easy question

[jillybean]

[hv=d=n&v=n&s=saxhxxxxxdjxxxcxx]133|100|Scoring: MP

1♠ (P)[/hv]

 

Disclaimer: this is not an ‘expert’ question but I would like to hear how the experts think. :)

 

Why do you bid or pass?

 

 

edit: oops the poll questions are messed up

[whereagles]

U sure you got this right? The only bid besides pass that I could think of isn't 2♠.. it's 1NT.

[mcphee]

I do not like to offer a raise with only 2 trumps so this leaves 1NT. You might have a H game here or even 4S if partners hand fits. For example consider if partner happens to have KQxxxx x AKxxx and lesser hands with AQ10x of D, 2 pups in C.

 

There are many hands that might produce game that do not even fall into the j/s group. Game that will let 4S make and 4H is not out of the photo either. You might bid 1NT and find partner making a j/s in H, that would make you a happy camper.

[kenrexford]

Obvious 1NT.

 

The reasons:

 

1. I have an Ace. Partner may very well have a four-loser hand. With an Ace, if he has a minimum hand, he probably will be down one, but the benefits outweigh the costs.

 

2. I have very good spade tolerance.

 

3. I would love a 2♥ rebid from partner.

 

4. I would like a 2♦ rebid from partner (if we play 1NT non-forcing or if 1NT forcing yields 2♦ only if 4+ in diamond).

 

5. I have a defensive value, such that partner's possible late double won't be upsetting.

 

6. I have a plan if partner rebids 2♣, whether natural or (semi-)artificial.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

 

first of all a disclaimer from my side,

I am surely not an expert.

 

if you play forcing NT, 1 NT has some

attractions, it is some what preemptive,

it has the chnace of improving the contract,

even reaching game (4H),

 

In case 1NT is nonforcing, it would not

be an option for me, the one thing I dont

want to hear is 2NT.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[dake50]

Partner goes on with 5-losers; 6-losers with one deep. So okay toward our game.

But the common win is 2S ending the auction where we want to play.

[kenrexford]

I suppose I might bid 2♠ if 1♠-X-P, but I play that as a weak raise. Suit/Lead and all.

[cherdano]

Easy 1N.

[jillybean]

1nt is non forcing in my system

[pclayton]

1N for me too. Rather routine.

[han]

In order of importance:

 

We may have a game or even slam (this is the main reason for bidding).

 

We may have a better contract in hearts, notrump or even diamonds.

 

None of partner's rebids put us in a terrible spot.

 

We may prevent the opponents from finding a good contract by bidding.

[ArtK78]

It is kind of funny. The same posters who open on almost anything also respond on almost anything.

 

I think it is very close between pass and 1NT (forcing). At IMPs, you have to respond because you can't afford to miss a game when partner has a hand just short of a 2♣ opening. At matchpoints, pass is much more likely to be right. Any response could get you too high unless partner has hearts.

 

So, at IMPs, I would bid 1NT. But at matchpoints it would depend how I felt at the time.

[whereagles]

It is kind of funny. The same posters who open on almost anything also respond on almost anything.

It's modern bidding :) "In quick, out quick."

[jdonn]

All the bridge players I respect most never pass an opening bid with an ace. When you consider that the ace is in partner's suit, and you have a five card major in which you might find a fit, passing is completely criminal. I pass more opening bids than almost anyone I play with, and you wouldn't catch me dead passing this hand.

 

Hannie's post pretty much sums it up, except I would reverse the order of his third and fourth points.

 

I just saw the poll, 2♠? Why would anyone psych at their first turn to call just because they are already minimum?

[cherdano]

It is kind of funny. The same posters who open on almost anything also respond on almost anything.

I don't know anyone who has posted so far and opens on almost anything.

 

What I think is funny are those who respond with any balanced 6-count, but pass with Ax in partner's suit and a 5-card major.

[jillybean]

I just saw the poll, 2♠? Why would anyone psych at their first turn to call just because they are already minimum?

Disclaimer: I'm going to be shot down in flames for this.

 

Coming from where I first learned the game, (local community night school) - 1nt promised '6 points and stoppers in all unbid suits' so 2♠ is less of a psyche than 1nt.

[han]

PANG!

[whereagles]

Coming from where I first learned the game, (local community night school) - 1nt promised '6 points and stoppers in all unbid suits' so 2♠ is less of a psyche than 1nt.

jilly, since then people have realized that such a definition is not practical. These days an ace is all it takes to bid 1NT. Regardless of where it is.

[helene_t]

Disclaimer: I'm going to be shot down in flames for this.

 

Coming from where I first learned the game, (local community night school) - 1nt promised '6 points and stoppers in all unbid suits' so 2♠ is less of a psyche than 1nt.

Nonono ! With 6 points you can hardly be expected to stop the unbid suits. Besides, since 2 of a new suit promises at least 11(10) points, with (5)6-9(10) and less than 3-card support, the only option is 1NT. People bid 1N with KJxxxxx in hearts and out.

[jillybean]

Disclaimer: I'm going to be shot down in flames for this.

 

Coming from where I first learned the game, (local community night school) - 1nt promised '6 points and stoppers in all unbid suits' so 2♠ is less of a psyche than 1nt.

Nonono ! With 6 points you can hardly be expected to stop the unbid suits. Besides, since 2 of a new suit promises at least 11(10) points, with (5)6-9(10) and less than 3-card support, the only option is 1NT. People bid 1N with KJxxxxx in hearts and out.

Oops, thats another option I left off.

[jdonn]

I just saw the poll, 2♠? Why would anyone psych at their first turn to call just because they are already minimum?

Disclaimer: I'm going to be shot down in flames for this.

 

Coming from where I first learned the game, (local community night school) - 1nt promised '6 points and stoppers in all unbid suits' so 2♠ is less of a psyche than 1nt.

Just think of 1NT as your default. A hand that you are not going to pass but that doesn't fit any other bid.

[skjaeran]

Speaking for those who open light, this is a clear 1NT for me. That's NF btw.

[cherdano]

I just saw the poll, 2♠? Why would anyone psych at their first turn to call just because they are already minimum?

Disclaimer: I'm going to be shot down in flames for this.

 

Coming from where I first learned the game, (local community night school) - 1nt promised '6 points and stoppers in all unbid suits' so 2♠ is less of a psyche than 1nt.

I have neither a concealed weapons permit nor a flamethrower, sorry :P

 

Seriously, this sounds like a bad teacher. While I would also teach in a beginner's class that 1N promises 6 hcp, saying it promises stoppers in the unbid suits is .....[censored] wrong.

 

[While I would teach beginners the 6hcp rule at first, I would also quickly try to explain them that this is only a guideline, and that there are 4hcp hands (xxx x Axxxx xxxx) that are much better than many 6hcp hands (xx Jxxxx Qxxx QJ). This will make life for them more difficult at the beginning, but I would hope they have more fun trying to find their own judgment rather than following strict rules.]

[pclayton]

I just saw the poll, 2♠? Why would anyone psych at their first turn to call just because they are already minimum?

Disclaimer: I'm going to be shot down in flames for this.

 

Coming from where I first learned the game, (local community night school) - 1nt promised '6 points and stoppers in all unbid suits' so 2♠ is less of a psyche than 1nt.

I have neither a concealed weapons permit nor a flamethrower, sorry :P

 

Seriously, this sounds like a bad teacher. While I would also teach in a beginner's class that 1N promises 6 hcp, saying it promises stoppers in the unbid suits is .....[censored] wrong.

 

[While I would teach beginners the 6hcp rule at first, I would also quickly try to explain them that this is only a guideline, and that there are 4hcp hands (xxx x Axxxx xxxx) that are much better than many 6hcp hands (xx Jxxxx Qxxx QJ). This will make life for them more difficult at the beginning, but I would hope they have more fun trying to find their own judgment rather than following strict rules.]

Arend brings up an excellent point. Its fine to teach beginners what certain calls like 1N should mean (6-10 points, no support), but you should add in a caveat that certain hands with an Ace are better than hands with QQJ or even QQJJ.

 

Jilly - think about it. If you only have 6 points, its pretty tough to have the unbid suits covered.

 

1N is just a waiting bid.

[BillHiggin]

Stoppers for any 1N call are very overrated (a 1N overcall ought to have some semblance of a stopper in their suit - usually even a real one).

Once they finish running their suit, I will take the rest ;) !

Especially in response to 1♠ - what else ya gonna do with run of the mill minimum responding hands that cannot raise?

 

Disclaimer - I do not claim expert status!