davlyn Posted June 8, 2009 Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 Good evening, What should I bid with a hand with 17 HCP and 1 point for distribution in a hand comprising 5,3,3,2 cards?Do I bid 1NT because of 15-17 HCPs, or do I bid 1 of a major if the 5 card suit is a major in this hand with 18 TPs, or 1 of a minor if the 5 card suit is a minor? Thank you for your attention.Davlyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
awm Posted June 8, 2009 Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 There are really several questions here. To answer each of them: (1) With a 5332 pattern and a five-card minor, one should treat the hand as balanced. This generally means opening 1NT with 15-17 high card points, opening 1m and rebidding 1nt with 12-14, and opening 1m and jumping to 2NT on 18-19. (2) Possession of a five-cad suit is often worth an additional point, especially if the suit has some decent spot cards. Thus it is reasonable to open 1NT on some 14-point hands with 5332, or to open 1m planning to rebid 2NT on some 17-point hands with 5332. (3) With a five-card major you have the choice of opening 1M or 1NT. It will sometimes pay to open 1M even when "in range" for the notrump bid. However, unless you play special methods to deal with this hand type, you will have some rebid issues when you open 1M on these hands (say partner responds 1NT; you could have game but raising is very pushy and normally shows a better hand). I recommend opening 1NT with these hands most of the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanp Posted June 8, 2009 Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 It would be unusual for me to upgrade a 17-count and open 1m. I think that opening 1NT is too much of an advantage. However, with a 5-card major I would almost always open 1M when I have 17 HCP. As an aside I still see the decision to open 1M or 1NT with a 5332 shape as a style issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davlyn Posted June 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 Thank you for your considered and thoughtful responsesDavlyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skjaeran Posted June 8, 2009 Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 It would be unusual for me to upgrade a 17-count and open 1m. I normally upgrade a 17-count with a decent 5-card minor to 18 and open 1m. If not, I fear I miss too many games. Besides, I believe we're bidding more accurately after opening 1m - it's easier to exchange information that might be important. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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