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    Smolen: Shorter Major. This Alertable Call Tells

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    Ricky L
    This document introduces the Smolen convention for bridge bidding. [1] Smolen allows a responder to a 1NT opening bid to indicate a hand with a five-card or longer major suit while still allowing the 1NT bidder to declare. [2] It works by using a Stayman response of 2♦ instead of transfers for 5-4 major suit hands, then jumping in the longer major at the three-level to show the hand composition. [3] This allows the 1NT bidder to remain declarer while informing them of the responder's hand shape for optimal bidding.

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    Smolen: Shorter Major. This Alertable Call Tells

    Uploaded by

    Ricky L
    35 views1 page
    This document introduces the Smolen convention for bridge bidding. [1] Smolen allows a responder to a 1NT opening bid to indicate a hand with a five-card or longer major suit while still allowing the 1NT bidder to declare. [2] It works by using a Stayman response of 2♦ instead of transfers for 5-4 major suit hands, then jumping in the longer major at the three-level to show the hand composition. [3] This allows the 1NT bidder to remain declarer while informing them of the responder's hand shape for optimal bidding.

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    This document introduces the Smolen convention for bridge bidding. [1] Smolen allows a responder to a 1NT opening bid to indicate a hand with a five-card or longer major suit while still allowing the 1NT bidder to declare. [2] It works by using a Stayman response of 2♦ instead of transfers for 5-4 major suit hands, then jumping in the longer major at the three-level to show the hand composition. [3] This allows the 1NT bidder to remain declarer while informing them of the responder's hand shape for optimal bidding.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    35 views1 page

    Smolen: Shorter Major. This Alertable Call Tells

    Uploaded by

    Ricky L
    This document introduces the Smolen convention for bridge bidding. [1] Smolen allows a responder to a 1NT opening bid to indicate a hand with a five-card or longer major suit while still allowing the 1NT bidder to declare. [2] It works by using a Stayman response of 2♦ instead of transfers for 5-4 major suit hands, then jumping in the longer major at the three-level to show the hand composition. [3] This allows the 1NT bidder to remain declarer while informing them of the responder's hand shape for optimal bidding.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 1

    PLAY BRIDGE

    Smolen
    Many players use Jacoby transfers are the combined hands: This is where Smolen helps. You
    in response to an opening 1NT bid now jump to the three-level of your
    from partner. It allows responder to Q8 shorter major. This Alertable call tells
    show a five-card or longer major, A962 partner that you have four cards in
    while allowing the strong hand – the K54 that major and five in the other. With
    1NT opener – to declare, assuming  A Q 10 7 the previous example hand, you’d
    the opponents are not in the auction. jump to 3. This jump after opener’s
    Allowing the strong hand to declare AK653 2 rebid would tell partner that you
    is important. The 1NT bidder fre- K874 have four hearts and five spades. With
    quently holds combinations of honors 873 three-card spade support, he would
    (called tenaces in bridge lingo) that 4 bid 3, and you could raise to 4
    are worth more tricks if the defenders or cuebid if you were interested in
    lead into them than if the defenders If LHO leads the Q, you’re in big slam. Without a three-card spade fit,
    lead through them. For example, if trouble. The ace will be over the king, partner would simply sign off in 3NT.
    you hold the A Q, you’d like your and you’ll likely lose three diamond Either way, partner – the 1NT opener
    left-hand opponent to lead a heart for tricks and a trump trick for down one. – declares.
    you, but not your RHO. The problem is that partner’s K Example auctions:
    Game-forcing hands that are 5–4 was vulnerable to attack. If partner Opener Responder
    in the majors (five spades and four declared, however, he’d likely make 1NT 2 (1)
    hearts or vice versa), however, are the contract since the K would be 2
    (2)
    3 (3)
    difficult to describe in response to a protected. 4
    (4)
    Pass
    strong (15–17 HCP) 1NT opening. Is there a way to avoid this
    Transfers are a problem in this problem? The Smolen convention, (1) Stayman: do you have a four-card
    situation because they risk making named for the late expert Mike major?
    responder – the weak hand – declarer. Smolen, helps address this situation. (2) No.
    Say you hold: It works like this: instead of using (3) Smolen: I have five hearts and
    transfers for hands that are 5-4 in the four spades.
    A K 6 5 3 K 8 7 4 8 7 3 4. (4) I have three hearts and prefer this
    majors, it uses Stayman (2). After
    Partner opens 1NT. You respond partner’s 1NT opening, you bid 2. to 3NT.
    2, a Jacoby transfer to spades, and If partner pleasantly surprises you by
    partner dutifully bids 2. You have bidding a major, you’ll simply jump Opener Responder
    enough strength to force to game, and to four of that major, and partner will 1NT 2 (1)
    you have a four-card suit you haven’t declare. But what if partner doesn’t 2
    (2)
    3 (3)
    mentioned yet, so you bid it: 3. have a four-card major? He’ll respond 3NT
    (4)
    Pass
    Partner raises you to 4. to your Stayman inquiry with 2. (1) Four-card major?
    This is a perfectly good auction, but Now what? Could you still have a (2) No.
    there is a risk. You are the declarer in 5–3 major-suit fit? Is there a way to (3) Five spades, four hearts.
    this case, not partner. Suppose these find out? (4) I don’t have a fit for spades. r

    44 Bridge Bulletin

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