BPO-001-B

[inquiry]

[hv=d=s&v=a&s=sakj4hj9652dq97c5]133|100|Scoring: IMP

BPO-001-B

Your bid, as dealer?

[/hv]

 

I thought there might be four choices here, with pass and 1♥ being clearly the top two choice. This hand, like problem A, was chosen to help with future problems to see if the panel would object to opening some minimum hands. I knew the panel would open many 11 hcp hands, and probably 10 hcp ones as well, but I wondered if rebid problems, weak suit, and easy of re-entering the bidding might factor into the pass/bid equation.

 

The expert panel was split as closely down the middle as possible on the decision between open or not, with 5 out of 9 choosing 1♥, the other four pass. Choosing to open 1♥ were, Fred, Ritong, Waldkk, phicro, and ng. Let’s see what they had to say about their choice. Waldkk commented that this was “a clear opener. The rebid may be the problem over 2♣, but for me 2♦ is an easy choice. Keeps all options open. Ng also commented that this was an opening hand, and that the bid was “automatic.” I wonder if anyone might lament not having Flannery for this hand. ng however addressed this firmly, saying, “No Flannery, thx.” Phicro jumped stated simply, and in final analysis probably correctly, “question of style, even with such bad hearts.”

 

Unlike the bidders, who went with the simple concept that this is an opening hand so open it, the passers, factored in a lot of extra factors in reaching their bid. Let’s start again with Luis and Justin, who make a convincing argument for why they choose pass.

 

I think Luis gave an adequate summary of the issue, when he said “Pass; I love to open light but having both majors I don't need to start the auction with my worst suit; and of course as many panelists will say we have a horrible rebidding problem. I think I can handle this one quite well as responder.”

 

On the same wavelength as Luis, was Jlall who went further and explained in detail what Luis meant when he said he could handle this hand better as responder. Jlall said, “PASS. Do I think this hand is an opener in terms of playing strength? It is a bare minimum, but yes. However, there are 2 reasons not to open this minimum hand. First, our suit is bad. This is not a major concern, but its not really a good thing to open a bad suit. Second, we have rebid problems. It will be very hard to accurately describe this hand and we will probably have to distort it at some point. If we pass, good things can happen like being able to make a takeout double of clubs, being able to splinter in partner's major, being able to bid 1H then checkback over partner’s 1C, or learning that it was a good thing that we stayed quiet.”

 

In addition, Cascade and Kraft where both worried about the rebid problem (as was some of the people who opened this hand). Roland, in opening the hand said he would rebid 2♦ over 2♣ as a means to handle the rebid problem. Cascade didn’t feel that there was a suitable way to handle this if you opened light, he choose instead ”With what would be a minimum opening with a likely difficult rebid I am happy to pass. I do not like the idea of giving a distorted view of the distribution and opening 1♠” Kraft also voted for pass, but went a step further in discussing the hand, when she said “Pass. I am minimum in HCP and would have to open 1♥, my least favorite suit. In third seat (or 4th), I would open 1♠ and rebid 2♥.”

 

So the panel, slightly favored opening this hand, and those who choose not open (and even some of those who chose to open it), worried about the rebid problem. We see in the replies to this thread by general users, the rebid problems also worried others as well. Phil had an admiration for those who would open 1♦, jimmy thought the way to solve the rebid problem was 1♠ followed by 2♥ as suggested by Beverly, just he would do so in the first or second seat.

 

I happen to fall on the side of the fence with the majority on this hand. I too, would open this hand 1♥, and like Roland, I would plan to rebid 2♦ over partners bid (or raise spades if I were to get so lucky). But I agree with Beverly that in third or fourth chair, I would switch my choice to 1♠. Having said this, I think Justin and Luis’s concept that this hand will be much easier to compete with after an initial pass is something worth giving a lot of consideration.

 

Scores for this one are.

Votes, scores, Panel, Members

1♥      100       5   

Pass    90       4   

Other      0       0   

[mikestar]

I rather prefer pass, but certainly 1H is quite reasonable. I might consider 1D with a stronger hand and weaker hearts, but not on these cards--pass is certainly less of a distortion than 1D, even if yuou deem this a clearcut opener. I hate 1S on Flannery shape hands--its not the 4-3 fits, its the choice between the 4-2 fit and getting too high after you rebid 2H and partner takes preference.

[Guest Jlall]

Masterminding is the only word I can think of when opening 1D with 4531. Distorting your hand (alot) when you dont have to and partner is unlimited in shape and strength is masterminding to me.

[Blofeld]

Opening 1♦ looks like it works fine when p bids a major, but what's your rebid over 1NT or 2♣, or for that matter 2♦? It also seems to give up any hope of playing in a 5-3 heart fit. And gives your partner a big headache if you end up looking for slam.

 

At least, that's how I see it. :P

[pigpenz]

1♥

[JLOGIC]

I like a 1H opener here. Despite the rebid problem, our hand has too much potential with length in both majors. A passout would be a disaster and it will be tough to describe our hand later anyways. 1H is not that dangerous in terms of rebids anyways, with 3 hearts partner will raise. With 4 spades partner will bid them. That is already a majority of hands. And if he has neither and bids 1N, we will usually survive 2D (and often have a fit there). It's a bidders game.

[JLOGIC]

Masterminding is the only word I can think of when opening 1D with 4531. Distorting your hand (alot) when you dont have to and partner is unlimited in shape and strength is masterminding to me.

 

Agree with this though