What do you open?

[Hanoi5]

[hv=d=w&v=n&s=sh9xxxxxdak108xxca]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

You're West.

[neilkaz]

Slightly prefer 1♥ as PD will never believe that I have a 6 carder if I open 1♦. I don't hate 1♦ with this suit as we often will be preempted to a high level (and it may not be our hand).

 

As it stands if I open 1♥ I'm probably rebidding 5♦ over the opps black suit game when it comes back to me.

 

I wouldn't be critical of any one who opened 1♦ here.

[rogerclee]

I would say 1♥ unanimous, but looks like the poll is practically even (!!!) between the two right now.

[ArtK78]

1♦. That is not a 6-card heart suit. And if you don't play the hand (someone has to have spades) the heart lead that you are going to get will be a disaster.

[jdonn]

I would say 1♥ unanimous, but looks like the poll is practically even (!!!) between the two right now.

This echos my thoughts. I can't think of anything nice to say about not opening a SIX card major, so I'll just keep my mouth shut.

[Apollo81]

1♦. That is not a 6-card heart suit. And if you don't play the hand (someone has to have spades) the heart lead that you are going to get will be a disaster.

But surely we will bid diamonds at our next call, whatever the auction is.

[Apollo81]

agree with roger

[han]

1H.

[matmat]

some number of hearts.

like, maybe. 1 of them

[andy_h]

1H. Don't understand 1D?

[brianshark]

I voted one diamond because the diamonds are clearly longer than the hearts by a good 5-10 pixels.

[Free]

1♥ wtp

[the hog]

1H. Don't understand 1D?

Couldn't have said it more succinctly.

 

"1♦. That is not a 6-card heart suit. And if you don't play the hand (someone has to have spades) the heart lead that you are going to get will be a disaster."

 

And if you walk across the road you might get hit by a runaway bus.

[Hanoi5]

And if you walk across the road you might get hit by a runaway bus.

 

[hv=d=w&v=n&n=skjxxxxxhadqjcqj10&w=sh9xxxxxdak108xxca&e=s10xxhkxd9xxc9xxxx&s=saqxhqj10xdxxckxxx]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

This was the complete hand.

[the hog]

And if you walk across the road you might get hit by a runaway bus.

 

[hv=d=w&v=n&n=skjxxxxxhadqjcqj10&w=sh9xxxxxdak108xxca&e=s10xxhkxd9xxc9xxxx&s=saqxhqj10xdxxckxxx]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

This was the complete hand.

So? Nth can make 4S and EW can make 5D. What has this got to do with the opening bid or my comment about the "runaway bus"?

[neilkaz]

How did the bidding go at the table ? I have concerns about E-W playing in 5Hx rather than 5D after opening 1H.

[TimG]

How did the bidding go at the table ? I have concerns about E-W playing in 5Hx rather than 5D after opening 1H.

Maybe 1H-1S-P-2H; 3D-4S-P-P; 5D, after which there would be little reason for east to take a false preference to hearts.

[P_Marlowe]

1H?

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[rogerclee]

I am surprised nobody has voted for 4♥, which would receive some sympathy from me, but I understand that I may like opening 4M more than pretty much anyone.

[Finch]

I am surprised nobody has voted for 4♥, which would receive some sympathy from me, but I understand that I may like opening 4M more than pretty much anyone.

I'm trying to see why I might want to open 4H.

 

Because I know it's the opponents' hand, and I want to pre-empt them? No

Because I want a heart lead? No

Because I know I want to play in hearts? No

Because it describes my hand well and lets partner makes an informed decision? No

Because I have any idea what the right level or strain is? No

 

 

Nope, I'm not surprised.

[rogerclee]

Because I know it's the opponents' hand, and I want to pre-empt them?  No

Because I want a heart lead?  No

Because I know I want to play in hearts? No

Because it describes my hand well and lets partner makes an informed decision? No

Because I have any idea what the right level or strain is?  No

I think I should've phrased it as "I am surprised nobody has discussed a 4♥ opening."

 

I am not seriously defending 4♥; there is just too much defense, the trumps are god-awful, and diamonds could easily be the right strain. I just think that people, in general, do not open 4M enough. 4M is a huge pressure bid that has so many ways to win. Change the red suits around and I would auto 4♥.

[rbforster]

And if you don't play the hand (someone has to have spades) the heart lead that you are going to get will be a disaster.

Well I don't worry about the lead on this one since I'm going to keep bidding until I declare :). At least to 5♦ anyway.

 

It seems like finding 5♥X-2 for -300 is still a fine sacrifice over 4♠ making (-620) on the actual hand. Even if you could find 5♦ instead of 5♥, it's not clear to me you'd do much better since you might get your K♥ ruffed going for the heart ruff in dummy. I think that QJ♦ offside is probably getting a trick in either contract unless you peek better than I do.

[Hanoi5]

So? Nth can make 4S and EW can make 5D. What has this got to do with the opening bid or my comment about the "runaway bus"?

 

What if the opponents get to 5♠? What would you lead with East-s hand?

[skjaeran]

I'd never supress a 6-card major suit. Unless I had a 7-bagger somewhere else, that is.

 

Clear 1♥.

[jdonn]

I think I should've phrased it as "I am surprised nobody has discussed a 4♥ opening."

It doesn't warrant any discussion at all.

 

I don't understand neilkaz's comment that he is worried about playing in 5♥ instead of 5♦ if the opening is 1♥. I can't think of a single auction where this would happen.