Bridge

Smolen

Show a 5-4 in the majors with game values after Stayman finds no fit.

sequence

1NT — 2♣ — 2♦ — 3♥/3♠

how it works

After 1NT-2♣-2♦ (no 4-card major), responder with 5-4 in the majors shows the 4-card major as a transfer: 3♥ = 4 hearts + 5 spades (asks opener to bid 4♠ with 2+ spades), 3♠ = 4 spades + 5 hearts (asks 4♥ with 2+ hearts). Opener bids the transferred major with 2+ or 3NT without — playing the major game from the strong side.

used in 6 places

3♥3♥
after 1N — P — 2C — P — 2D — P
4♠4♠
after 1N — P — 2C — P — 2D — P — 3H — P
3NT3NT
after 1N — P — 2C — P — 2D — P — 3H — P
3♠3♠
after 1N — P — 2C — P — 2D — P
4♥4♥
after 1N — P — 2C — P — 2D — P — 3S — P
3NT3NT
after 1N — P — 2C — P — 2D — P — 3S — P