[mike777]

Q964
KJ5432
Q7
5


1nt=15-17

1nt=p=?


What is your bidding plan and why?

[pclayton]

I'm assuming IMPs. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I think the hand is good enough to force to game and Smolen over 2♦. Pard won't be able to evaluate properly if I transfer and push to 3.

I don't play 1N - 2C - 2D - 2H as invitational anyway - its a garbage sequence, so thats out too.

Probably another one of my no-play games.

[mike777]

pclayton, on Sep 26 2005, 10:47 PM, said:

I'm assuming IMPs. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I think the hand is good enough to force to game and Smolen over 2♦. Pard won't be able to evaluate properly if I transfer and push to 3.

I don't play 1N - 2C - 2D - 2H as invitational anyway - its a garbage sequence, so thats out too.

Probably another one of my no-play games.

hmm ok so you want to play in 5-3 or 4-4? or something else?

[cherdano]

To me, 2♦ then 2♠ looks fine, showing 4=5 invitational. Partner still won't know that ♦KJx is reasonable and ♣KJx is trash, but he should be able to evaluate reasonable more often than not.

Arend

[han]

I'll just let partner play in 4H.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

I dont play smolen, so 2C - Stayman,
intending to bid 4H over 2D.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[joker_gib]

Enough for game so Smolen and 4♥ over 3NT

Alain

[Fluffy]

Hannie, on Sep 27 2005, 04:55 AM, said:

I'll just let partner play in 4H.

I am on this side as well, 6-4 opposite balanced is very likelly to play better on the 6-2 than 4-4

[joker_gib]

Fluffy, on Sep 27 2005, 11:24 AM, said:

I am on this side as well, 6-4 opposite balanced is very likelly to play better on the 6-2 than 4-4

This, of course, is also very true !

[ochinko]

Fluffy, on Sep 27 2005, 12:24 PM, said:

Hannie, on Sep 27 2005, 04:55 AM, said:

I'll just let partner play in 4H.

I am on this side as well, 6-4 opposite balanced is very likelly to play better on the 6-2 than 4-4

Me too. I play Smolen only with 5:4 in the majors.

Petko

[inquiry]

Couple of options....

First is to start with stayman, and if partner fails to show a four card major, rebid 4♦ (or 4♣) as whatever you use for second round transfer to 4♥. There is little need for smolen here as you are not going to play in 3NT. If you don't play second round transfer, then just rebid 4♥, or if necessary, try smolen. Then hope partner can work out 4♦ after 3NT as transfer to 4♥ anyway.

Second option, transfer to ♥ and if partner doesn't super accept, simply invite game in ♥. At imps, going to 4♥ (or 4♠ if fit is found) seems best. BTW, with six hearts, I might just TEXAS the hand at round one, expecially if I don't have second round texas available.

[sceptic]

Quote

I also like 2C followed by delayed texas if no spade fit is found. This hand is strong enough to force to game with 6-4.

don't suppose you care to elaborate what that is to those of us that have never heard of it and whyt it is good or bad?

[pclayton]

I think Delayed Texas is the same as Extended Smolen in the auction: 1N - 2♣ -2♦ - 4♦. Guess it depends what time zone you live in.

[Beto]

Jlall, on Sep 27 2005, 12:48 PM, said:

I like this because I have no idea what other meaning 4D would have, and you get to search for a 4-4 spade fit and still transfer into hearts without giving away much info.

Maybe can use 4c and 4d as singleton with 5-5 both majors, slam try
4h and 4S would be 6-4 but no slam...

with 6-4 and slam try u bid smolen and then
reopen 3NT in 4c/4d to show singleton

[mike777]

Many suggest looking for the 4-4 spade fit, others suggest playing in hearts (maybe 6-2) regardless of 4-4 spades. Is bridge theory settled on which is better?

[mikeh]

I do play smolen with 6-4 hands, and can show the 6 card suit by retransferring over 3N. However, this is a borderline hand. I do not play delayed texas: altho it has some appeal after a 2♦ response, playing my preferred form of smolen it is generally not needed.

However, this made me think (unusual for me this early in the morning).

How about using smolen AND delayed texas. Using Smolen (1N 2♣ 2♦ 3♠ 3N 4♦ to show the 4=6) would be mild slam interest and using delayed texas would be sign off or responder is about to use keycard (including exclusion).

Here, delayed texas and pass.

Make it a better hand: say AQxx KJxxxx Kx x and use smolen.

Haven't thought it through (still on my first cup of coffee) and it would rarely arise.

[han]

I like that suggestion. Certainly with this hand there is no reason to bid Smolen (at least none that I can think of). But with slam interest it should help partner if we show the side major.

[pclayton]

mikeh, on Sep 27 2005, 07:37 AM, said:

I do play smolen with 6-4 hands, and can show the 6 card suit by retransferring over 3N. However, this is a borderline hand. I do not play delayed texas: altho it has some appeal after a 2♦ response, playing my preferred form of smolen it is generally not needed.

However, this made me think (unusual for me this early in the morning).

How about using smolen AND delayed texas. Using Smolen (1N 2♣ 2♦ 3♠ 3N 4♦ to show the 4=6) would be mild slam interest and using delayed texas would be sign off or responder is about to use keycard (including exclusion).

Here, delayed texas and pass.

Make it a better hand: say AQxx KJxxxx Kx x and use smolen.

Haven't thought it through (still on my first cup of coffee) and it would rarely arise.

Mike - what does the responder bid if Opener accepts the Smolen and bids 4♥, i.e. 1N - 2♣ - 2♦ - 3♠ - 4♥. I suppose with the knowledge of the 6-3 fit, this may be enough encouragement but it does put a wrinkle in the sequence.

Less hassles if responder has a 6-4 hand and the sequence starts 1N - 2♣ - 2♦ - 3♥......