From: ifs@metronet.com (IFS project) Subject: Re: Mostly, just a test; Smoelen Date: Mon, 6 Jun 1994 23:33:03 GMT Organization: Texas Metronet, Internet for the Individual 214-705-2917 (info) In article <199406061505.KAA16773@cs.utexas.edu>, Chuck Arthur wrote: > Does anyone have an outline of the Smoelen (I am not even certain that >I am spelling it correctly) convention, an alternative to Stayman, >in electronic text form that they would care to share with me? The basic idea of Smolen is to get strong 1 NT opener to declare opposite responder 5-4 or 4-5 in the majors by having responder Stayman and then bid the 4 card major. Some use Smolen at both the 2 and 3 levels, but most here in Dallas only use Smolen at the 3 level and leave 2 level bids natural. This is probably best because invitational 5-4 hands are rare compared with weak 5-4 hands due to the narrow HPC range. Briefly: 1NT-2C-2D-2H invitational with 5 spades, 4 hearts 1NT-2C-2D-2S invitational with 4 spades, 5 hearts 1NT-2C-2D-3H forcing with 5 spades, 4 hearts 1NT-2C-2D-3S forcing with 5 hearts, 4 spades Smolen can also be used with 6-4 or even 7-4 if you and your partner care to work it out. See Hardy's 2/1 book for excruciating details. Kevin Cline