How to handle this hand

[BurnKryten]

[hv=d=s&v=b&s=sxxhaj98xdakq9xxc]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

Playing SAYC, more or less, you are first to call. What is your opening bid, and how do you plan to continue?

[Gerardo]

1♦ then ♥, repeated if possible. Longest suit first.

You risk to be corrected to ♥ on 5-2 or worse, when ♦ game or slam is there, if you open 1♥.

[the hog]

1♥ and then repeated ♦ bids. Major suit first.

You risk being shut out of H if you open 1D on this limited hcp hand.

[jtfanclub]

So if I open 2C, have I done something bad?

 

If it goes 2C-2D, I'll say 2H, then 3D later.

[OSH]

So if I open 2C, have I done something bad?

 

If it goes 2C-2D, I'll say 2H, then 3D later.

The problem is that the opponents won't stay silent...

I don't like 2C for the two suited hands, especially for this "not so strong" hand.

[paulg]

So if I open 2C, have I done something bad?

 

If it goes 2C-2D, I'll say 2H, then 3D later.

Although they disagree on the opening, the experts above would not have considered 2♣ for a couple of reasons - partner may expect you to have a much higher point count and will never believe you are this weak, so will drive onwards and upwards; also 2♣ opener cramps the auction, and any response above 2♥ will prevent you showing this hand.

 

A 2♣ opener is really for hands that will miss game when opener is weak. With only 14 points it is inconceivable that it will passed out - either partner will bid or the opponents will - so you want to leave yourself as much room as possible.

 

It is hard to judge the value of this hand - if you have a fit then it does have slam possibilities, if you do not have a fit then you do not want to force to game.

 

I think the question to consider is the difference between Geraldo and Hog's. The former believes that the hand is strong enough to reverse and, in competition, still bid hearts. Equally opening 1♥ ensures that you will never miss a heart fit in competition but sacrifices the large potential for playing in diamonds.

 

I would definitely open 1♦. There is a lot of value for playing in your longest suit when there is a lot of distribution about - if the opponents lead your short suit then hand can easily fall apart when you have to ruff a couple of times. I would expect a 6-1 diamond fit to play at least a trick better, and more likely 2+ tricks, than a 5-2 heart fit.

 

My reasons for opening 1♦ is another reason not to open 2♣, as I can never show my hand shape.

 

p

[luke warm]

i'd open 1d also and bid hearts next.. even if it went 1d (2s) p (p) i'd bid 3h here

[Free]

I usually don't like opening a minor with a 5 card Major. The biggest problem here is you'll probably have either a huge misfit, or opps will intervene like hell - good luck telling your 6 card ♦! I think this is quite a GF hand, but I wouldn't bid 2♣ with it, since two-suiters usually bring bidding problems with them.

 

I think I'm going to go against my principles, and open this one with 1♦...

[luke warm]

if the ops jump the bidding, 1d (2s) for example, by bidding 3h you do show 5/6.. now yes it'd be tough after 1d (2s) p (3s), but is it bad to bid 4h here? won't partner *know* you have 5+ hearts and longer diamonds?

[flytoox]

1D, then reverse to 2H, and rebid 3H. Thi hand worth a reverse and should try to force to game.

[helium]

Clear 1♦ opening

 

 

kenneth

[hrothgar]

 

>So if I open 2C, have I done something bad?

 

Bad isn't the word that I would use, but its close enough

 

1. You hand has nowhere near the defensive strength required for 2♣

 

2. You have a two suited hand. You should strive to avoid opening 2♣ any two-suited hand. Distorting strength and opening 2♣ with this subminimum is a loosing tactic.

 

3. If you want to overbid, whats wrong with reversing?

[joker_gib]

Same for me : 1♦

[skorchev]

1D, then reverse to 2H, and rebid 3H. Thi hand worth a reverse and should try to force to game.

I absolutely agree with this one!

 

1♦ opening and after repeating 2 times the ♥s.

 

 

Stefan

[the hog]

And so it goes

1D (2S) P (4S)

 

And now gentlemen? If you bid 5H I think you are a wanker - (there you are Richard; I used it first).

 

Had it gone

1H (2S) P (4S)

Would you feel more comfortable now with 5D?

 

(I play 4 handed and not 2 handed bridge).

[skorchev]

And so it goes

1D (2S) P (4S)

 

And now gentlemen? If you bid 5H I think you are a wanker -(there you are Richard; I used it first).

 

Had it gone

1H (2S) P (4S)

Would you feel more comfortable now with 5D?

Hehe, I think that now the situation it's very easy, I will bid 4NT (2-suiter) and if my partner bid 5♣ I will correct to 5♦ and now he knows that I have ♦+♥.

 

 

Stefan

[helium]

And so it goes

1D (2S) P (4S)

 

And now gentlemen? If you bid 5H I think you are a wanker - (there you are Richard; I used it first).

 

Had it gone

1H (2S) P (4S)

Would you feel more comfortable now with 5D?

 

(I play 4 handed and not 2 handed bridge).

well i dont think its right to open 1 ♥ just in case i cant bid next time under the 5 level lol

[skorchev]

And so it goes

1D (2S) P (4S)

 

And now gentlemen? If you bid 5H I think you are a wanker - (there you are Richard; I used it first).

 

Had it gone

1H (2S) P (4S)

Would you feel more comfortable now with 5D?

 

(I play 4 handed and not 2 handed bridge).

BTW I wonder what you would bid if the bidding is 1♥-(2♠)-Pass-(4♠), and how will show 5-6?

 

 

Stefan

[spwdo]

[hv=v=b&n=skj7h102d103cakj843&w=sa83hkq3dj865c1072&e=sq10654h754d2cq965&s=s92haj986dakq974c]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

I was opp here, said that the bidding that took place was called a reverse, i believed it overvalued north hand, and that according to bidding after 3♥ contract either shoud end in 3nt(given the stoppers in other suits) or 4♥ given the support.

Woud open 1♥, then rebid ♦ when i got chance, no harm in saying 3♦ or 4♦ if opps intervene , if hand belongs to opps with ♥ thats where we go, need something from partner to be able to have a game.

Further if opps say 4♥ can always X, if partner doesnt like it he woud bid one of the minors, if ♣ can correct to ♦?

 

Bidding was 1♦ 2♣2♥3♣3♥4♥ opps silent contract went down 2

[joker_gib]

Hehe, I think that now the situation it's very easy, I will bid 4NT (2-suiter) and if my partner bid 5♣ I will correct to 5♦ and now he knows that I have ♦+♥.

 

BTW I wonder what you would bid if the bidding is 1♥-(2♠)-Pass-(4♠), and how will show 5-6?

 

Totally agree with you Stefan ! ;)

 

Alain

[Chamaco]

I think 1♦ followed by 4♥ fully describes the hand. Your bid, pard ;)

[OSH]

Woud open 1♥, then rebid ♦ when i got chance, no harm in saying 3♦ or 4♦ if opps intervene , if hand belongs to opps with ♥ thats where we go, need something from partner to be able to have a game.

Well, partner has SOMETHING, so with silent opponents you surely bid a game.

Opening 1♥ you are going to play 4♥ in this case, with 1♦ maybe you would find 5♦, and with a club lead.... ;)

[EricK]

And so it goes

1D (2S) P (4S)

 

And now gentlemen? If you bid 5H I think you are a wanker - (there you are Richard; I used it first).

 

Had it gone

1H (2S) P (4S)

Would you feel more comfortable now with 5D?

 

(I play 4 handed and not 2 handed bridge).

After 1D (2S) P (4S) I bid 4NT (two-suited hand) and take out 5C into 5D to show this sort of hand.

 

Eric

[jtfanclub]

 

>So if I open 2C, have I done something bad?

 

Bad isn't the word that I would use, but its close enough

 

1. You hand has nowhere near the defensive strength required for 2♣

 

2. You have a two suited hand. You should strive to avoid opening 2♣ any two-suited hand. Distorting strength and opening 2♣ with this subminimum is a loosing tactic.

 

3. If you want to overbid, whats wrong with reversing?

The ACBL defines 2C as 22hcp or 8 1/2 quick. When I think of 8 1/2 quick, I'm thinking of this hand. So in that way, it's not a distortion, unless I misunderstand their meaning.

 

Nor is it an exaggeration to say it needs little for game. Just the KH in a flat hand would likely be sufficient all by itself.

 

I'm not seriously considering 2C- I'm noting that this fits the stretched definiton the ACBL uses, and I'm wondering if anybody thinks it might be a right bid.

 

Sounds like not.

[Rebound]

Put me in the 1♦ camp. The general principle: a stronger hand should open the longer suit regardless of rank, a weaker hand should open the higher suit. This assumes we are talking about at least 5-5 distribution. In this case, I think the hand qualifies for a reverse.

 

P.S. On the auction above, After 1♦ 2♣ 2♥ I would bid 3NT. South now has the option of shooting it out in 3NT or going to 4 or 5 diamonds, depending on style.