What's your bid?

[Hanoi5]

Playing 2/1, a team match of 16 boards:

 

[hv=pc=n&s=s92hq5daj74cakj93&d=n&v=e&b=9&a=pp]133|200[/hv]

[Phil]

1N. I've played this style for some time and I like it better than 1♣..2♣ and much better than 1♦...2♣.

[mikeh]

I hate 1N. But I hate the alternatives even more, so the nauseating 1N it is.

[han]

Prefer to have a spade honor too but sure, 1NT it is.

[gwnn]

1N, don't hate it at all really.

[Fluffy]

1♣ then 1NT can be the winner and it has a bit of flexibility but I would still open 1NT

[gnasher]

I'll only hate 1NT if partner shows 5-5 in the majors. I suspect that you could make this 32 32 AQJ10 AKJ109 and still get a majority for 1NT.

[nigel_k]

1♣ then 2♣.

 

I have yet to be convinced that opening 1NT on this hand type with a small doubleton is a good idea, especially when my clubs are easily good enough to rebid. Really dislike 1♦ and would only ever do that as a last resort on something like x AJx AKQx Qxxxx.

[rduran1216]

I'm opening 1D, whats the problem?

[MrAce]

1 NT, regardless of how flawed a 15-17 balanced hand for 1 nt, not opening it 1 NT causes much more problem. Thats how i see it.

[mtvesuvius]

1N

[P_Marlowe]

1C.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[rduran1216]

1 NT, regardless of how flawed a 15-17 balanced hand for 1 nt, not opening it 1 NT causes much more problem. Thats how i see it.

 

To those who open 1NT, what happens when partner has the very likely garbage stayman hand

[rhm]

To those who open 1NT, what happens when partner has the very likely garbage stayman hand

 

Play 2♥ in a 4-2 or 5-2 fit I suppose. That strengthens your character :)

 

Why is this "very likely" ?

 

Rainer Herrmann

[han]

I agree, I don't see why garbage stayman is so likely. Anyway, there are worse things than playing 2H in a 5-2 fit.

 

If partner shows a gameforcing hand with both majors then I'd bid 3NT. This looks easy so I don't understand the objection.

[WellSpyder]

If partner shows a gameforcing hand with both majors then I'd bid 3NT. This looks easy so I don't understand the objection.

Because partner will continue with 4♥ to show 5-5 rather than 5-4, "knowing" that there will be an 8-card fit in one of the majors?

[gnasher]

If partner shows a gameforcing hand with both majors then I'd bid 3NT. This looks easy so I don't understand the objection.

Because with 5-5 in the majors partner will tend to stretch. 3NT opposite KQxxx KJxxx xx x is almost hopeless, and that's not the worst he can have.

[han]

Gnasher, of course you are right that partner may have a normal gameforce and we go down because the hands fit poorly. I don't think that it is worth worrying about too much but I agree with you that this is a possibility.

 

Wellspyder, my partner will show 5-5 already below 3NT so there is no need to show it again.

[WellSpyder]

Wellspyder, my partner will show 5-5 already below 3NT so there is no need to show it again.

Fair enough. There was a hand just like this in the English inter-county championship (Tollemache) last weekend, though. Playing against a strong pair representing the county that won the event last year, they held a 2245 hand opposite a 5521 shape, and bid 1N - 2H (transfer); 2S - 3H (GF, 2nd suit); 3N - 4H; 4S. The resulting 5-2 fit was not a success (though if declarer's spades had been J4 rather than J2 the result might have been different...).

[mcphee]

This position and the colors clearly make this a standout for 1NT. The hand itself has always been a problem, the C openers are not well placed if they o/c S and partner makes a neg double 2S, and the same applies had they opened 1D, as bidding 3C could land you on a 4-3 D fit. 1N solves everything, and to be honest I hope they come in showing majors and partner can clip it.

[the hog]

Open 1D of course. wtp?

[gnasher]

Gnasher, of course you are right that partner may have a normal gameforce and we go down because the hands fit poorly. I don't think that it is worth worrying about too much but I agree with you that this is a possibility.

I didn't say it was worth worrying about. After Mike said "I hate 1N", and Gwnn said "don't hate it at all really", I offered the intermediate position of "I'll only hate 1NT if partner shows 5-5 in the majors".

 

On reflection, though, it's probably not even worth not-worrying about. I've noticed that whenever I reach a horrible 3NT, we are vulnerable. We're not vulnerable on this deal, so that must mean that it won't happen.

[Free]

1NT, because I don't like the alternatives

[Flameous]

1♣ and 1NT. I downgrade, partner has lot's of bids at his disposal after that start which might lead to good result. No problem with 1NT though and if I had another J, I guess I'd have to bid it.

[han]

Fair enough. There was a hand just like this in the English inter-county championship (Tollemache) last weekend, though. Playing against a strong pair representing the county that won the event last year, they held a 2245 hand opposite a 5521 shape, and bid 1N - 2H (transfer); 2S - 3H (GF, 2nd suit); 3N - 4H; 4S. The resulting 5-2 fit was not a success (though if declarer's spades had been J4 rather than J2 the result might have been different...).

 

Tell them about Smolen, then they might not need the ♠4. It would also rightside 4-4 heart fits.

 

My partner and I play the transfer extensions Justin wrote about in his blog some years ago. This works well with gameforcing 5-5 hands because after 1NT - 2H - 2S - 3D partner can set trumps at the 3-level which makes slam bidding easier. With invitational 5-5 hands we bid 2D - 2H - 3H. I've played this method also with cherdano and others. I love it and I think it's worth the trouble of visiting Justin's website.