Practice on Cuebids
Direct practice for this topic is not mapped yet. Use Cuebids scenarios to build hands for this agreement.
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Systems
Last updated
2026-08-01
What is Smolen?
Smolen handles hands where responder is strong enough for game and has five cards in one major plus four in the other. Responder begins with Stayman, giving opener the first chance to show a four-card major.
If opener answers 2, denying a four-card major, responder jumps in the shorter major. That jump points to five cards in the other major and lets the 1NT opener declare if the partnership belongs in a major game.
Five spades and four hearts
- 2 is Stayman and 2 denies a four-card major.
- Responder 3 shows the four-card major; spades is the five-card suit.
Five hearts and four spades
- Responder jumps in the shorter major.
- Responder 3 shows four spades and five hearts.
Why use Smolen?
Smolen gives responder a clean way to show both majors after opener denies four-card support. It also protects the stronger notrump hand by making opener declarer when the auction lands in a major.
The convention is especially useful because 5-4 major hands can belong in 3NT, four of the five-card major, or occasionally a slam try. Showing the pattern below game helps opener choose.
- Responder is strong enough to insist on game.
- Responder has 5-4 or 4-5 in the majors.
- Responder starts with Stayman, not a transfer.
- The jump after 2 is artificial and shows the shorter major.
Opener's continuations
After 3 shows five spades, the space-preserving method taught here lets opener bid 3 with three-card support, leaving responder to place game or continue toward slam. After 3 shows five hearts, there is no three-level heart bid left; opener normally bids 4 with three-card support or uses another explicitly agreed route. A doubleton in responder's long major and balanced stoppers point toward 3NT.
Opener chooses spades
- 3 showed five spades and four hearts.
- Opener bids 3 with three-card spade support, and responder places the contract in 4.
- With extra slam interest, responder could control-bid instead of raising immediately to game.
Opener chooses notrump
- Opener denies a reason to play the five-card major.
- 3NT is often best with only two cards in responder's longer major.
Smolen versus transfers
Transfers remain the normal tool for single-suit major hands. Smolen is narrower: it is for hands that want to show both majors after the Stayman route fails to find an immediate 4-4 fit.
- Use a Jacoby transfer with a one-suited major hand, whether weak, invitational, or strong.
- Use Stayman then Smolen with a strong 5-4 major pattern.
- Use regular Stayman with 4-4 in the majors.
- Agree whether invitational Smolen exists or whether Smolen is always game-forcing.
Six-four hands and 2NT auctions
Smolen stretches to cover six-four major hands. Responder still starts with Stayman to check for a 4-4 fit in the shorter major; after 2, many pairs jump to four of the suit below the six-card major as a delayed transfer, so opener completes the transfer and declares the game.
The same idea carries over to a 2NT opening for pairs who play simple Stayman there: after 2NT and a 3 denial, a bid of responder's four-card major shows five cards in the other major. It is no longer a jump, but the message is unchanged. Many pairs also keep Smolen on when their side overcalls a natural 1NT.
Delayed transfer with six spades
- Responder holds six spades and four hearts with game values.
- By agreement, 4 transfers to spades so the notrump opener declares 4.
Smolen after 2NT
- 3 shows four hearts and five spades, just as after a 1NT opening.
- Opener bids 3 with three-card support, preserving room exactly as after a 1NT opening; with a doubleton spade opener would bid 3NT.
Hand examples
Responder should plan the second call before bidding Stayman. If opener bids 2, the hand below is ready to show the major pattern immediately.
Smolen with five spades
- After partner opens 1NT, start with Stayman.
- If opener bids 2, jump to 3 to show five spades and four hearts.
Transfer instead
- Responder has only one major.
- Transfer to spades rather than using Stayman and Smolen.
Six-four with game values
- Start with Stayman to look for a 4-4 heart fit.
- If opener bids 2, jump to 4 as a delayed transfer to spades, or bid 3 Smolen first if that is the agreement.
Common mistakes
- Using Smolen without game-going values when the partnership plays it game-forcing.
- Jumping in the longer major instead of the shorter major.
- Using Smolen with a one-suited major hand that belongs in a transfer auction.
- Forgetting that Smolen starts with Stayman and only applies after opener denies a major.
FAQ
Does Smolen show the bid major or the other major?
In common methods, responder jumps in the four-card major, which implies five cards in the other major.
Is Smolen forcing to game?
Most partnerships reserve it for hands that will not stop below game, though invitational variants exist by agreement.