What is the least you would never pass with?

[ochinko]

To return to the original question. Along with what Fred and Adam (awm) have written, you can take a look at these Probabilities.

 

The thing is that the probability of having a particular number of high card points is not evenly spread, but is at its peak at 9-10 HCP, and then gradually diminishes. If you target your invites to the possibility that partner has 17-18 you'll be able to find the proper game in 4% of all cases whereas 14-15 will take you to the right game in 10% of the hands. Of course, those percentages change in absolute value if you know beforehand that partner has at least 11 HCP but the ratio of the possibilities won't change much. So it's safe to say that targeting 14-15 instead of 17-18 HCP gives you about 2.5 times better ROI as it is 2.5 times more likely to be found. :)

 

And yes, it means that you're going to miss some cold games, but the probabilities will be on your side. It's the same as playing for a 3:2 break (68%) versus a simple finesse. You know that you'll be wrong sometimes, you just want to minimize those occurrences.

[ASkolnick]

6 since I have started to play thta 1D-1m-2c is a one round force. We tend not to bid horrible minors.

 

You have the one disadvantage of not being able to play in 2C, but you get that back in several ways:

 

1) Intermediate hands don't have to jump.

2) You can shape out at the two level if needed.

3) Partner can reshow his major to possibly play in a better fit.

 

 

Semi-Balanced hands with 2-2-(5-4) in the minors are opened our appropriate NT range.

 

But with 9 I will bid on without such agreement.