Weak 1nt opening on the third hand

[4321]

What do you think about weak 1nt opening (12-14) in white zona after two passes?

[Mbodell]

That it's a couple of points too high?

 

If we were allowed run outs in the ACBL over 1nt which can be less then 10 points then I think I'd want 3rd seat 1nt to be 8-no game. Where no game is the most points you can have where game is unlikely if partner passed. If partner opens all 12 counts then 8-13 is fine. If partner opens nearly all 10 counts (say a 10-12 nt in 1st), then 8-15 works too.

 

As it is, I like playing it 10-12 (and sometimes 13 or 14).

[jukmoi]

I have positive expectations. We got to NT first. Partner is often in the driving seat. He has good general idea of our combined assets. 1NT gets rarely seriously penalized.

[helene_t]

Either a constructive 14-16 with stayman and transfers, or a non-constructive 0-13 with natural take-outs in four suits. 12-14 can't be right.

[OleBerg]

np.

[4321]

Some little notes.

1. RHO is passed too, so their constructive intentions are not high too.

2. We may expect ~14 probable points on the left (after our hand) and ~7 points on the right.

3. We expect statistical dubleton, pre-empting on the 2nd 3rd and 4th level with a suit. So TNT with us. Weak 1nt pre-empting doesn't promise nothing.

4. All this points are not secrets for opponents.

[dellache]

We play (9)10-13(14).

 

But with (4333) we just open 12-14. We have found out that it is difficult for oppos to penalize in that case (we stay conservative with 4333, because when LHO doubles, it often leads to a 4-3 fit only, easier to penalize and meaning blood at the 2-level). Doing that with less than 9 is also asking for trouble, because now (1) West is very likely to have a double, (2) they are likely to take a good decision in their 23+ HCP zone : either doubling you (if pard doesn't have a 5 card suit, the 4-4 plays badly with 18- HCP when they lead trumps) or bidding game that will usually make, because of friendly distributions (you are balanced).