[kenrexford]

Puppet Stayman, then Muppet, and now Huppet?

Kokish solves a problem, but it strains heart based sequences.

An immediate 2H double negative solves a problem, but it strains heart based sequences.

Hands with 6322 long hearts and balanced and about 21ish seem to be a theme for problem sequences.

A solution might be to treat these as balanced?

Hence Huppet. 3C. In reply, Opener bids like Muppet. 3NT for 44 majors. 3S 5. 3H 5 or 6, with 3S asking if 6. 3D with 234 of each major but not 44.

After 3D, Responder bids 3s with 4H. 3H with 4S or both, with Opener trying back 3S if just 4 H.

This would not solve as many hands as Muppet, but it would help with the 6322, which seems to be the greatest problem these days.

[1eyedjack]

Sounds like Hokish Pokish to me

[awm]

It seems more important that you be able to find opener's singletons. After all, responder's holding opposite shortness is important to finding the right game and/or light slam?

[kenrexford]

awm, on 2014-July-31, 21:32, said:

It seems more important that you be able to find opener's singletons. After all, responder's holding opposite shortness is important to finding the right game and/or light slam?

Good point. Notice that treating 6322 as balanced means that 3H would typically feature a stiff.

[jallerton]

How does Responder find mnajor suit fits on a weakish hand with 5♠ and 4 hearts?

[Fluffy]

kenrexford, on 2014-July-20, 05:10, said:

But it would help with the 6322, which seems to be the greatest problem these days.

I open 2♣ about once a month, and I play 3-4 times a week, where do you find these problems?

[kenrexford]

jallerton, on 2014-August-02, 16:06, said:

How does Responder find mnajor suit fits on a weakish hand with 5♠ and 4 hearts?

Break the relay. The beauty of Kokish is that Responder can break the relay with the problem hands. The problem Huppet hands might well be hands with 5S/3+ hearts. Suppose that 3C (2C-2D-2H-3C) were treated as Heart Puppet with Five Spades." Opener would set trumps in hearts with 5+, set trumps in spades with 3+, bid 3NT with 2S/2-3 hearts, or bid 3D with 4H.

[kenrexford]

Fluffy, on 2014-August-03, 02:04, said:

I open 2♣ about once a month, and I play 3-4 times a week, where do you find these problems?

The "problem" seems to be one that is theoretical, admittedly. However, the issue seems to recur a lot on the forums.

If step one of the theory is bought, you can take it further, not requiring strictly 6322 type for the 2NT rebid. The alternative auction of 2H then 3H wrong sides 3NT a lot. If you have a good way to find the 6-card heart suit after a 2NT rebid, then handling any 6331 through 2NT has appeal, especially if Opener breaks a 3H spade transfer with six hearts, or if you avoid 2NT with a stiff spade. This would allow some other neat reshuffling of Kokish rebids, as well.

[jallerton]

Fluffy, on 2014-August-03, 02:04, said:

I open 2♣ about once a month, and I play 3-4 times a week, where do you find these problems?

I hope you're not playing rubber bridge then!

[FrancesHinden]

I don't think we are unusual to be playing 2C - 2D - 2H (Kokish) - 2S - 3NT as a minimum 2C opener which is balanced with long hearts. What else do you want 3NT to mean?

[kenrexford]

FrancesHinden, on 2014-August-03, 17:44, said:

I don't think we are unusual to be playing 2C - 2D - 2H (Kokish) - 2S - 3NT as a minimum 2C opener which is balanced with long hearts. What else do you want 3NT to mean?

There is a problem with 5+ hearts and 3+ spades, longer hearts. If 3H allows 3S with 5 (and hence three spades) and 3S with 5H/4S, you still have a difficulty with 6H/4S.

But, assuming that 3NT is si.ply balanced, there's a problem defining 2 or 3 spades.

Even if you are OK with that, there's still the problem of HCP strength. Kokish addresses that. The immediate 3NT after the relay can be used for the minimum 6322, with 2NT the route with stronger 6322 types.