Major Two-Suiter: 1Lvl, 2Lvl or Pass?

[Sigi_BC84]

1st seat, you are playing IMPs, none vul (actually this shouldn't matter too much IMO).

 

You hold: ♠AKJxx ♥J10xxx ♦x ♣Qx

 

You are playing SAYC with gadgets, and have the option to open 2♥ showing any 5/5 or better hand including hearts, below opening strength (your other preempt options are weak twos in ♦, ♥ and ♠). The weak two are actually assumed to be disciplined and contain 6 cards.

 

What do you do and why?

 

This might look trivial or purely a matter of style, but we had a discussion about this so I'm interested in any opinions, however subjective.

 

--Sigi

[Guest Jlall]

1S, I am a sound opener and don't think this hand is close to below opening strength.

[han]

Likewise, but I'm not a sound opener.

[Sigi_BC84]

Addition to the above: In the discussion mentioned it was argued that the 2♥ opener can be seen as a semi-constructive device (for me it's a preempt) and might well be used with that holding and position.

 

(Possible follow-ups to 2♥ are NF 2♠, 2NT asks strength/2nd suit, else nat forcing).

 

What do you think of this?

 

--Sigi

[joker_gib]

Too much to preempt : I open 1♠

 

Alain

[Miron]

I don't preempt with 11 points on 5-5 majors and just Q outside long suits. One my friend has this attitude (and where we are playing together our 2nd level are different for 2 points ;) ).

Clear 1♠ for me, but I know people who would bid 2♥.

[Gerben42]

Just too much for a preempt. Without the ♣Q go ahead and open both majors weak, and even then Ben will say he will open 1♠ (but not me).

[Free]

easy 1♠ imo

[mike777]

Easy pass I don't see 3QT :D.

[mikeh]

1♠ for me: a horrible hand and 1♠ is an overbid but 2♥ would be a bigger underbid, and passing (with all respect to our Dr. Roth clone) is silly.

 

Another point against the 2♥ bid: this hand is only secondarily about ♥: this hand is primarily about ♠.

[hrothgar]

1♠ for me: a horrible hand and 1♠ is an overbid but 2♥ would be a bigger underbid, and passing (with all respect to our Dr. Roth clone) is silly.

 

Another point against the 2♥ bid: this hand is only secondarily about ♥: this hand is primarily about ♠.

I think that Mike raises a very good point: Your spades suit is much stronger that your heart suit. Accordingly, I prefer an opening which emphasizes Spades.

 

In many ways, this opening reminds me of the old Wilkosz 2♦. The Poles scored some great successes with this bid over the years. As I recall, the main of the best results occured when the Poles were able to avoid a 1M opening. Many players using more standard methods couldn't bear to pass the juciy 5-5 hand and got overboard.

 

From my perspective, this hand is a borderline opening bid. Opening 1♠ is nice and you have an easy rebid in Hearts, however, you don't have that great defense. As I noted, forced to chose between 1♠ and 2♥, I'd open 1♠. However, switch the suits and I'd probably open 2♥ instead.