opening

[han]

I don't know the tourny, but opening with less than 8 HCP is absolutely legal in ACBL land. It's systemically opening such hands that's illegal.

[luke warm]

is that right? hmm... i'll take your word for it, but i honestly thought there was a rule for a bid at the one level having <8 hcp

[awm]

I had a rather interesting interaction with ACBL on this matter. ACBL rules state:

 

DISALLOWED -- Opening one bids which by partnership agreement could show fewer than 8 hcp. (Not applicable to a psych.)

 

ACBL rules do not anywhere indicate that the rules regarding 3rd seat openings are different from those regarding first seat openings.

 

Anyways, in a recent tournament, an opponent opened 1♥ against my teammates in third seat holding:

 

[hv=s=sxhkxxxxdatxxxcxx]133|100|[/hv]

 

When questioned about this after the hand, opponents indicated that they play rule of 20 openings in 1st/2nd seat, and routinely add a king to their hand when opening in 3rd seat. In this particular auction, responder held a poor ten count and chose to pass after opener's 2♦ rebid -- not an unreasonable choice in any case but perhaps made more appealing by the knowledge that light hands such as this one were within the realm of possibility.

 

So I asked ACBL if this was a legal opening/agreement. ACBL response:

 

On Oct 23, 2004, at 12:39 PM, rulings@acbl.org wrote:

 

>

> Adam,

>

> Third seat opening bids are often 'tactical' and 'positional', and

> based on vulnerability.  Common strategy would see many players

> opening this hand in third chair.  These same pairs often employ some

> form of Drury.  

>

> While it is beyond the scope of this mailbox to give lessons, we all

> open the South hand.  I agree with the director's ruling.

>

> This hand would not conform to ACBL restrictions on opening bids in

> first and second seat (if made by agreement).  That is, any pair who

> agreed to open this type of hand would be deemed to have an illegal

> agreement.  I hope this helps.

>

> Rick

 

Curious, I asked what the differences were between the rules for 1st and 3rd seat openings, and where these differences were documented (citing the rule mentioned above). ACBL response:

 

> Adam, the restriction you site DOES apply to all opening bid agreements.  Players who choose

> to use some judgement in opening light in 3rd seat may do so, but only at there own risk.  

>

> Rick

 

Must admit, I really don't get it. ACBL rules are quite beyond my comprehension. Now I can't say that some of the other countries I've heard about have rules that make much more sense... but this interaction still struck me as particularly weird.

[luke warm]

that is the most ridiculous thing i've ever heard... if you have a rule, use it... the rule might as well be "no one level openings under 8 hcp unless a psych OR unless a local TD decides it's ok, OR unless you write us and we decide to answer in nonsensical verbiage"

[olegru]

It is likely that it was a BBOITALY tourney then.

 

In the BBOITALY tourneys they apply the rule enforced in Italy, where you cannot open at the 1-level with <8 hcp, not even as a psyche.

You right, it was BBOITALY

[jdulmage]

All vul.

Indi

 

♠ AQ105

♥ J85432

♦ 102

♣ 7

 

What would you bid after two passes?

Pass, you have a 7 count, if you open it, what will you open? Surely, they will find a minor partial somewhere. And it's more likely to go P - P - P - 1C - P - 1D, now you can double or whatever you wish.