which open?

[miamijd]

You can open 1nt with 5422 hands but only with

 

5c. 4d 15-16

5c 4h 15-16

5d 4h 15-16

 

With any other 5422 you have an easy rebid so there is no need to be a hand hog.

[LBengtsson]

You can open 1nt with 5422 hands but only with

 

5c. 4d 15-16

5c 4h 15-16

5d 4h 15-16

 

With any other 5422 you have an easy rebid so there is no need to be a hand hog.

 

that is right. opener reverse 17+

[nullve]

Many of you seem confident that Responder will bid again over 1♠-1N; 2♥ on anything that is likely to produce game opposite a 5422 16 count, e.g.

 

xx

Kxxx

AJxx

xxx

 

or

 

x

Kxx

AJxxx

Qxxx.

[awm]

You can also miss a decent game by opening 1NT and finding Axxx x xxxx Kxxx. Obviously it's the case that either opening can work, but 1♠ rates to be much better if you belong in a partial, somewhat better if you belong in a slam, and will overall approximately break even if you belong in game (you find some games on a nine-card spade fit that you miss with 1NT, you miss some games on a misfit 9-10 count that you find with 1NT).

[stoppiello]

You can construct hands that will make game opposite one bid and not the other all day if you want, there's just going to be times where you miss something. It's not an easy hand to get across. Opening 1N gets the strength across perfectly and the shape of the hand across relatively well. Opening 1S planning to rebid 2H gets the shape of the hand across, but is much less accurate on the strength of what you have.

 

For me, I'm opening the hand 1N. Its the most descriptive bid available to me (assuming normal 2/1). I can either say I have a balanced/semi-balanced hand with 15-17hcp. There is all sorts of machinery available to find a major suit fit if you have one (stayman, puppet or normal for one) The hand just feels no-trumpy to me, half my hcp in my 2 shortest suits, and the long suits aren't tricks off the top, but take time to develop. even as little as the 10 9 of spades instead of the xx might be enough to sway me, but with no body to the long suits, this hand just feels like it will play better in NT. And sometimes, you get a helpful major suit lead when you're declaring the hand and they don't know you have length in the majors.

[BruceZhu]

Hi,

 

54 in the majors generally indicates opening 1♠. Often, you will not miss game even after a forcing 1NT from partner as partner will raise a 2♥ response to 3♥ with a good 8 or 9 points.

 

If you open 1NT and partner passes, you will miss your spade fit or heart fit. Bidding 1♠ first gets you to the correct strain.