Bidding with 6-5 distribution

[Wsue601]

Advancing beginner playing a very simple SAYC.

 

I'm always uncertain what to open with a 6-5 distribution. In the following hand, do I open the longer clubs or the spades? I know that if both suits were equal length I'd bid the higher ranking.

 

AQ1098

106

---

A85432

 

Would the bidding be different with higher point count so I'd be making a reverse? Such as:

 

AK1098

K6

---

AJ5432

 

Thanks

Sue

[EricK]

I would open both hands 1♣ planning to rebid spades as often as necessary. It doesn't take much to make slam (especially on the second hand) and you want to give yourself the best chance of getting to the correct one.

 

I wouldn't go as far as to say one should always open the 6 card suit, but I would need a good reason to open the 5 card suit first.

[inquiry]

i open both hands the longer suit.

[Guest Jlall]

with 6-5 open your 6 card suit.

[whereagles]

With 6-5 open your 5-card major. This might be inferior technically (I don't think it is), but it will save you a lot of headaches, belive me.

[Cascade]

I too would open both hands with 1♣.

 

The second hand is strong enough that on almost any auction I will be able to rebid my spades.

 

The first hand could be a little more problematic. Even an auction like 1♣ 1NT could mean that you will not get to bid your spades without showing extra strength. But at least partner should have some club support to bid 1NT. Actually given that partner has some clubs game is not out of the question so maybe you can stretch and rebid your spades.

[neilkaz]

Hand 1) 10 HCP I open 1♠ since I may not be able to show my ♠ later without implying more extra playing strength than I have and there's a decent chance that the opps will quickly be at the 4 level in a red suit.

 

Hand 2) 15 HCP I open 1♣ since I can rebid ♠ a couple times later showing the great playing strength that I have. I need only find a bit of help from PD to make slam a decent bet.

 

.. neilkaz ..

[gwnn]

First one for me is a 1♠ opener-- simpler and rates to be a good bid for the lead, also.

[jmc]

I have heard of some pairs playing jump reverses to show hands without enough values to reverse but extreme distribution. So holding: 4, AQ756, 7, A109876 one might bid 1c-1s-3h to show 6-5 and a minimum while 1c-1s-2h would show a clasic 17+ reverse.

 

What do you all think of this method? It is more detailed at:

 

http://www.prairienet.org/bridge/jumprev.htm

 

Playing standard and not this method what does a jump reverse mean when a regular reverse is available?

 

jmc

[MickyB]

It sounds like a poor method, you are getting very high on potential misfits, but I can see it has it's advantages. 3♥ is usually a splinter of some sort, my preference is for 3♥ to show a stiff (INV+) and 4♥ a void.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

 

open your longer suit, unless

you hold touching suits and are

to weak to reverse,

i.e. 1C in both cases.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[jikl]

I open 1♣ on both hands.

 

Sean