PhilG007 Posted March 30, 2018 Report Share Posted March 30, 2018 What are the guidelines about opening hands that total exactly 12 points? Take these hands:- 1) ♠Axxx ♥Axx ♦Axx ♣xxx 2) ♠Kxxx ♥Kxxx ♦KQx ♣Jx 3) ♠ QJx ♥QJ10 ♦Axxx ♣Q10x 4)♠A10x♥K109x ♦QJxx♣Qx 5)♠ KQx♥KQx ♦Jxxx♣J10x Which of these hands would you open a) as dealer b) in 3rd/4th seat c) non-vul d) vul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyberyeti Posted March 30, 2018 Report Share Posted March 30, 2018 I'd open all of them a weak notrump in 1st, 2nd or 4th, I might think about some of them vul in 3rd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spotlight7 Posted March 30, 2018 Report Share Posted March 30, 2018 What are the guidelines about opening hands that total exactly 12 points? Take these hands:- 1) ♠Axxx ♥Axx ♦Axx ♣xxx 2) ♠Kxxx ♥Kxxx ♦KQx ♣Jx 3) ♠ QJx ♥QJ10 ♦Axxx ♣Q10x 4)♠A10x♥K109x ♦QJxx♣Qx 5)♠ KQx♥KQx ♦Jxxx♣J10x Which of these hands would you open a) as dealer b) in 3rd/4th seat c) non-vul d) vul Bad 12HCP hands often are worth 11. I open 1 and 4 playing 2/1. Playing Precision style I open all of them. For close decisions, I like A=4.3 K=3.1 Q=1.7 and J=.9 If the math is a problem, an Ace balances one Queen. A King balances one Jack Spotcards(10s and 9s) also can help decide whether to open. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnu Posted March 30, 2018 Report Share Posted March 30, 2018 Please do not open 12 HCP point hands against me. When you are playing against me, please have at least a good 14 HCP. Thank you in advance. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vampyr Posted March 30, 2018 Report Share Posted March 30, 2018 I'd open all of them a weak notrump in 1st, 2nd or 4th, I might think about some of them vul in 3rd. I open a weak NT on all of them in all positions at matchpoints.. Playing IMPs, I open a strong NT in third, but would open most of them one of a suit. Would still open 1NT on all in 1, 2 and 4. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vampyr Posted March 30, 2018 Report Share Posted March 30, 2018 Please do not open 12 HCP point hands against me. When you are playing against me, please have at least a good 14 HCP. Thank you in advance. I agree. I want to hear from those pesky opponents as little as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickRW Posted March 30, 2018 Report Share Posted March 30, 2018 It depends on the system/style you have agreed with partner. In some (many) cases all of them are easy openers. Even playing a very conservative style, I'd still open 1 and 4. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spotlight7 Posted March 30, 2018 Report Share Posted March 30, 2018 Please do not open 12 HCP point hands against me. When you are playing against me, please have at least a good 14 HCP. Thank you in advance. Playing Fantunes style I would have 14+ to open at the one level(unless 5-4+ Ms). The good news is that I will also be opening @10-13 at the 2 level against you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Posted March 30, 2018 Report Share Posted March 30, 2018 Please do not open 12 HCP point hands against me. When you are playing against me, please have at least a good 14 HCP. Thank you in advance. Me too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FelicityR Posted March 30, 2018 Report Share Posted March 30, 2018 Playing SAYC or Acol is safer than 2/1 (I assume) as you can stop more easily if partner has a marginal similarly-pointed hand opposite, but it's a bidder's game - so I'm told - so if you don't open then you must be still playing Goren. That said, I might draw the line - faintly - at Kxx Kxx Kxx Kxxx or KJx KJx KJx xxxx 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve2005 Posted March 30, 2018 Report Share Posted March 30, 2018 Is it 12 open. Oh is it a horrible 12, then open it anyways and apologize if things go bad. Any system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilkaz Posted March 30, 2018 Report Share Posted March 30, 2018 American 2/1 player here and I open them all. EDIT: Take away all the 10's, making them small x's and I don't mind passing the last 3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulg Posted March 31, 2018 Report Share Posted March 31, 2018 What are the guidelines about opening hands that total exactly 12 points? Take these hands:- 1) ♠Axxx ♥Axx ♦Axx ♣xxx 2) ♠Kxxx ♥Kxxx ♦KQx ♣Jx 3) ♠ QJx ♥QJ10 ♦Axxx ♣Q10x 4)♠A10x♥K109x ♦QJxx♣Qx 5)♠ KQx♥KQx ♦Jxxx♣J10x Which of these hands would you open a) as dealer b) in 3rd/4th seat c) non-vul d) vulYou just need to ask yourself, "What would Harry do"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmnka447 Posted March 31, 2018 Report Share Posted March 31, 2018 As dealer, I'm opening 1,2 & 5, never opening 3, 4 regardless of which natural based bidding system I'm playing. (Don't play ACOL) In 3rd seat, I would add opening 4 and still not open 3. In 4th seat, I'd revert to the same as 1st seat. BTW, playing strong NTs, I'd probably open 5 with 1 ♣ and rebid 1 NT over any 1 level suit response by partner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nige1 Posted March 31, 2018 Report Share Posted March 31, 2018 What are the guidelines about opening hands that total exactly 12 points?Which of these hands would you open a) as dealer b) in 3rd/4th seat c) non-vul d) vulI open them and rank them♠ K x x x ♥ K x x x ♦ K Q x ♣ J x♠ A x x x ♥ A x x ♦ A x x ♣ x x x♠ A T x ♥ K T 9 x ♦ Q J x x ♣ Q x♠ Q J x ♥ Q J T ♦ A x x x ♣ Q T x♠ K Q x ♥ K Q x ♦ J x x x ♣ J T x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhantomSac Posted March 31, 2018 Report Share Posted March 31, 2018 As dealer, I'm opening 1,2 & 5, never opening 3, 4 regardless of which natural based bidding system I'm playing. (Don't play ACOL) In 3rd seat, I would add opening 4 and still not open 3. In 4th seat, I'd revert to the same as 1st seat. BTW, playing strong NTs, I'd probably open 5 with 1 ♣ and rebid 1 NT over any 1 level suit response by partner. Weird since 4 is much better than 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billyjef Posted April 1, 2018 Report Share Posted April 1, 2018 Strongest to Weakest KnR Zar Kleinman Spot1 1=12.5 1=26 1=12.3 1=12.92 2=11.1 2&4=25 4=12 2= 11.93 4=11.05 2&4=25 2=11.3 4=11.74 3=9.95 5=22 3=11 5=11.45 5=9.5 3=21 5=10.6 3=11.2 All 4 evaluators agree hand 1 is the strongest3 of 4 evaluators agree hand 2 is the 2nd strongest3 of 4 evaluators agree hand 4 is the 3rd strongestKnR and Kleinman agree hand 3 is the 4th strongest; Zar and Spot say hand 5 is 4th strongestKnR and Kleinman agree hand 5 is the weakest where Zar and Spot imply hand 3 is the weakest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fromageGB Posted April 1, 2018 Report Share Posted April 1, 2018 I'd open all of them a weak notrump in 1st, 2nd or 4th, I might think about some of them vul in 3rd.Really? OK, vulnerable in third, now you have thought, would you really pass any? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmnka447 Posted April 1, 2018 Report Share Posted April 1, 2018 Weird since 4 is much better than 5 5 is at the cusp of being an opener for me. It's a 12 count and 2 QT. I suppose if I used Bergen's adjustments for Q/Js versus A/10s, I reevaluate down it to an 11 count and pass. In answering, I did ponder the longest about this hand and what to do with it. 4 is a solid 12 count, but with only 1 QT. True, you might be able to develop 4 tricks from it given enough time by the opponents. But if partner was sitting so as to be first to speak and had an opener, I'd see this hand as only an invitational hand opposite that opener. So this looks to me like a hand where passing and bidding vigorously should partner open might work out better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cthulhu D Posted April 3, 2018 Report Share Posted April 3, 2018 What are the guidelines about opening hands that total exactly 12 points? Take these hands:- 1) ♠Axxx ♥Axx ♦Axx ♣xxx 2) ♠Kxxx ♥Kxxx ♦KQx ♣Jx 3) ♠ QJx ♥QJ10 ♦Axxx ♣Q10x 4)♠A10x♥K109x ♦QJxx♣Qx 5)♠ KQx♥KQx ♦Jxxx♣J10x Which of these hands would you open a) as dealer b) in 3rd/4th seat c) non-vul d) vul The stats that exist suggest that opening light without spades is a good plan. So I'm probably going to open all of them as 12 is hardly light. Then it's just a matter of dealing with the consequences systemically. I play a 14-16 NT with a short club, so these are all obvious 1C openers. Partner is primed to expect a balanced 11 count so these are all fine. You might be better off playing better minor s partner is more likely to find your useful honors with a lead. But either way open Analysis of opening 1X vs Pass: http://www.rpbridge.net/9x41.htm 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tramticket Posted April 3, 2018 Report Share Posted April 3, 2018 I open all of these hands 1NT (weak - 12-14), without needing too much thought. It is difficult for me to construct a 12-count that I would not open ... but maybe this is it ... [hv=pc=n&s=saj32hk432dq432cq&d=e&v=0&b=14&a=p]133|200[/hv] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrAce Posted April 3, 2018 Report Share Posted April 3, 2018 What are the guidelines about opening hands that total exactly 12 points? Knowing that a passed hand can not hold 12 hcp makes life very easy for partner. Especially in decision making in a competitive auction or whether to open or not and what to open in 3rd seat.It is hard to prove what good it makes to open with 12 hcps when you hold one. But the real good comes in hands where you start pass showing less than 12 (for me less than 11)So for some of us, guideline for opening hands is ALL ABOUT expected/not expected values from a passed hand. Overall i can live with a pd who does not open all 12s as long as he does not feel like he has a free pass to bid forever later once he started pass with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nige1 Posted April 3, 2018 Report Share Posted April 3, 2018 Agree with Tramticket that you should be wary of opening (4441) 12 HCP hands, especially when you anticipate rebid problems. If opponents bid, they will usually have to overcome bad breaks in 4 suits. If you pass, opponents bid your singleton, and you decide to compete, then a take-out double accurately describes your strength and shape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhm Posted April 4, 2018 Report Share Posted April 4, 2018 1) ♠Axxx ♥Axx ♦Axx ♣xxxsignificantly better than4)♠A10x♥K109x ♦QJxx♣Qxbetter than3) ♠ QJx ♥QJ10 ♦Axxx ♣Q10xsignificantly better than2) ♠Kxxx ♥Kxxx ♦KQx ♣Jxbetter than5)♠ KQx♥KQx ♦Jxxx♣J10x what you open depends on what your minimum requirements are. However, opening the first one is obvious and no good modern player would pass 4 and 33 and 5 are worth more at a notrump contract than at a suit contract. 2 and 5 are not really worth 12 points and should be downgraded. Why some believe 2) to be a good hand in context escapes me.The difference between 1) and 5) amounts to about 2 HCP Rainer Herrmann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yunling Posted April 5, 2018 Report Share Posted April 5, 2018 My evaluation of the hands:1) ♠Axxx ♥Axx ♦Axx ♣xxxGood 13, always open 2) ♠Kxxx ♥Kxxx ♦KQx ♣JxAverage 11, always open for some and open NV for other 3) ♠ QJx ♥QJ10 ♦Axxx ♣Q10xA little lower than average 12, always open 4) ♠ A10x ♥K109x ♦QJxx ♣QxFairly good 12, always open 5) ♠ KQx ♥KQx ♦Jxxx ♣J10xBad 11, open NV for some and not open for other Pretty close to Rainer's conclusion but I think the difference between 1) and 5) is closer to 3 count than 2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.