By Valerie Rhead
Sometimes, parts of your bidding arsenal are just for fun – elements that do not come up very often. But when a particular convention fits the bill perfectly, you are pleased to be able to use it. Smolen is such a convention. As is usually the case, the convention is named after the person (Mike Smolen of Los Angeles) who thought it up. He then promoted it in the year 2001 at the “Bridge World Standard Meeting.”
When your partner has opened One No-Trump, you know that if you have at least eight points and a four-card major (Hearts or Spades) in one suit or in two suits, you use Stayman. What is the best way to bid if you have a four-card major and a five-card major? After the One No-Trump opening bid, you bid Two Clubs for Stayman in the regular way. If the opening No-Trump bidder bids one of your majors, you will be happy to play in that suit. You will have either an eight-card or a nine-card fit. If the opening No-Trump bidder replies with an artificial Two Diamond bid showing that he has no four-card major, Smolen springs into action.
You have five Spades and four Hearts. You reply in the SHORTER suit and bid Two Hearts. This is a transfer bid and must be alerted. In this case, this is a transfer bid to Two Spades. With any luck, the No-Trump bidder will have at least three spades and you will be playing in the golden fit of eight Spades. The worst that can happen is that the opener only has two spades and you will be playing in a seven-card fit or in No-Trump.
If opener has three Spades, opener knows they have the magic eight-card Spade fit. Opener’s third bid is Three Spades with a minimum hand (15-16 points) or Four Spades with a maximum hand (16-17 points). This bid, opener’s third bid, depends on hand re-evaluation. Opener takes a second closer look at the hand, having learned the new information! In any event, responder will take it to Four-Spades with ten or more points (15 points + 10 points = game).
Why bother with all this fuss? Smolen helps you get to the magic eight-card fit and it keeps the strong hand hidden.
If you wish to promote an activity in your bridge group or ask a bridge question, send the information to vrhead23@gmail.com and I will include it in this column.
TOURNAMENT TRAIL: Gold and Red Masterpoints, North Bay Regional
August 16-21, 2016 North Bay Elks Club
CONGRATULATIONS TO DONNA MCINTOSH AND MARY LUKE OF BRACEBRIDGE: A STRATIFICATION FIRST AND 3.5 GOLD POINTS!
PORT CARLING DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB
Games for the Port Carling Club are in the summer only, Wednesday evening 6:30, Port Carling Community Centre, 3 Bailey Street. Please arrive at least 15 minutes before game time. Call Bill & Gaye Kastning at 705-765-6354 for information and partnerships.
NOTE: The final game of the season is Wednesday, Aug 31, 2016.
Thanks for a great 2016 season!
The following winners are from Wednesday, Aug 24 with 5 tables playing a Howell movement. 1. Beth Henderson and Tom Dyke; 2, Gail Lederer and Betty Franklin; 3. Bev Howard and Liz Barnes; 4. Nancy Barber and Carol Anne Robinson; 5. Betty Rintoul and Hazel Bowes
HUNTSVILLE DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB
Games for the Huntsville Club are Tuesdays, 7:15pm, Trinity United Church 33 Main Street. Please arrive 15 minutes before game time. Contact Jan Roberts 705-635-2522 or [email protected] for information and partnerships.
The following winners are for Tuesday, Aug 23 with 12 tables playing a Mitchell movement. North-South 1. Chris Karn and Vern Foell; 2. Bruce Elliott and Rod Dixon; 3. Marilyn Waltho and John Waltho; 4. Val Rhead and Peter Rhead; 5. Mary Simonett and Kel Andresen; 6. Jim Smith and Ralph Mitchell; First in stratification “C” Arlene Crozier and Susan Maddocks; East-West 1. Sheila Jenset and Jane Insley; 2. Mary Whitehead and Helen Pearson; 3. Liz Barnes and Bev Howard; 4. Mary Simpson and Bob Simpson; 5. Liz Graham and Dorothy Russell; 6. Joanne Garvey and Barb Green; 7. Ann Cassie and Bruce Cassie
MUSKOKA DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB (Bracebridge)
Games at the Bracebridge Club are at the Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Taylor Road 7pm Monday evenings. Please arrive 15 minutes before game time. For information or partnerships, call Brian at 705-645-5340 [email protected]
The following winners are from Monday, Aug 22 with 16 tables playing a Mitchell movement. North-South 1. Betty Fagin and Brian Brocklehurst; 2. Pamela Jardine and Ralph Mitchell; 3. Kel Andresen and Jim Smith; 4. Val Rhead and Peter Rhead; 5. Karen Harder and Sheila Jenset; 6. Mary Luke and Donna McIntosh; 7. Marilyn Aarons and David Guttman; 8. Yvonne Cox and Mary Whitehead; East-West 1. Virginia Warren and Angus Warren; 2. Betty Rintoul and Bev Howard; 3. Liz Barnes and Lyn Walisser; 4. Art Insley and Don Evans; 5. Pat Davies and Sue Scott; 6. Mary Sedgewick and Jayne Joyner; 7. Joanne Garvey and Kelly Andresen; 8. Jennifer Thompson and Liz Trotter
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