what do you open?

[frouu]

[hv=d=e&v=n&s=shkjt9543daj98c53]133|100|Scoring: IMP

(pass)-?[/hv]

we play sayc. what would your bid be?

[jillybean]

3♥, not good enough for 1♥ in second seat, vulnerable

[blackshoe]

3♥. Second choice, 3♥.

[655321]

4♥, I want to make some effort with a 7-4 shape, and as an extra bonus KJT9 is pretty solid.

[mohitz]

3♥ only. 4♥ at any other vulnerability.

[Cascade]

3♥ but I need a partner who will expect this much.

 

2nd choice 1♥.

[nigel_k]

4♥. This is an overbid but I don't like to preempt at the three level with a void because it's too hard for partner to judge when to raise. Second choice 1♥.

[Cyberyeti]

1♥, but in style would open the same with a heart less and spade more.

[mikeh]

This is very tough.

 

While the suit is at best acceptable for 3♥, the hand is way, way too good. I have a LTC of only 6, and that is likely pessimistic, given the spots in the red suits.

 

I'd rather open 1♥ than 3, now that we've got by one opponent. But this hand is not strong enough in hcp (read: defence) to open 1♥....partner will play me for more, whether in our constructive auction or if the opps contest.

 

 

So I open 4♥. I may still miss slam....I may still go for a number.....like I said, I think this hand is very tough.

 

I'd like to be playing a strong club method...now 1♥ is more palatable.

[gwnn]

1♥, 4♥ is too committal when we're this red.

[andy_h]

4♥. The spade void is a good feature to have.

[aguahombre]

Agree with everything Mikeh wrote, especially the part about this hand being difficult.

 

But, I still choose 1H. Would only open 4♥ with a one-time partner. Don't want CHO to get used to being off two of the top 3 honors in hearts, and want same to be able to count on 7 to 7 1/2 tricks from me.

[Siegmund]

Doesn't strike me as difficult at all. Just barely enough playing strength for 3H at this vulnerability, and no solid 2nd defensive trick AND no surplus of high cards. 1H doesn't cross my mind; I rate it as my 3rd choice behind 3H and pass.

[P_Marlowe]

Playing with a stranger - 1H, planning to bid 2H.

 

If you dont like it, pass.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[Cascade]

4♥. The spade void is a good feature to have.

Except that it is not one with which we take tricks. And bidding that high at these colours I am very concerned about takeing enough tricks.

[neilkaz]

3♥ only. 4♥ at any other vulnerability.

For sure 4♥ for me at any other vul, but with 7-4-2-0 I lean towards 4♥ here also. My ♠ void, makes me both happy if the opps can't find a profitable 4♠ call after my 4♥ and makes me happy per some recent dicussions with W/C players telling me that hands with voids are better on offence than quite a few players think.

 

I don't care for the slow route opening 1♥ and then rebidding ♥ again and again since in SAYC PD will expect me to have more.

 

On a scale of 0-10 with the top choice being forced to be 10.

 

4♥=10 3♥=8 1♥=4 anything else 0

[andy_h]

4♥. The spade void is a good feature to have.

Except that it is not one with which we take tricks. And bidding that high at these colours I am very concerned about takeing enough tricks.

Isn't that the definition of a preempt though? I am hoping for the fact that my good suit + good shape (7420 much much better than 7411 and we even have honours in both of our main suits) that the 4♥ bid will give maximum pressure on my LHO who has to now (try) find their fit from 4♠+ if it is their hand. It's also possible that 4♥ has now prevented the opponents from finding their profitable 4♠ sacrifice. I will feel that I've done my job if the auction proceeds as P-4H-4S-X.

[Cascade]

4♥. The spade void is a good feature to have.

Except that it is not one with which we take tricks. And bidding that high at these colours I am very concerned about takeing enough tricks.

Isn't that the definition of a preempt though? I am hoping for the fact that my good suit + good shape (7420 much much better than 7411 and we even have honours in both of our main suits) that the 4♥ bid will give maximum pressure on my LHO who has to now (try) find their fit from 4♠+ if it is their hand. It's also possible that 4♥ has now prevented the opponents from finding their profitable 4♠ sacrifice. I will feel that I've done my job if the auction proceeds as P-4H-4S-X.

Indeed.

 

Its the auction that goes 4♥ P P P that I am worried about.

[andy_h]

How is that auction so bad though? I wouldn't be concerned at all considering that I might have just stole the pot. If the auction ended that way the deck might be evenly split and we could still well be making say if partner has the SA and they lead a spade or partner has the CK and the CA is onside etc. If I go 1 or 2 or 3 off (it seems fathomable to go 3 or 4 off if it goes 4H-all pass as that requires everything to be wrong - we even have the ♦J98) I don't think it would be such a big deal. Aiming at a 9 trick target of 3H= vs. 4H-1 seems to be a small target compared to the gains that I would have if the auction had proceeded in another fashion.

 

One (big) gain that 3H will have over 4H is if LHO overcalls 3NT and that gets murdered. What 4H gains is if LHO judges that it's too dangerous to come in at the 4lvl (but is able to find a X over 3H) and if they do interfere they may be able to find their sac or maybe partner has a good hand and we will have a larger size penalty. 3H also allows LHO to make a 2-suited bid (4m playing NLM, or 4H if not) whereas over a 4H preempt it becomes dangerous to bid or not to bid with a 2 suited hand

[the hog]

4H. Burgess' Rule.

[bluecalm]

I like both 4♥ and 1♥.

First instinct is "wtp 1♥" but putting some pressure may be better.

 

Not one of my partners would except hand that good for 3♥, even vulnerable.

 

since in SAYC PD will expect me to have more.

 

More of what ? You have more playing strength than standard 12 count with 6♥.

If you mean "more points" I don't see any point in worrying about this unless you play with someone who likes to double "because you opened and I have 8hcp partner" but then it's a problem with your partner not with opening...

[JLOGIC]

I'd open 1H or 4H based on state of the match/event, opps, partner, my mood, whatever. It's purely a matter of tactics and how likely they are to double you or misjudge or overcompete over a preempt and how much variance you want etc. My standard would be to open 1H I guess.

 

Opening 3H seems like a joke to me.