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After 2nt-3♥ 3♠ = doubleton ♠ --> 4x natural 3nt = 3crd ♠ --> 4m control-showing; 4♥ re-transfer 4x = 4crd ♠ max, control-showing 4♠ = 4crd ♠ min

If you mean 3♣ as Puppet Stayman together with 2♣ as Stayman, it doesn't make a difference. If you mean 2♣ as Puppet Stayman instead of Stayman, it does make a difference. In the latter case standard bidding will not help you and you need advice from fellow "2♣ Puppet Stayman" bidders on how to bid with 5-4 in the majors. Frankly, I don't know how they do it. That is one of the reasons I don't play that convention myself. S.

2♠ is an invite. With a stronger hand your partner should have started with Stayman. S.

North's to blame: for his 3♦ bid (double is better because it shows 3 places to play) and for his raise of 3♥ to 4♥ (with a 3crd heart suit or with extras South would not have passed over 3♣) S.

Two things I don't understand about this hand: Why didn't East double?How can you escape for only 1 down? S.

I think it was Bergen who came up with the 4+4 rule: when you have at least 4 quick tricks and no more than 4 losers, open 2♣.

No double. But double when not vulnerable.

[hv=pc=n&s=s9haqtdkqj853ck75&w=sqjhj853d97caqt96&n=st8653h94dt2cj842&e=sak742hk762da64c3&d=n&v=e&b=9&a=p1s2ddp4hppp]399|300[/hv] ♦K lead

He can bid his second suit or Splinter. After that 4nt is RKB. With 5332 and 18 he can bid 5nt pick-a-slam. S.

Note: you cannot bid 4♣ because that would be non-leaping Michaels [hv=pc=n&s=s952hdq3cakqt9842&d=w&v=n&b=12&a=3hpp]133|200[/hv]

I open 1♠. I predict this bidding: [hv=d=s&v=0&b=11&a=pp1s2dpp4dp4sppp]133|100[/hv] S.

2♦,but I will bid 3♦ over 3♣

1♥. Yes, it's close to 1♦.

I'd open 3♠. S.

I think 4♣ should show a control with 4crd spade support. I assume 4♥ would have been Last Train? Pass. S.