 spades.[1] Now 3♠ sets spades and is GF with slam interest. Opener can relay to 3N to ask for shortage.
- Three spades shows 4 hearts.
- 3N: to play.
- 4♣: 4 hearts, slam interest. Opener bids 4♡ minimum.
- 4♢: 4 hearts, no slam interest.
- 4♡, 4♠: satelink transfers to clubs and diamonds.
- Three notrumps is to play.
- Four clubs shows at least 4-4 in the majors with slam interest. Opener rebids as follows:
- 4♢: hearts and maximum, RKCB ask.
- 4♡: hearts and minimum.
- 4♠: spades and minimum.
- 4N: spades and maximum, RKCB ask.
- Four diamonds promises at least 4‑4 in the majors and asks opener to bid his 4c major. Once again, this guarantees that the strong hand becomes declarer. Once a major is agreed, responder can make a slam move; 4N is RKCB.
- Four hearts and spades are satelink transfers to clubs or diamonds.
- Four and five notrumps are quantitative. and suggest-a-slam.
After 2N–3♣–3♡
Opener has no 5c major.[2]
- Three spades is a transfer to 3N.
- 4♣: 5 clubs, slam try.
- 4♢: 5 diamonds, slam try.
- Three notrumps shows 5 spades.
- Four clubs shows 5‑5 in the majors with slam interest.
- 4♢: hearts, max and RKCB.
- 4♡: hearts, min.
- 4♠: spades, min.
- 4N: spades, max and RKCB.
- Four diamonds shows 5‑5 in the majors without slam interest.
- Four and five notrumps are quantitative and suggest-a-slam.
After 2N–3♣–3♠
Opener has 5 spades, and continuations are quite natural.
- Four of a minor shows a 5+ minor with slam interest.
- Four hearts sets spades with slam interest. Opener bids 4♠ with minimum; with maximum he can bid 4N as RKCB or show keycards in steps at the 5-level.
- Four spades is to play.
- Four and five notrumps are quantitative and suggest-a-slam; to ask for keycards, first set spades via 4♡.
[1] You can do better here if you wish. 3♡ can ask for opener’s spade length, with the responses being 3♠ = 3, 3N = 2, 4♣ = 4 max., and 4♠ = 4 min. How does this help? It allows responder to go through Muppet with 5=3 in the majors, in case you have no way to show that combination via your transfer response. I prefer that 2N–3♡–3N shows 2=5 in the majors, which finds the hearts when responder transfers with 5=3.
[2] You can rebid naturally too: 3♠ with 5 spades, 3N to play, 4♣/4♢ with 5‑5 in the majors, and 4♡/4♠ as satelink transfers.