Is this "normal"

[rhm]

Maybe it is not normal. Who cares? Bid and play normal and you will get a normal result. When I play I try to do better.

Besides what is normal today used to be unheard of a couple of years ago.

 

What matters is whether it is a good bid. Good bids are rarely normal. I do not need a rebid problem before opening 1NT. For me it is enough that a bid describes a hand well.

Besides, if you open 1♣ and partner responds 1♥ you would have to jump to 3♥ and besides showing a stronger hand than you have, I do not like that at all with no ace. No matter whether partner passes, bids 4 ♥ or tries for 6♥, I give you good chances to go down. Claiming that there is no rebid problem is true for players who can not evaluate a hand.

 

I would open 1NT for various reasons:

 

1) secondary honors are better suited for notrump.

2) A singleton king is better than a small doubleton, whether as a stopper or when partner transfers into this suit.

3) The value of the hand is just right for a 15-17 notrump. (worth around 16)

4) If partner transfers into ♥ and you super-accept (nobody forces you to do so) you will at least be assured of a nine card fit.

5) This hand will do better declaring than as dummy. Some number of notrump played from this side will quite often be the right strain, sometimes even when you have a 4-4 fit in a major, and chances are small that this hand will play notrump if you open 1♣

 

Note that this is a recurring discussion. I just cite one of the best players in the world on another discussion forum:

 

Chris Pisarra asked:

 

> A98x

> Axxx

> K

> AQTx

 

> Second seat, all white.

 

> So I opened 1NT. While I clearly can't argue that it's the normal call, would you even consider it? Or was I completely off

> the wall? (Note: This is a much more contentious example since far better suited to suit play -RHM)

 

Good judgment. Many hands with a stiff king are best treated

as balanced because the king is likely to be useful at notrump

but not at a suit contract. There are various subtle benefits

too, such as baffling the defenders' shape count.

 

Partner makes no adjustment for this; if he chooses that suit

as trumps, the blank king is typically better than two-small.

In fact, I've seen a number cases over the years where partner

has used Texas (to 4M) and the 6-1 fit was the only (or best)

game because of communication problems in notrump.

 

It's amazing how many players think nothing of opening 1NT with

a worthless doubleton, yet disdain that bid with a stiff king.

Which holding is a better stopper?

 

--

Richard Pavlicek

 

Amen.

 

Rainer Herrmann