Mau's No Trump Opening

Mau uses the traditional range of 15 - 17 points for opening 1 No Trump.
(With some partners, Mau tries out 14 - 16 point range for opening 1 No Trump)
Mau uses Stayman to inquire for a 4-card major.
This may be the start of a sequence forcing to game or responder may simply want to play in a suit at the two level.
Transfer bids are used to let the No Trump opener (the stronger hand) declare. This often gains a trick or a tempo.
Mau uses 4-way transfers with "super-acceptance" of majors and minors.
Mau uses Smolen. The details are in the No Trump Openings section.

When opponents intervene, Mau uses lebensohl.

Mau uses 3C - 3S response to describe specialized hands as follows:

3 C 5-5 in the minors; inviting to game
3 D 5-5 in the minors; forcing to game
3 H 5-5 in the majors; inviting to game
3 S 5-5 in the majors; forcing to game

Consequently, a transfer to a spades and then bidding hearts will imply 5-5 shape with slam aspirations.

Confucius told Mau to open 2 No Trump with a balanced hand containing a 5 card major.
So, Mau uses Extended Puppet Stayman (below) to discover a major fit.
Over an opening of 2 No Trump, Mau uses Jacoby and Texas transfers for majors and
3S as a Minor suit Stayman to discover minor suit fits for game or slam.

Runout over 1 NT doubled

If an 1 No Trump opening is doubled for penalties, responder bids as follows:
   Re-double to show a good hand (7+ points)
   Pass to deny a five card suit
   bid 5-card suit, if any

After a responder has passed, opener bids as follows:
   Re-double to show no 5-card suit
     (Responder will now bid the lowest 4-card suit.)
   bid 5-card suit

More on Transfers

1. After the sequence 1N - 2H - 2S, Mau recommends the following
     2N: Game invitation with 5 card spades
     3S: Game invitation with 6 card spades
     3N: To play; partner may correct to 4S with 3 cards
     4m: Splinter
     4S: 6 card spades; mild slam try; Opener may proceed with maximum
       (Contrast this with 1N - 4H - 4S: No slam aspirations)

2. After the sequence 1N - 4H - 4S, 4N is RKCB for spades (responder has 6 or more spades)

3. After the sequence 1N - 2H - 2S, 4N is Quantitative

  Pass Enough!! (all other bids accept the invitation)
  5C - 5H Answer aces (!?) - revise later
  5N Asks responder to bid a 4 card minor; opener will pass, or bid 6S with 3 spades, or bid 6N
  6C - 6D Opener's 5 card suit; responder will pass or bid 6S; opener will now pass or bid 6N
  6S 3 card spades, not 4-3-3-3
  6N Just do it!!

Extended Puppet Stayman

After opener bids 2N, the extended version of Puppet Stayman is as follows:

Resp Rebid Resp Description  
         
3C     Asks for a 5-card major  
  3D   No 5-card major; at least one 4 card 4 card major  
    3H 4 card spades  
    3S 4 card hearts  
    3N To play; implies no 4 card major  
    4C 4 card hearts and 4 card spades; extras; Opener bids:
  4D: agrees hearts as trumps
  4H: To play
  4S: To play
  4N: RKCB for spades
 
    4D 4 card hearts and 4 card spades; No extras
Opener bids the 4 card major and plays there 		 
  3H   No 4 or 5 card major  
    3S responder shows 5 card spades (and 4 card hearts)  
    3N To play  
  3S   5-card suit  
  3N   5 card hearts  
    4C responder accepts hearts as trumps; shows extras  
    4D responder transfers to hearts; minimum  
         
3D     Transfer to hearts
  
  3H   Accepts the transfer  
    3S Responder shows 5 card hearts and 4 card spades  
  4H   Accepts the transfer; guarantees 4 card hearts  
3H     Transfer to spades  
  3S   Accepts the transfer; 2 or 3 cards in spades  
  4S   Accepts the transfer; 4 card spades  
         
3S     Minor suit Stayman; responder guarantees at least 4 cards in both minors  
  3N   No 4 card minor  
3N     To play  
4C     Gerber  
4D,4H     Texas Transfers  
4S     Minor suit Stayman; slammish  


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