What do you open?

[schulken]

[hv=pc=n&s=sakj2ht972d65ct52&w=s75hkjdt9842cj943&n=sqt8643hq85d73c76&e=s9ha643dakqjcakq8]399|300[/hv]

 

Sorry - the hand editor has a few shortcomings when you omit the auction. E is dealer and NS are vulnerable. ACBL club game. Much discussion was generated after the hand. My own view - trying to ignore what the others have - is to open 1♦. I have a general rule to avoid 2♣ openers when there's a chance we could play in ♦, since the contract will now likely be wrong-sided. The other concern I have is that I have no rebid, assuming a 2♦ response. Those I polled opened all over the map - 2♣ winding up in 5 twice, 2♣ winding up in 3 NT twice (down 2 - at least NS were smart enough to lead ♠ and unblock, and 6♦ twice, by the somewhat aggressive 1♦ - 3♦ - 6♦ route. This was the top. There were a few other oddities, based in large measure on inexperience or miscommunication - 3♠X by N - off 3, and 4♥ by E off 3.

 

What do you think? One participant was concerned that her 1♦ opening could be passed out, missing a game. My response was, what game did you miss? If W were completely broke, N would likely balance, and as was seen, EW can defend well against a ♠ contract.

[Fluffy]

I show 23 balanced, won't work always.

[whereagles]

This is a difficult hand, not fit for standard systems.

 

I would just open it 2♣ and cross my fingers. Plan is:

 

2♣ 2♦: now 3♦, hoping to bid 3NT over pard's expected spade bid.

2♣ 2♠: now 2NT. If pard rebids a minor, fine. Else 3NT.

2♣ 2NT: now 3NT. With trepidation.

 

Other responses I think I can handle them no prob.

[PhantomSac]

It's really tempting to go full blown Canadian and open 1D with this hand. Showing 23 bal feels really awful with this specific 4441. Opening 1D feels really awful to me also as I am not actually Canadian. Pick your poison I guess.

[Trinidad]

It's really tempting to go full blown Canadian and open 1D with this hand. Showing 23 bal feels really awful with this specific 4441. Opening 1D feels really awful to me also as I am not actually Canadian. Pick your poison I guess.

I learned to play bridge in Michigan. I guess that is close enough to Canada for me to open this 1♦.

 

Rik

[mike777]

very interesting hand. As others have mentioned you can open 1d or 2c.

 

If you open 2c and assuming 2d response as art and gf(random A or K) then possible rebids may include:

 

 

2nt

3d

or perhaps even a jump to 3h as 4h and 5+d and 3 loser hand.

 

 

All have flaws but as stated most of us don't have a system bid here as this hand type is so rare.

[steve2005]

Don't like 2♣-2♦-3♦ uses up huge amount of space and still miss potential ♣ fit and possibly ♥ fit.

 

Going 2♣ route would rebid 2♥ over 2♦. Is admittedly ugly as this is your worst 4-card suit but at least you'll find 4-4♥.

 

Personally, lacking a 4441 tool I would open 1♦ didn't know it was a Canadian thing.

 

 

 

[mike777]

Don't like 2♣-2♦-3♦ uses up huge amount of space and still miss potential ♣ fit and possibly ♥ fit.

 

Going 2♣ route would rebid 2♥ over 2♦. Is admittedly ugly as this is your worst 4-card suit but at least you'll find 4-4♥.

 

Personally, lacking a 4441 tool I would open 1♦ didn't know it was a Canadian thing.

 

Perhaps, I would be concerned about finding a 4-3h or even a 4-2h fit.