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Opening with 3 bare Aces


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Given a hand with 3 bare aces, would you open it?

 

I do. If my partner has values to respond, then those values have to be a mix of K, Q, and J. In other words, while my hand is Aces and Spaces, the two hands put together are not because partner has to have to the intermediates. Perhaps having one hand as Aces and Spaces is a bad thing regardless?

 

If you have something like A6543 A43 64 A23 and partner has something like KJT7 QJ96 KQ8 T95, then the worst that happens is you play a 4S contract that goes down 2. If partner has a better hand or a better fit, then your chances of making the contract go up and if partner has a worse hand, then you will be in a lower level contract or the opponents will overcall and you defend.

 

Thoughts? Am I off base with my thinking?

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Given a hand with 3 bare aces, would you open it?

 

Yes.

 

If you have something like A6543 A43 64 A23 and partner has something like KJT7 QJ96 KQ8 T95, then the worst that happens is you play a 4S contract that goes down 2.

 

I'd call the director when dummy goes down, 14 cards! Seriously, one hand proves nothing. For example, transfer the JT to the other hand, swapping it for the 43. Opener's hand is now something everyone would open without thinking, but prospects haven't improved.

 

Part of this folk lore about the 3 ace hand comes from British fascination with the weak NT. The auction often follows with P-P-P and the hand may not play well. You don't hear about strong no trumpers complaining about four ace hands, or even 3 ace hands and a king - mainly because partner much more frequently has values to move over the strong NT.

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