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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.

  A Q 7
K Q 9
Q J 10 9
Q J 7
 



 
 



  K 9 8 6
A J 8 7 6
7 6
K 2
 

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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