which open?

[straube]

Playing teams and vul, playing 2/1 with 15-17 NT

 

KQxxx QJxx Kx AJ

 

Which would you open? Is it a clear error not to open one or the other? Is it close either way?

[apollo1201]

5-4 majors is a bit too much for me for 1NT. And a 1S-1NT-2H auction can be up to 17 or a bad 18 so no worries. After a "preference" to 2S, you can bid 2NT. At least I'll have taken all my chances to discover a fit.

[yunling]

1♠.

A 15 count for me, so playing standard I'll just pass after 1♠-1NT-2♥-2♠.

1NT can work most of the time but you won't be happy if LHO overcall 3m, passed to you.

[lycier]

Only 1♠ for 5-4 majors.

[The_Badger]

To me it's not even close. I'd open 1♠ every time in any position. Nothing wrong with a 1NT opening with 5332 distribution, but when you have a rebid (5 card ♠ suit, with a 4 card side suit) it's best, I feel, to show the two suits than to open an skewed distribution 1NT with 5422, especially when the 2nd suit is a reasonable ♥ suit topped by 2 honours.

 

I know there will be players who'd say that it's the sort of hand that you want the lead coming up to, and that if partner responds 1NT it might wrongside the contract in 2/1, but that is a weakness, I feel - and I've mentioned this many times previously - of having a catch-all response of 1NT in 2/1 covering a variety of hands.

 

The only 5422 shape I would countenance as a 1NT opener is where you have 5♣ and 4♦ where opening 1NT seems preferable to 'falsifying' a rebid to show both suits.

[steve2005]

The only 5422 shape I would countenance as a 1NT opener is where you have 5♣ and 4♦ where opening 1NT seems preferable to 'falsifying' a rebid to show both suits.

5♣ and 4♦ That's reasonable.

What about 2=4=2=5 or

2=4=5=2

not strong enough to reverse over 1♠?

[rmnka447]

I'm also a 1 ♠ bidder if playing 2/1.

[mikestar13]

For myself, 5=4=2=2 or 4=5=2=2 is a definite no for 1NT, even with a more notumpy hand than this. I open 1NT freely with 5M-3-3-2, and don't mind 4M-5m-2-2 shape. 2=2=4=5 or 2=2=5=4 are possible but I prefer not to open 1NT: 2-2 majors can mess up the response/rebid structure.

[neilkaz]

I've opened a 15-17 1NT with this shape before and will do so again, but need better minors. Usually when I've done so, the ♠ suit is bad.

[alok c]

1♠. My agreement is NT bidder should not have more than one doubleton.

[RedSpawn]

Usually 1NT open is reserved for a balanced hand not a semi-balanced hand. Two doubleton hands may not play well in an NT environment since short suits are liabilities. Also, with a hand that has two 4-card majors one should pursue a major fit with a 1♠ open. Report shape before points especially when you don't have the textbook shape for a proper 1NT open.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

 

you have an easy way to show 5-4 in the majors,

and you can, if you fancy it, give it another push

over partners simple 2S preference, so why is this

an question? Even if 1S worked out badly for whatever

reason.

 

And yes, 1NT can work out better.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[bravejason]

since the hand has an easy opening bid, an easy rebid, some ability to play in NT if the auction ultimately heads that way, and avoids slightly misleading partner about the distribution, a 1 spade opening bid seems best.

[nige1]

Playing teams and vul, playing 2/1 with 15-17 NT

KQxxx QJxx Kx AJ

Which would you open? Is it a clear error not to open one or the other? Is it close either way?

I rank

1. 1N = BAL 15-17. Shows this strength and protects the tenaces.
2. 1♠ = NAT 11+. Less of a distortion but your 2♥ rebid over partner's 1N reply might miss a game. Some unethical players rebid 2♥ slowly. A 1♠ opening bid would be fine if you play Gazzilli,

[msjennifer]

1S always.1NT nowhere near it except a little wee bit at match points in a trailing session.

[nekthen]

1♠ all the way. I open 1N with 5422 hands unless both suits are majors. If suits are touching AND most of the points are in the long suits I'll open the 5 card suit

[Cyberyeti]

1♠ no problem yet.

[fourdad]

Usually 1NT open is reserved for a balanced hand not a semi-balanced hand. Two doubleton hands may not play well in an NT environment since short suits are liabilities. Also, with a hand that has two 4-card majors one should pursue a major fit with a 1♠ open. Report shape before points especially when you don't have the textbook shape for a proper 1NT open.

 

Could not agree more with the above! Regardless of the 5-4 major shape, IMO, 2 dbltns eliminates a 1NT bid for me.

[Cyberyeti]

I can see that it's quite likely partner has a minor holding where a 1♠-1N start wrongsides the notrumps, and playing 2/1 I would be more likely to open 1N than playing a 5-9 1N response, but I think 1♠ is still better.

[PhilG007]

Playing teams and vul, playing 2/1 with 15-17 NT

 

KQxxx QJxx Kx AJ

 

Which would you open? Is it a clear error not to open one or the other? Is it close either way?

 

This is ABC stuff. As a beginner you are taught to open your longest suit. Since the trump

suit is the most powerful,the more you have the better. So on the example hand it has to be 1♠

then rebid 2♥ showing 5-4 in the majors. 1NT openers should be reserved only for balanced hands.

[Joe_Old]

5♣ and 4♦ That's reasonable.

What about 2=4=2=5 or

2=4=5=2

not strong enough to reverse over 1♠?

 

Most people play that a reverse promises a minimum of 17 or 18 HCP, but there is nothing wrong if you agree with partner to play 15+ if you build in a way to bail out of the auction at 2NT or 3 of a minor. This is not common practice and definitely not for the risk averse.

[rmnka447]

Usually 1NT open is reserved for a balanced hand not a semi-balanced hand. Two doubleton hands may not play well in an NT environment since short suits are liabilities. Also, with a hand that has two 4-card majors one should pursue a major fit with a 1♠ open. Report shape before points especially when you don't have the textbook shape for a proper 1NT open.

Where 1 NT may come into view with a semi-balanced hand is where the long suits are of poor quality with the strength concentrated in the doubletons especially if the long suits are minors.

 

For example, ♠ AQ ♥ KQ ♦ Axxx ♣ Jxxxx would be such a hand. Even with a 4 card major, you might bid 1 NT with this variation of the previous hand ♠ AQ ♥ Axxx ♦ Jxxxx ♣ KQ.

[Winstonm]

The best feature of this hand is that it has both majors - I can't find a good reason to open anything other than 1S.

[Stefan_O]

1NT might produce a good result now and then, of course.

But winning bridge, to me, is primarily about playing with the odds and avoiding bad results, rather than trying create good ones through unusual actions.

 

Opening 1S is therefore the safe way, since it is the normal action, and unlikely to produce a very bad outcome.

 

Only in a situation, desperate to create a swing, 1NT might be an option for me.

[gszes]

1s is my overwhelming choice because it takes far less to keep the bidding alive over 1s than over 1n and it is far too easy to miss game with all these controls. It is also easy for opener to show both suits in any continuing auction which allows responder to upgrade cards like a singleton spade J (something that might never happen after a 1n opening bid). It is not spectacular but it is easy to just bid 1s and then bid hearts and it is practical. Getting power out-of-the-way with a 1n opener has its place but not when game is so easily reached opposite a hand that normally would pass a 1n opening bid.