SMOLEN
Partner has opened 1NT and you hold 5/5 in the majors with enough points to bid game. How do you show partner you hold 5/5 ?
Use transfer bids is the answer.
Over 1NT you will bid 2♥ and partner will transfer to 2♠ .
You now will bid 3♥ This will tell partner you have 5-card Heart suit as well as a 5-card Spade suit.
How will partner know that the 3♥ shows a 5-card suit and not a 4-card suit?
Would that sequence not show 5/4 as well as 5/5?
Answer is NO. Providing you use Smolen.
SMOLEN
Used over 1NT to show a game going hand with 5/4 in the majors
Over partner’s 1NT opening bid you start a Stayman sequence to see if you can find a 4-card fit in his hand for one of your majors
Surprise, surprise…….He answers 2♦ showing no 4-card major.
Now let us find out if there is a 5/3 fit in the majors. You now bid as follows
Jump in the suit that has four cards
With 5 hearts and 4 Spades bid 3 ♠
With 5 Spades and 4 Hearts bid 3 ♥
The reason for doing this is to enable partner to play the hand, keeping his hand hidden.
Your partner will now make the choice of whether to play in 3NT or 4 of the major.
With 3-card support he will bid 4 of the major.
With doubleton in the major, he will bid 3NT
