rbforster

I learned Smolen from Hardy's (excellent!) 2/1 book, and thought I'd make a few comments. These may not all be BBO standard, but there are worth considering. There seems to be a difference of opinion on whether to use "invitational Smolen" or not (I think the GF version is independent and more standard). The 2 level invitational sequences below can be used to show 4-5 major hands - 1. 1N-2♣-2♦-2♠ 4♥-5♠ 2. 1N-2♦-2♥-2♠ 5♥-4♠ An alternate use of #1 (and also 1N-2♣-2♦-2♥) is a weak 5-4 signoff (checking for the 4-4 fit). This seems more valuable to me and some experts I consulted since opposite a strong 1NT opener responder rates to have weaker hands more often than invitational ones (and GF ones even less often). The lack of an invitational sequence with these 4-5 major hands matters only if checking first with Stayman reveals no fit. Only then do you have to guess to overbid (GF Smolen at the 3 level) or underbid (signoff in your 5 card major). An alternate use of #2 is the Walsh relays, using 2♠ rebid to cancel the initial ♥ transfer and then showing various minor suit slam tries. This allows both 1NT-3♣/3♦ direct responses to be single suited invites and still be able to bid the minor slam tries. I would also mention that Hardy recommends using Texas transfers after a 2♦ Stayman response to show GF 6-4 major hands, right-siding all contracts. 1N-2♣-2♦-4♦ transfer to ♥, showing min GF 4♠-6+♥ 1N-2♣-2♦-4♥ transfer to ♠, showing min GF 6+♠-4♥ These sequences, like most Texas transfers, are weaker than the more slam invitational sequences using GF Smolen followed by a re-transfer to the 6+ suit with 6+-4 distribution. Below 3NT rebid denies 3 card support for the 5+ implied major. 1N-2♣-2♦-3♠-3NT-4♦ transfer to ♥, showing slam try with 4♠-6+♥ 1N-2♣-2♦-3♥-3NT-4♥ transfer to ♠, showing slam try with 6+♠-4♥ Other methods he recommends includes 3 of the other major (OM) after a Stayman response (1N-2C-2M-3OM) as a slam try in M with shortness and a 4D response as a balanced slam try unsuitable for 4C key-card Gerber.

I've been playing strong club, so with the limited (9-15) 1M openers it's nice to separate a good and bad raise to 2M. We do this after double by 1M-X-2M poor raise to 2M (3 cards usually, 4-7 or so) 1M-X-(2M-1) transfer to 2M (3-4 cards usually, 8-10 or so) Generalizing transfers to the other suits, it seems like you've got a choice of if you value a natural 1NT or a natural, penalty oriented XX more. Give up one and you've still got enough space for all the transfers. I guess 1H-X-1S is natural if you play XX as business, but there are transfers for the rest.

Playing normal weak 2 preempts, say 4-10 HCP and (usually) a 6 card suit, we're all familiar with the normal responses (2NT asking of some type, new suits forcing, etc). This doesn't come up much I guess, but what would you make of the responses to a weak 2 by a passed hand? Like P-P-2H-P-2NT, or P-P-2H-P-3C for example. On a more likely note, what about redoubles after a takeout double? For example, either P-P-2H-X-XX or P-P-2H-X-P-P-XX. It seems unlikely that the passed hand XX could be business for example, and certainly not the preempter. Does anyone have any agreements for these sorts of situations, or does one just assume XX is SOS by either hand?

Me and a friend would have debates starting with statements like this. He was the optimist and thought we would be first generation to live forever. I was the pessimist and thought we'd be the last generation not to.

A very good point. Thanks for the stats.

Well, if you can claim that 2♠ is a "raise" of 1♣ in clubs, it would be ok under the rule you cite. If you showed a specific minor holding (say 4+♣/5+♦), it would be fine under this one:

I agree the responses on the merits of a wider range for 3♣ vs 3♦s if you play them both as Bergen. I don't follow this method myself, using this scheme "compressed Bergen" instead. It lacks a little of the invitational aspects of the 3♣ (constructive bergen) - 3♦ (asking) auctions, but it allows more bids for other things. Over 1♥, I play 2♠ compressed strong jump shift (any solloway jump shift with or without support, 2NT asks) 2NT Jacoby 3♣ compressed bergen (either constructive or invitational with 4♥s, or various slam invitational+ hands) 3♦ would accept opposite an invite 3♥ would decline opposite an invite 3♦ marginal game force, based on shortness, invitational strength, and 4 trump (3♥ asks for shortness) 3♥ weak 4 trump Higher bids are limited splinters, and slam invitational splinters can also bid 3♣ Bergen and cue their shortness after partner's response. The compressed bid can lose in competition or if your partner can't make a precise game try, but you do get to keep your strong jump shifts which are normally lost playing both 3♣ and 3♦ as raises. I read a bunch of stuff on major suit raises on Jeff Goldsmith's webpage. For what it's worth, some experts disagree with the merits of the constructive Bergen raise (3♣) over 1♠. Bidding only 2♠ on these hands gives partner lots of room for different game tries, and you can always compete to the 3 level later if you need to with the 4th trump. It will be rare indeed that opponents bid to the 4 level over your competitive 3♠ AND are right to do so - that's the only circumstance where 1♠-3♣ might have gained. Over 1♥ there's obviously more merit to the preemptive value of Bergen since opponents might want to bid 2♠ but not 3♠.

I wish. Maybe I'll get the free GNT C trip to Chicago...

Thanks for the replies. I know that constructive bidding will be severly hampered by the lack of conventional inquiries. Depending on how bad constructive auctions look, I may end up playing this preempt style only in 3rd seat. Still, 4 card suits come up a lot more than 6 card ones :).

My first post here, so I'd welcome pointers to FAQ's or old discussions of this I might have overlooked. Thanks! I've been considering trying to play natural weak two bids that might only have a 4 card suit. So 2♥ is something like 4-10 HCPs and 4+♥s. Aside from whether this is a good idea(!), can anyone help me make sense of this part of the General Convention Chart, which applies since my weak 2 bid wouldn't promise a 5 card suit? Am I strictly limited to "natural" calls after such an opening? From what I can tell, ACBL defines "natural" as promising 3+ in a minor or 4+ in a major for openings and responses. Here are a few specific questions - If responder has 5=1=5=2 shape, is he restricted to bidding only ♠s or ♦s on his first call since other suit/NT bids wouldn't be "natural"? What about 4♥s? Are subsequent rebids by opener or responsed restricted this way? For example, could a 5=1=5=2 hand could eventually raise to 4♥ on a suitable hand? Do the rules on conventional responses and rebids refer to the first response and rebid, or the whole auction? Can you have use a convention later in the auction, like 2♥=2♠(forcing)=3♠=4NT Blackwood? Can I decide which "natural" bids are forcing or not, or is this decided in some other way? For example, can I play a 2NT response as either (natural and forcing) or (natural and NF) depending on which I like better? Can I still make common tactical psychs, like 2♥-2♠(NF) on fewer than 4♠s to try to swindle the opponents out of the 4♠ game? Obviously opener would be expected to pass holding ♠ length and not field this psych. Has anyone actually be subjected to this rule in practice? What kind of logic gets applied in this cases? Any advice or experience would be welcome.