Smolen Transfer - An extension to the Stayman and Jacoby Transfer
conventions, where responder bids the complementary major to ensure the
stronger 1 or 2 Notrump opener plays the hand when the responder has 6-4 or
5-4 in the majors.
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A Q 7
K Q 9
Q J 10 9
Q J 7 |
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K 9 8 6
A J 8 7 6
7 6
K 2 |
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1N - 2C;
2D - 2S!;
3H - 4H
North opens 1 Notrump
and South begins with a 2C Stayman. North responds 2D, denying a 4 card
major. South, holding a game-going hand and 5 Hearts, now bids an
artificial and forcing 2S showing 5 Hearts. After North transfers
to Heart, South signs off in game. Note South's Smolen 2S
bid
allows the stronger Notrump opener to play the hand.
Note: some
players only play Smolen bids at the 3 level. Similar to the above
scenario, the bidding begins with 2C Stayman; after opener's
2D rebid, responder jumps to the 3 level in their 4 card major.
Thus, the 1 Notrump opener has the option to declare trump in
responder's 5 card suit (assuming a 5-3 fit). Using the above
hands, responder would instead rebid 3S.
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