Light Opening Bid in 3rd Seat

[Edge_]

I am trying to get my head round this.

Klinger says that the suit opened in third seat should have good quality, one you would like partner to lead to you if you end up defending. He also says that partner should not expect you to bid again, and if you do he should assume you did not open light.

 

So you might open ♠92 ♥ KJT74 ♦Q32 ♣A32 and hear partner respond 1♠ with four spades and 10 HCP, which might be passed out.

 

Could someone explain the rationale thanks.

 

 

To answer the question, think of the bid more like an overcall that has to stand up to playing based on suit quality rather than points strength. When you don't have suit quality then you could take a lot of penalties. Moreover, partner will likely to lead that suit to you in defence.

 

Next remember the cardinal rule for Acol light openings (which does not have drury); a light opener should pass ANY bid by responder. Just like a take-out double, rebidding promises extra strength which you don't have and you end up too high. (As you can't rebid over partner, you should not have singleton in much the same way you don't take-out double with a short unbid major).

 

Finally responder moderate their own bidding opposite your 3rd/4th seat, and will not change suit lightly in case you pass and leave them in it (since they are a passed hand and all their own bids are passable). However if they bid 1S with 4 spades, then AK Hearts gives a two quick tricks where as KJ may yield none when you dont have enough trumps to establish long hearts.

 

However opening 2H has (a) more pre-emptive effect, (b) tells your partner not to expect any hidden strength, and © you have a 5 or 6 major SQOT=8 so don't bother changing to a shabby suit (and if you respond in 1H-1S-2H =14+ they would inevitably bid you higher). Although you have to make an extra trick of course, but that is the price for disrupting opponents more. But passing and waiting is a greatly under-rated bid too.