Introduction: HELMS to HELLO
     
Outlined below is a popular convention for competing after notrump. Depending on who you know and where you live, the convention is called either CAPPELLETTI, HAMILTON, or HELMS
     
CAPPELLETTI, HAMILTON, or HELMS
2§ Relay to 2¨  Shows a single suited hand. Pass the forced response to show diamonds or convert to a major suit.
2¨ Both majors.
2© Hearts & an undisclosed minor. Advancer* uses 2NT to ask for the minor.
2ª Spades & an undisclosed minor. Advancer uses 2NT to ask for the minor
2NT Both minors.
3§ Clubs
DBL Penalty. More often based on tricks rather than just scattered high card strength
  * Bridge World Magazine suggested using the term “Advancer” to identify the player responding to overcalls or doubles. If it's good enough for them ¼
     

A significant weakness, as illustrated below, seemed obvious to me:
 

Hand #1

ª Kxx

© AJTxxx

¨ Qxx           

§ x     

Hand #2

ª KQJTxx

© x

¨ xxxx

§ Kx
     

On each of the above hands, the system bid of 2§ allows the opponents the entire two-level to begin their exchange of information. The problem, along with my solution, is documented by noted bridge author, Max Hardy. “This convention . . .loses the opportunity to block the opponents out of the auction which should be one of the goals of a bidder who holds a good major suit and hears an opening bid of one notrump by his right-hand opponent . . . one theorist. . . Jerry Helms took the problem into consideration and came up with a simple but effective solution. He interchanged the meanings of an immediate bid of two in a major suit and a bid of two clubs followed by a rebid in a major suit.”*
This led to the creation of HELMS II

  * Competitive Bidding with Two Suited Hands by Max Hardy, 1996, p.117.
   
HELMS II
2§ Relay to 2¨. Confirm a diamond overcall by passing, or convert the forced diamond response to a major to show a major/minor two-suiter. Advancer uses 2NT to ask which minor.
2¨ Both Majors
2© Hearts
2ª Spades
2NT Both Minors
3§ Clubs
DBL Penalty.  More often based on tricks rather than just scattered high-card strength.
     

Despite this improvement, the finishing touches of what became the original HELLO system evolved during the Jerry Helms/Bill Lohman partnership. HELLO is a unique convention to describe all single or two-suited hands without giving up penalty doubles of strong notrumps. The transfer effect achieved on many auctions may be the strongest part of the convention
     
HELLO
2§ Relay to 2¨. Confirm a diamond overcall by passing, or convert the forced diamond response to a major to show a major/minor two-suiter. Advancer uses 2NT to ask which minor.
2¨ TRANSFER overcall to HEARTS
2© BOTH MAJORS.  Achieves transfer effect when Advancer chooses spades.
2ª SPADES.  A natural, space-consuming overcall.
2NT TRANSFER overcall to CLUBS
3§ BOTH MINORS. Achieves transfer effect when the Advancer chooses diamonds
3¨ BOTH MAJORS.  Massive playing strength.  The forced transfer eliminates the risk of a pass of 2 hearts (both majors) by Advancer.
DBL PENALTY.  Most often based on tricks from a good suit.  Occasionally a very strong, balanced hand.
     

Helms to HELLO'  first published in 1996, will be re-released early spring of 2006 by Masterpoint Press. It will be availble through all major bridge supply outlets.
 

A quote from Max Hardy:  "My own search for the best defense against the opponent's notrump opening and overcall came to a successful conclusion when I was introduced to HELLO, which I now use and teach to all my students."