21 pts witn singleton Ace - opening?

[Quarky]

What do you open in 3rd seat nonvuln at IMPs match?

 

AK952

QJ6

AK63

A

 

I opted for 2NT, while player at the other table chose 2C. I definitely don't like the quality or length of my spade suit to plan for 2C-2D-2S rebid, plus my other suits are stopped, so that's why I went for 2NT.

 

What do you guys think? What's the best opening bid?

[han]

I respectfully think 2NT is pretty crazy.

[jillybean]

2♣ 2♦ 2♠ is good

[neilkaz]

I'll take my chances with 1♠ here... where are my tricks coming from if PD cannot keep a 1♠ bid open ?

[dbsboy]

1♠.

 

If ♣A and ♥6 switched suits I'd bid 2♣. I always like my honours going together in one suit.

[mike777]

What do you open in 3rd seat nonvuln at IMPs match?

 

AK952

QJ6

AK63

A

 

I opted for 2NT, while player at the other table chose 2C. I definitely don't like the quality or length of my spade suit to plan for 2C-2D-2S rebid, plus my other suits are stopped, so that's why I went for 2NT.

 

What do you guys think? What's the best opening bid?

For sake of discussion I assume with 5 major and 4 minor...never ...never bid any nt opening bid.

 

Now....I bet many on bbo open 2c but bbo forum hates to open 2c so some may open one spade :)

[dicklont]

I don't like 2♣ at all for this hand.

 

I open this one 1♠ and force with 3♦ when p responds.

 

When you open 2NT, which is not at all bad, you must play puppet stayman to find the 5-3 spade fit.

When p holds 3 spades and 5 hearts you will find 4♥ after a transfer.

When p holds 3 spades and 3/4 hearts he will puppet and you will find 4♠.

When p holds 3 spades and 3 hearts you end up in 3NT.

 

Only when 5 or 6♦ is the optimal contract you will regret opening 2NT.

[jdonn]

I certainly don't see the point of 2NT. It looks like a very maximum 1♠ bid, but sometimes you are maximum.

[maggieb]

I know very good players who think a hand like this is a 2♣ opening and very good players who think a hand like this is a 1♠ opening. I would open 1♠, but I can't say I have a strong opinion about it.

[655321]

1♠ for me.

 

2♣ seems OK if it fits your agreements. I also don't understand 2NT (i.e. I hate it).

[mcphee]

A standout 1S bid, all other choices ugh.

[kenrexford]

I don't understand the rebid problem if you start 2♣. If, say, 2♦ is GF and 2♥ neg, either way you bid 2♠. If partner next bids 2NT or 3♣, 3♦ works. If partner instead rebids hearts, you have a fit. What can go wrong?

[jdonn]

I don't understand the rebid problem if you start 2♣.  If, say, 2♦ is GF and 2♥ neg, either way you bid 2♠.  If partner next bids 2NT or 3♣, 3♦ works.  If partner instead rebids hearts, you have a fit.  What can go wrong?

Huh? I just read the other posts and unless I'm missing it, I don't believe a single person has claimed 2♣ would lead to rebid problems. It's just a matter of whether the hand is good enough.

 

Ok I see now, the OP did, sort of. Fair enough. In any case I agree with you on that point.

[whereagles]

I would use some forcing opener or 1♠, depending on the mood.

[han]

I would open 2C.

[Cascade]

1♠

 

If I am lucky I might even make this.

[Quarky]

My understanding was that after 2C opener and 2D, the opener's rebid is usually a 6 card suit or good 5 card suit (like AKQxx); otherwise rebid NT. I guess that's wrong? That's the reason why i thought 2C-2D-2S would be wrong.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

 

1S.

 

Ok, I play 2/1 with a forcing NT, and my

partner respond with a fit and 3-4 HCP.

 

2NT is fine as well.

 

Opening 2C is fine only, if you can stop in

2S.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[mtvesuvius]

I am a 2♣ bidder. I see no rebid problems and it creates a easier auction if partner has something like:

♠ QJx

♥ ATxx

♦ Qxx

♣ xxx

 

You now have a much easier auction:

2♣ - 2♦

2♠ - 3♠

3NT*- 4♣

4♦ - 5♠

6♠ - All Pass

 

*Baby Blackwood (One of my favorite gadgets)

[jdonn]

I am a 2♣ bidder. I see no rebid problems and it creates a easier auction if partner has something like:

♠  QJx

♥  ATxx

♦  Qxx

♣  xxx

 

You now have a much easier auction:

2♣ - 2♦

2♠ - 3♠

3NT*- 4♣

4♦ - 5♠

6♠ - All Pass

 

*Baby Blackwood (One of my favorite gadgets)

Of course the problem is if partner expects a better hand for 2♣, in which case for example your auction could be the same if he didn't have the diamond queen.

Edit: Btw as I look more, what if he had Qxx of clubs instead even here? 1♠ would lead to a much better auction since opener could show his whole hand.

[fred]

I certainly don't see the point of 2NT. It looks like a very maximum 1♠ bid, but sometimes you are maximum.

This is how I see it too, but I suppose it is mostly a question of style.

 

If it is a very maximum 1S opening for some, then I presume most of those who open 2C will consider it a very minimum 2C opening. As such, if you do open 2C, I think you need to make some effort to put on the brakes.

 

So, if your style is to open 2C and rebid 2S, should partner bid 2NT or (especially) 3C next, I don't think you can afford to bid 3D (unless you have a deathwish). You have to bid 3NT now.

 

I really don't like the concept of opening 2NT. If I had to treat this hand as balanced I would open 2C and rebid 2NT (a sequence that, according to my style and judgment, I would rate about as effective as 2C then 2S rates to be).

 

But at the table I know I would open 1S without thinking twice about it. When that's what you have done forever, that just what you do.

 

Fred Gitelman

Bridge Base Inc.

www.bridgebase.com

[whereagles]

if you do open 2C, I think you need to make some effort to put on the brakes.

Disagree. Usually a 2♣ opener's pard is broke or half-broke. It will be rare for him to be in a position to drive to slam all alone. More common will be him to raise your suit or bid NT, after which we'll simply bid game and that's it.

 

I think people so too scared of exciting pard with a 2♣ opener that they forget the main advantage of having a 2♣ bid: to make 1-level openers limited to ~20 hcp.

[fred]

if you do open 2C, I think you need to make some effort to put on the brakes.

Disagree. Usually a 2♣ opener's pard is broke or half-broke. It will be rare for him to be in a position to drive to slam all alone. More common will be him to raise your suit or bid NT, after which we'll simply bid game and that's it.

My remark had nothing to do with driving to slam.

 

It was about partner raising diamonds or opting for 4S instead 3NT with a doubleton spade.

 

Fred Gitelman

Bridge Base Inc.

www.bridgebase.com

[jillybean]

Oh, I missed the 3rd seat part - 1♠ is probably enough now.

[jdonn]

Oh, I missed the 3rd seat part - 1♠ is probably enough now.

Hey Jilly. I'm curious why you think being in 3rd seat makes 1♠ more obvious than it would otherwise have been. I don't think that makes much of a difference to me one way or the other, and in fact the (small) factors I can think of would if anything point me closer to 2♣ in 3rd seat compared to 1st (but I'd rather not get into those factors unless someone really wants to hear.)