INTELLIGENT DECISION SYSTEMS, INC.








                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT









                                 Exhibit No. 5.1




               Consent and Legal Opinion of Snell & Wilmer L.L.P.







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                              Snell & Wilmer L.L.P.
                               One Arizona Center
                           Phoenix, Arizona 85004-0001

                                January 22, 1997


Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20549

   Re:   Intelligent Decision Systems, Inc. Consulting Agreement

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel  to  Intelligent  Decision  Systems,  Inc.,  a
Delaware  corporation  (the  "Company"),  in  connection  with its  Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration  Statement") filed under the Securities
Act of 1933,  relating to the  registration  of  1,950,000  shares of its Common
Stock,  $.001  par value  (the  "Shares"),  issuable  pursuant  to that  certain
Consulting  Agreement,  dated  September 30, 1996, by and among the Company,  R.
Wayne Fritzsche,  Anthony Kamin, and James N. Lane (the "Agreement") and related
Non-Statutory Stock Option Agreements (the "Option Agreements").

         In that  connection,  we have  examined such  documentation,  corporate
records,  and other  instruments as we have deemed  necessary or appropriate for
purposes of this opinion,  including the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
of the Company.

         Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

         1.       The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as
                  a corporation under the laws of the State of Delaware.

         2.       The Shares,  when issued and sold in accordance with the terms
                  of the  Agreement and the Option  Agreements,  will be validly
                  issued, fully paid, and nonassessable.

         This opinion is limited to the General  Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware,  and we  express  no  opinion  with  respect  to the laws of any other
jurisdiction.

         We hereby  consent  to the use of this  opinion  as an  exhibit  to the
Registration Statement.

                                            Very truly yours,

                                            /s/ Snell & Wilmer L.L.P

                                            SNELL & WILMER L.L.P.

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