Opening Bids - where do you draw the line?

[Tramticket]

Lots of interest and fun here. And of course there are no right answers - just answers that are right for your partnership.

 

For what it's worth, here are my views (perspective weak NT four-card majors):

- 1 & 2 fit easily within my no trump range and are automatic openers.

- At one of my clubs, it is becoming normal for a 1NT opening to be described as 11-14. I am increasingly including 11-counts in my 1NT - particularly at pairs. Hands 3, 4, and 6 are hands where I would probably open 1NT (never hand 5).

- I don't understand comments about "playing tricks". Playing tricks are a pretty poor valuation method for No Trump contracts. The examples are all balanced and no trumps is a likely contract.

- Some have commented that they are more likely to open these hands in third seat. I understand the sentiment, but have a different perspective based on playing a weak no trump. Third seat is the most dangerous place to open a weak NT, because your LHO is marked with some strength. I certainly won't open 1NT any weaker in third seat and might if anything tend towards caution (downgrading poor 15 counts etc.). I am very comfortable opening a weak NT in second seat - its a very descriptive bid. I will preempt aggressively in third seat, and open unbalanced hands aggressively (particularly if I want the hand led or i own the spade suit), but balanced hands tend to have plenty of defensive strength and relatively little playing strength and there is no reason to be over aggressive with balanced hands in third seat.

[fourdad]

Yes.

first second fourth seat...12HCP and a 5 card suit. UNLESS 11 HCP 2.5 QT and a rebiddable suit....period.

[nekthen]

In general, when you can, it pays to open the bidding. so your decision depends on with which openers your system can cope..

Playing a strong 1♣ system, with the other 1-openers limited, you might take Spotlight7's advice and risk opening all the example hands .

Playing 2/1, even 1, 2, 3, and 4 are risky openers,.

 

Interestingly, when playing a robot best-hand tournament, you should probably risk opening them all, because you have the boss suit and your hand caps the other hands.

 

Which is why "best hand" is so horrible

[GrahamJson]

Second hand, vulnerable against NV my partners would expect a little more than any of these hands have. Third hand NV I’d open those with a decent suit, but that’s about it.

[0deary]

By “playing tricks” I meant “tricks won by playing” that is “winning tricks,” sorry TrramT

 

Maybe “1S= 12+ but with exclusions by agreement?” (so can pass bad 12s systematically)?

 

But that leaves the 5 who would open Board 5; the 7 on Board 3 and the 8 on Board 6…

[PhilG007]

Yes.

May I suggest you read the famous poem "The Boy Stood on the Burning Deck" and read the

fate of Casabianca who "always followed orders" Quite often the blind lead the blind(!) :rolleyes:

[mulefloyd]

Very interesting. My initial thoughts were open 1 & pass the rest but 6 looked very tempting so I loved hearing everyone's thoughts.

[shyams]

I'd definitely open 1-3, probably open 4 and 6, and very likely pass 5.

[cherdano]

Interesting - I much prefer opening hand 4 with 1S over opening 1 and 2, and also prefer it over 3.

[PhantomSac]

Bleh, hand 2 is the best hand IMO. A pawn is a pawn.... oh wait this is bridge... a point is a point! Hand 1...ok that ones really bad I can't defend it :P

[miamijd]

Second seat vulnerable at IMPs:

 

Playing a 2/1 system, I would open one spade (not without some trepidation) on hand 1, one club on hand 2, and pass the rest. But with respect to hand one, remember that I don't allow 1NT forcing on any game-force hand (max of a really bad 12). No bidding 1NT forcing with 13 and then jumping to 3NT. So I will pass a 1NT response with hand one. Another reason to play 1NT as forcing with exceptions. If partner makes a 2/1 call, I'll try to steer things into 3NT rather than 4S if I can.

 

Playing GIB tourneys, however, all of them are easy openers.

 

Playing a strong club system, you can probably open all of them, although hand 5 is still a bit of a stretch.

 

Cheers,

mike

[nullve]

A little science: http://bridge.thomasoandrews.com/evaluator/

[Vampyr]

I would open 1 and 2. If you don’t open a weak NT, partner will never believe you have one.

[mlbridge]

First and second seat, I pass the lot if imps.

 

Third seat - I open any with 11+hcp and 5 spades

 

Fourth seat, I passed the hands with less than 11 hcp since I have no aces.

[cleveritis]

I would open 4 and 6 without hesitation... the others would pass or open depending on vulnerability... 6 has fewest points, but Im happiest opening that with the texture.

[cleveritis]

I would open 4 and 6 without hesitation... the others would pass or open depending on vulnerability... 6 has fewest points, but Im happiest opening that with the texture. 2nd position vul, esp vul versus not, most conservative... 1st and 3rd green least.

[mojila]

hand 2 and 6 will open in 2/1 other pass.

[Caitlynne]

I open only the first hand (and, if playing a 12 to 14 NT, I would open 1NT). I am not thrilled about opening this hand, but it needs to be done. However, if the long suit were not a major, I would have no problem with any partner who wanted to call Pass.

[hamish32]

We use Zars points to decide when to open we open 26+ Zars hands. The Zars calculation is more complex than HCP but not that complex:

 

(HCP + 2 for Ace + 1 for K) + (two longest suits added together) + (longest suit - shortest suit)

 

These hands are all balanced so not that interesting in terms of playing potential. As others have said if you open a weak NT they probably meet the 1NT requirment otherwise you have to decide if you are willing to rebid 1NT.

 

I have given the Zars for those with a 5 card suit since the others dont really relate to the Zars approach.

 

1: (12+3)15+(5+3)8+(5-2)3 = 15+8+3 = 26 Zars

2:

3: (11+3)14+(5+3)8+(5-2)3 = 14+8+3 = 25 Zars

4: (11+3)14+(5+3)8+(5-2)3 = 14+8+3 = 25 Zars

5: (10+3)15+(5+3)8+(5-2)3 = 13+8+3 = 24 Zars

6: (10+3)15+(5+3)8+(5-2)3 = 13+8+3 = 24 Zars

 

Where Zars is really usefull is assisting the development of judgment for example hand 6 is rubbish but change it a little and its 26 Zars and an opener:

 

KJTxx

KT9

xx

KT9

 

24 Zars

 

KJTxx

KJTxx

void

JT9

 

11+10+5 = 26 Zars but only 9 HCP

 

KJTxx

KT9x

x

KT9

 

13+9+4 = 26 Zars same 10 HCP

 

Zars does not evaluate texture. However there is no question that 6 is much better than 5 but they get the same Zars. As an added tweek if you are opening below 12 HCP hands you could add a point for good texture and deduct a point fo bad texture. That makes 5 worth 23 and 6 worth 25 which is probably about right.

 

People that apply Zars also evaluate Zars for responder and raise to game on 26 opposite 26 if they have a 9 card fit. The calculation for responder involves deducting minor honours in unbid suits and adding 1 Zar for each hnour in openers suits.

[PhantomSac]

zar points...the forums have come full circle

[PhantomSac]

For those of you who didn't post 14 years ago:

 

http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/2542-zar-points-useful-or-waste-of-energy/

 

http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/5108-zar-points-for-opening-bids/

 

Time flies...

[hrothgar]

For those of you who didn't post 14 years ago:

 

http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/2542-zar-points-useful-or-waste-of-energy/

 

http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/5108-zar-points-for-opening-bids/

 

Time flies...

 

I am feeling so old right now...

[pons_]

Vul at IMPS in 2nd seat, I would only open #4.

[Cthulhu D]

If these were heart hands I'd open all of them without thinking twice. The stats seem to suggest balancing back in with spades is better than preemptively opening with them.

 

However with my regular partner I play a 14-16 NT so I'd open all of these.

[Cthulhu D]

Ugh I cannot edit - I'd pass 5, and probably 6.