[NickRW]

IMPs, white versus red, 4th seat after 3 passes, you hold

K654
K87
Q85
A53

Do you open it (I don't much care what)?

Further info that might influence your decision: You're playing 4cM and weak NT with this partner - strictly this would be a 1NT opener for you - if you open it at all. But partner is flexible and would understand opening either minor and passing the response and would also understand you choosing 1S if you did that.

It is board 21 of a 24 board match. You were +26 imps at half time and haven't noticed any disasters on your card since half time.

Opps are playing Lionel against 1NT if you choose that (either of them will double with an 11 count or 10 with a decent lead and 4/4 in spades and another - and their partner will convert holding 10 themselves), so a -300 score is not that unlikely if you choose your normal option. However, you have 4 spades yourself, so this is perhaps not so likely to happen.

The opposing pair in the other room are playing 2/1 and one of them is a mighty fine card mechanic and his wife is a better than average player. If they have opened this it will be a 1C opener with Walsh responses.

FWIW I bet on the pass option - I won't tell you if I was right or wrong on the actual deal - yet.

Nick

[Hanoi5]

I think I'd open a pre-emptive 1NT.

[655321]

Way too much information, but anyway the only reason I would consider not opening this is if I thought the R/W opponents would wake up and bid a cold game when they were about to pass the board out. Since I have no reason to think that is the case I would certainly open the bidding.

[JLOGIC]

I'll admit I didn't read anything other than the problem because no matter what you wrote I would open.

[NickRW]

OK, sorry for the too much information - it is perhaps a symptom of me over thinking it. As I suspected most would open.

FWIW, opps were split 11/10, so my premonition was right in that regard. P had the 7 count with 5 spades - unfortunately for the opps it was a 5=3=3=2 so there were no ruffs despite the 9 card fit and were one off - so passing worked out better - this time at least.

Nick

[JLOGIC]

The fact that you wrote your entire post basically justifying passing seems to indicate that you know it is completely normal to open.

[NickRW]

JLOGIC, on 2011-January-16, 17:48, said:

The fact that you wrote your entire post basically justifying passing seems to indicate that you know it is completely normal to open.

Yeah - I certainly know most do. I routinely pass these shapeless, textureless 12 counts vulnerable and think it pays in the long run to do so. I'm more ambivalent about them non vul and wondered if many would have gambled the way I did.

Nick

[mfa1010]

I would always open.

[pooltuna]

JLOGIC, on 2011-January-16, 17:24, said:

I'll admit I didn't read anything other than the problem because no matter what you wrote I would open.

Pearson points are a surprisingly effective guide

[NickRW]

pooltuna, on 2011-January-16, 19:11, said:

Pearson points are a surprisingly effective guide

Yes, on the whole I agree. Some years ago Ben, I think it was, did a whole analysis of 4th seat openers and essentially proved the basic idea iirc. However, Pearson points only take Hcp and spades into account - not shape and intermediates - this hand is attrocious on both these latter points - so I thought it was a much closer decision than some of you appear to think it is.

Nick

[mike777]

NickRW, on 2011-January-16, 21:42, said:

Yes, on the whole I agree. Some years ago Ben, I think it was, did a whole analysis of 4th seat openers and essentially proved the basic idea iirc. However, Pearson points only take Hcp and spades into account - not shape and intermediates - this hand is attrocious on both these latter points - so I thought it was a much closer decision than some of you appear to think it is.

Nick

Yes taking only Pearson easy opener...


taking your confusing judgment into account...confusing....

fwiw I only attack the phrase "judgement" as experts seem to love this word.

[Siegmund]

I'd be considerably happier opening this hand 1C intending to dump partner in the suit of his choice, than I would be opening a weak 1NT knowing partner will be unable to bid with a lot of moderately shapely hands.

I'm not sure if I feel strongly enough about that to open 1C even if I am playing a weak notrump, just because I don't have much experience with garden variety weak notrumps.

[mikestar13]

I assume that you got to 2♠-1, tough luck. But would 1NT have made if partner had left you there? 19 HCP and five card suit will make 1NT most of the time, especially when you have surprise fit.

[P_Marlowe]

open, you are +26, so the way you did in the previous boards
seemed to be working, why change?

1NT tells p the whole story about your hand.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[zenko]

Not to open is plain wrong, unless you are WAY behind and in desperate need for some swings.

[hrothgar]

Hi Nick

This seems like a normal opening playing a standard style.

I think that a case can be made in favor of passing the hand if you're playing a very light opening style in 1st/2nd seat.
Playing MOSCITO, I might very well pass this hand in 4th seat. However, "light opening" in first / second wasn't included in the conditions of contest.