Swedish Club and the 4414

[mgoetze]

Given the following opening structure

 

1♣ 11-13 balanced or 17+ any

1♦ 11-16, 4+ diamonds unbalanced

1♥ 11-16, 5+ hearts

1♠ 11-16, 5+ spades

1NT 14-16 balanced

2♣ (11)12-16, 6+ clubs or 5♣4M

 

where would you prefer to squeeze in 4414 shapes?

 

(a) 11-13 in 1♣, improvise with 14-16 (1♥, 1NT or 2♣ depending on texture);

(b) 11-13 in 1♣, 14-16 systematically in 1NT;

(c) Sacrifice 2♦ opening for 11-16 precision 2♦;

(d) 11-13 in 1♣, sacrifice 2♦ opening for 14-16 precision 2♦;

(e) 11-13 in 1♣, sacrifice 2♦ opening for 14-16 precision 2♦ with more shapes to tighten 2♣ opening to 6+ clubs;

(f) Systematically open 1♥ on this shape;

(g) Other?

[Cthulhu D]

It seems lots of people playing swedish club like to be able to pass 1C!-1D! which makes it less desirable to open 1C. Are you safe bidding a major?

[mgoetze]

Well as you can see in http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/51912-swedish-club-passing-1%26-9827%3B-1%26-9830%3B/ I'm willing to bid 1♣-1♦-1♥ even on 3343, so it should be a no-brainer on 4414. ;)

[mike777]

I vote c.

 

If you dont like the results you can always change.

[antonylee]

Polish club has a similar problem (and Jassem doesn't discuss it in his WJ05 booklet, I believe). We decided to systemically open in 1♣ (with 1NT allowed with the correct texture).

1♣-1♦(neg, or 9-11 w/ minor(s), or 12+ bal no 4cM and interested in rightsiding NT)...: 12-14: treat as balanced; 15-17, treat as 4♥5♣

1♣-1M...: raise to the appropriate level

1♣-1N...: treat as balanced, partner usually has some ♦ anyways

[gwnn]

I don't understand point (e), maybe you mean

 

(e) sacrifice 2♦ opening for 11-16 precision 2♦ with more shapes to tighten 2♣ opening to 6+ clubs;

 

Otherwise you really can't have 2♣=6+, am I missing something?

[dcrc2]

I open these 1♣ in Polish, but I think in Swedish Club it's more attractive to play a Precision 2♦. If it was just 4414 then there wouldn't be a problem (probably opening 1NT in the 14-16 range), but you've got 4405 and (43)15 to deal with as well, and these are not good shapes for opening 2♣.

[Zelandakh]

If 4414 with 14-16 wwas the only problem hand type then I would prefer to open it 1NT. If there are other hand types that cause a problem then I would look at alternative structures, perhaps a Precision 2♦ opening but more likely using 1♦ as either minor and either 2♣ or 2♦ as both minors (for 2♦ speak with KenRexford!). FWiiW I treat 4414 as balanced in my system and it is not as big a problem as I thought it might be. You do need to assign specific transfer breaks for the hand type though (assuming you play transfers over 1NT) and it helps to play a response structure that allows you to play in 2♦ most of the time when you have a weak diamond take-out (Puppet, Keri, etc).

[mattias]

Fredin and Lindkvist put the whole 11-16 range in their 1C opener. You should be able to find a convention card on ecatsbridge.

 

/Mattias