Smolen

[Wackojack]

I am working my way through the conventions in BBO Advanced and now looking at Smolen.

 

Given in the FD file:

1nt-2c-2d-3h = 4h+5S GF (Where 2c is Stayman)

1nt-2c-2d-3s = 4s+5h GF

 

Then there is transfer bidding in the FD files:

 

1nt-2h-2s-3h = 5s+4h (or more) GF

 

So what is the difference? Is the smolen route 5422 and the transfer route 54(13)?

 

1nt-2d-2h-2s = 5h (or more)+ 4s invit

1nt-2c-2d-2s = weak 4h+ 5(+) spades

 

So with 5h+4s opposite 1nt

Sign-off = 2c-2d-2h

Invit= 2d-2h-2s

GF = 2c-2d-3s

 

So why isn't there the same distinction with 4h+5s where:

Sign-off = 2c-2d-2s

Invit = 2h-2s-3h

GF = 2c-2d-3h

 

Also FD file says 2h-2s-2nt = usually exactly 5s invit. Would this not always be 5(332) shape and deny a secondary 4-card suit? Is this because 2h-2s-3c is always a game force? If Smolen is being used to get 3 levels of strength, the could not this sequence (2h-2s-3c) be made invitational? Then the gap bids can be used to make it into a game force.

 

Otherwise Smolen only fills one gap with 5h+4s and appears to duplicate game force transfers with 4h+5s. Does anybody really feel the need for Smolen?

[joshs]

Without discussion the sequence 1N-2H(xfer)-2S-3H shows 5-5 Game forcing, not 5S, 4H game forcing. Some people have artificial uses for this sequence instead of the natural meaning if they have some other way of showing both majors game forcing.

 

This sounds like a typo in the BBO advanced description.

 

As to the question:

why is 1N-2D-2H-2S only INV

while 1N-2H-2S-3H is GFing?

The first seqeunce is at the 2 level. If you have a min with no fit you can play in 2N.

The second sequence already forces you to the 3 level, so if you have no fit you may have to play 3N anyway (if you wanted this to be 5S,4H INV).

 

Further, traditionally, 1N-2C-2D-2S was INV (so thats how you would bid 5S and 4H INV and still stay at the 2 level) even if 1N-2C-2D-2H was weak with both majors, but many people now play both 2H and 2S as weak in this sequence. I am not sure what is in BBO advanced here.

[joshs]

BTW, the point of smolen is to have the 1N bidder play the hand in both the 4-4 or 5-3 fit (thats why responder bids his shorter major at the 3 level after stayman).

[cherdano]

You are right, 1N-2H-2S-3H should show 5-5, I will fix this.

 

If you have 5 spades and an invite but no 4 hearts, the only way to bid this in standard is 2H-2S-2N. Transfer then 3-level bid is game forcing (for some it even promises slam interest).

 

As for 2C-2H-2S and 2C-2D-2S, there is no real consensus, but the scheme in the file is what seemed most natural to me after making a poll on this here (it's in the "Bridge Poll Online" forum).

 

Arend

[mcphee]

Smolen is one of the tools I like a lot. Further extended it also permits you to show 6-4 majors so after you jump to 3 of a major after a 2D denial and parnter bids 3NT, 4 of a minor would indicate shortness and a 6th trump in the unbid major, some slam interest. Also playable is afte 2D bidding 4D would ask partner to choose a major suit game and show no slam interest.

[Free]

Smolen is great! As noted before, following sequences are a result of the smolen bids:

1NT-2♦-2♥-2♠ is invite with 5♥-4♠

1NT-2♥-2♠-3♥ is invite with 5♥-5♠

1NT-2♣-2♦-2♠ is invite with 4♥-5♠

Any GF with both Majors goes through stayman.

[kenberg]

A hearty thank you to Wacko for his careful reading of the default BBO FD card, and a further thank-you to Cherdano who will be acting on the 1N-2H-2S-3H issue Wacko brings up. So often in life we see that even after a clear error is discoverd, nothing changes. Thanks again.

 

In support of Joshs and contrary to Free, I play IN-2H-2S-3H as game forcing 5-5. For invitational 5-4 I use 1N-2C-2D-2S when I have five spades, and 1N-2D-2H--2S when I have five hearts. The second of these seems completely stndard, the first less so, althought I believe it to be wise. It does mean that if I am 5-4 weak, with five spades, I have to just transfer to spades rather than start with 2C. I have seldom regretted this.

 

Also, after 1N-2H-2S-3H I suggest that 3S sets spades, and a cue of a minor sets hearts. These bids would be used in the advent of a good fit where opener wants to indicate slam may be possible.

 

Ken

[Wackojack]

It looks like I am on the losing side on:

1NT-2♣-2♦-2♠ With xxxxx xxxx x xxx opposite 1NT I would like to be able to bid this as "please pass partner"

 

However, on to Smolen. With 5-4 or more in the majors you can show every shape with room using what I thought were standard red suit transfers:

 

1. 1NT-2♥-2♠-2NT = Invite 5 spades semi-balanced

2. 1NT-2♥-2♠-3♥ = At least 5spades 4hearts GF

3. 1NT-2♥-2♠-3♥-3any-4♥ = 5-5 majors

4. 1NT-2♥-2♠-3♥-3NT- 4♠ = 6 spades 4 hearts

 

Similar sequences 1NT-2♦-2♥ with 5+ hearts and 4+ spades

 

Smolen duplicates sequence 2. and reverses declarer if 4-4 fit in hearts.

Smolen duplicates sequence 4.

 

So we have a convention that duplicates transfer sequences as far as I can see, but more importantly does not plug any gap. Also if I play Smolen and partner responds 1NT-2♥-2♠-3♥, I just have to remember 5-5. And if I don't play Smolen, I have to remember 5-4 at least. That feels like a disadvantage.

[cherdano]

It looks like I am on the losing side on:

1NT-2♣-2♦-2♠ With xxxxx xxxx x xxx opposite 1NT I would like to be able to bid this as "please pass partner"

 

However, on to Smolen. With 5-4 or more in the majors you can show every shape with room using what I thought were standard red suit transfers:

 

1. 1NT-2♥-2♠-2NT = Invite 5 spades semi-balanced

2. 1NT-2♥-2♠-3♥ = At least 5spades 4hearts GF

3. 1NT-2♥-2♠-3♥-3any-4♥ = 5-5 majors

4. 1NT-2♥-2♠-3♥-3NT- 4♠ = 6 spades 4 hearts

 

Similar sequences 1NT-2♦-2♥ with 5+ hearts and 4+ spades

 

Smolen duplicates sequence 2. and reverses declarer if 4-4 fit in hearts.

Smolen duplicates sequence 4.

 

So we have a convention that duplicates transfer sequences as far as I can see, but more importantly does not plug any gap. Also if I play Smolen and partner responds 1NT-2♥-2♠-3♥, I just have to remember 5-5. And if I don't play Smolen, I have to remember 5-4 at least. That feels like a disadvantage.

Well first of all, there is no cost of using 2C-2D-3M for GF 5-4 hands with the majors, as this sequence would otherwise be undefined.

 

The advantage of 2H-2S-3H immediately showing 5-5 is that it makes slam investigation easier. Opener can make a cue-bid agreeing hearts with 3-cards support. Also, in your scheme responder has a problem with 5-5 and slam interest, as opener can pass 4H.

 

Your 2-level sequences are not really related, as 2D-2H-2S (4=5) and 2H-2S-2N are invitational, while Smolen is concerend with GF hands only.

 

I understand that 2C-2D-2S=to play is nice with your example hand, but it is also nice to show 5=4 invitational below 2N, as missing a 4-4 major fit isn't nice.

 

Anyway, Smolen is very much standard as far as I can tell, so it would not make sense to omit it from BBO adv.

 

Thanks for you interest in the BBO adv file!

 

Arend

[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.

[kenberg]

I prefer 1N-2C-2D-2S to be invitational but I play it as weak with some folks. I could live with it either way. I think 1N-2D-2H-2S, cancelling the heart message and showing a minor, would not be good for a BBO card, regardless of its possible merits. If it were widely played in that way, then fine, but I don't think it is and my preference would be to have a card I could agree to play without having to greatly alter my usual methods. For example, I like 1N-2D-3H to be a possible auction, and while maybe that can be worked in to the cancellation approach (Hardy no doubt has the answer), I would rather not have to learn how (or to read Hardy) before playing a BBO default card.

 

No doubt some choices will need to be made, and playing a default card will always require some adjustment, but I favor keeping the default agreements to be reasonably mainstream. I realize that what's mainstream to some is far out to others, and conversely, but choices must be made as best as can be done.

 

 

This appears to be happening.