sort these from best to worst.

[benlessard]

[hv=pc=n&s=s86hq9dakj953ckq5]133|100[/hv]

 

15-17 Nt

sort these from best to worst even if you think there is only one good answer. Sorry if you find it too obvious.

 

1- open 1NT

2- 1D-1S-2NT

3- 1D-1S-2C

4- 1D-1S-2D

5- 1D-1S-3D

[jjbrr]

14523

[JLOGIC]

1

[helene_t]

14532

[Fluffy]

15432

[rhm]

14352

 

Rainer Herrmann

[dvd]

14532

[WellSpyder]

1 >> 4 >> (2, 3, 5)

[CamHenry]

1..4............523

[Siegmund]

1>>>5>4>>>32

[dake50]

Play 2D for this type hand. Good 5+D, poor M-stops, 12-17.

Partner will show M-stop/5xM with 2M. Partner tries 3Nt with M-stops.

Partner 3D/4D to get our fit uppity in this auction.

[kgr]

15432

15433

[Trinidad]

51432

 

I am not against opening an off shape 1NT, but I do need to have a reason why I don't want to bid my suit(s) naturally, e.g.:

 

• 
   
  
• Poor quality suits
  
• Reverse shape without he values for a reverse
  
• A "no trumpy hand"
  

 

Here none of these apply, so I will just bid naturally. (Sorry for ruining the unanimity.)

 

Rik

[Poky]

1 3 4 5 2

[SteveMoe]

[5 1] >> 3 > 4 >> 2

 

Like Trinidad, but disdaining wide ranging 2♦ rebid. Not a 2N rebid. Ever.

5 slightly preferred to 1 to preserve ♦ slam chances.

[the hog]

41532

[straube]

41532

[awm]

45132

 

The major suit holding is pretty poor for opening 1NT; it's easy to land in 2M going down when diamonds plays better, or to land in 3NT off a bunch of major suit cashers. It seems like you actually need quite a bit to make 3NT on this hand (help in both majors, either the diamond queen or a finesse, etc) and probably you will get there when it's right rebidding 2♦ (not to mention it may be better from partner's side).

[gszes]

4 =10 1=8 5=5 3=3 2=1/2

 

lets assume when we invite p to game they will "always" accept with

2 aces. Just imagining p with these 2 aces gives us a reasonable

number of game chances where we need to pick up dia for 6 tricks

while the rest will need a favorable lead and/or lie of opposing cards.

 

Even Vul at imps it is difficult to invite game and that's why I

downgraded the 2 "invites" though I like 3d better since it is

probably safer. The 2c bid might look good on paper but it

can completely derail the bidding if perchance p has clubs

and thinks we might have them also.

[Fluffy]

45132

 

The major suit holding is pretty poor for opening 1NT; it's easy to land in 2M going down when diamonds plays better, or to land in 3NT off a bunch of major suit cashers. It seems like you actually need quite a bit to make 3NT on this hand (help in both majors, either the diamond queen or a finesse, etc) and probably you will get there when it's right rebidding 2♦ (not to mention it may be better from partner's side).

 

Don't you open 10 (or 9?) counts in 1♦ with 6 card suit? I though you among all posters would think 5>>>>4

[Lord Molyb]

51432

[straube]

Don't you open 10 (or 9?) counts in 1♦ with 6 card suit? I though you among all posters would think 5>>>>4

 

For myself, I was assuming a standard bidding system (e.g. 2/1 GF or SA) with possibly a weak 2D opening available.

[akhare]

451. 3 is bad, but 2 especially egregious given it's doubling down on the rationale behind 1 and overstating the strength of the hand.

[awm]

Don't you open 10 (or 9?) counts in 1♦ with 6 card suit? I though you among all posters would think 5>>>>4

 

Not really. My style depends a lot on methods, but if I have a weak two in diamonds I prefer to make this bid on 9-10 high. If I don't have a weak two in diamonds, I'm typically playing an intermediate 2♦ which has a range something like 10+ to 15 (and would make that opening with this hand).

 

My view is that this is not really a "good 15" -- the lack of shape and Qx holding in hearts are both kind of poor to my eyes. I don't think 1♦...3♦ is terrible but it just feels to me like this hand needs a lot for game to make. For example ♠Axxx ♥Kxx ♦Qx ♣xxxx is a fine hand that will reach game opposite either a 1NT or 1♦...3♦ sequence, yet it's almost always down on best defense. There are much worse hands like ♠Axxx ♥Kx ♦Qxx ♣xxxx or ♠AKJxx ♥xxx ♦x ♣Jxxx where you are also in game.

[benlessard]

13452

 

Thanks it was interesting. When ive learned bridge (20 y ago) 1Y-1Z-3Y was almost forcing and with a great suit requirement. I know the trend is to lower requirement but I dont really understand why. Im especially puzzled when a fair amount of "b" players go 1S-1NT-3S with AJT763, AKx,x,KJx.

 

Among the group ive started playing bridge Im almost sure that 1D-2C was probably going to be the top answer (offshape 1NT meant opening 1NT with 5M in those years) but I knew very well this was not going to be true anymore. The reason I prefer 1Nt now is simply because ill bid 1D-2C with a fair amount of 4D+5C hands but if its not for those case I would place 1D-2C before opening 1NT. Also if my hand were x,Qxx,AKJ9xx,KQx 1D-1S-2C would be a no brainer for me, I believe that here at least half of the players would prefer 2D or 3D over 2C.

 

I have no big problem with 1D-2D being 11-15 because but going 10-15 or 11-16 is too far. IMO you really want to avoid 1D-1M-2D-2nt-pass sequences.