Hearts, Spades or No Trumps?

[gwnn]

I'd bet 1000000$ partner has 5 spades. So 2♠.

[han]

OK, I admit, I do find 2H offensive and Acol was what I learned first.

With all respect, Han, I think Biedermeijer ("Dutch Acol"), rather than Acol, was your first bidding system.

Details, my father called it Acol.

[Quantumcat]

Recently I was told to always support your partner if he might have five of the suit and you have 3, or you never get to find out if he is planning on going the game or beyond. If he knows you can have 3 for the bid, if he is planning to go to game he can go via NT and give you a choice. 7 card fits in partscores is not a bad thing if he wasn't planning to go further. 2S for me.

[EricK]

Aren't "Colours first" and "Shape before points" both cornerstones of modern bidding theory?

no.

Really? I thought they were.

 

eg in the old days people would double an opening bid with many strong hands which today would make a simple overcall. Why the change? Because it is more important to get your shape across than your strength.

 

eg manyt people will open 1M on hands which in the old days would have been opened 2♣ (especially two suited hands). Why? Because it is more important to get your suits into the auction than just your strength

 

eg hardly anybody play control responses to a strong club anymore. Why not? Because it is more important to bid your suits.

[Guest Jlall]

Aren't "Colours first" and "Shape before points" both cornerstones of modern bidding theory?

no.

Really? I thought they were.

nope.