[jetstar]

Would you open with this[ NV ] and with what?

KQ872
-
AT8764
75

Views very much appreciated. Thanks.

[gwnn]

1♦ because (usually) I can show 5 spades later

[mgoetze]

Depends on bidding system. Playing Polish Club, for instance, this is 1♠ opening.

Perhaps you meant to post in the "SAYC and 2/1 Discussion" forum?

[jetstar]

 gwnn, on 2011-January-19, 07:40, said:

1♦ because (usually) I can show 5 spades later

I opened 1D too but was berated by my partner, who would have preferred 1S. In the event
The bidding[with no interference] 1D-1H-1S-2C*-?
At this point I was feeling apprehensive about my opening, and wanted to convey weakness asap. So instead of continuing with 2S[which I felt pushed partner to another level with my weak hand], I chickened out and bid 2Ds[With another honour in Ds I would have happily bid 2S. P then bid 2H which I passed! It made, but 3S was bid and made!10 tricks in spades made at one table! We scored a below average board.
Ps Hand:
J65
A98743
Q5
AT

[dcohio]

1♠ for me. I like to find major fits ASAP.

This auction would have gone

1♠-1NT (forcing)
2[♦-3♠ 3 card limit raise
then the tough decision is pass or 4♠...

[Free]

It's a matter of style, both approaches have (dis)advantages.

For me:
Playing standard: 1♦, longest suit
Playing MOSCITO: 1♥, showing 4+♠
Playing with Fluffy: 1♠

[Fluffy]

1♠ best if opponents compete in clubs, 1♦ best if opponents compete in hearts.

I like 1♠ because sometimes it means opponents just don't compete at all when they have hearts. Or if they do, partner has already found a spade fit.

[655321]

With 5M and 6m, and playing a standard system, by far the mainstream thing is to open your longest suit. Perhaps with a very minimum hand with 5 hearts and 6 diamonds you might open 1♥, but the general rule is longest suit first.

On your actual hand I like a 1♦ opening.

 jetstar, on 2011-January-19, 07:53, said:

I opened 1D too but was berated by my partner, who would have preferred 1S. In the event
The bidding[with no interference] 1D-1H-1S-2C*-?
At this point I was feeling apprehensive about my opening, and wanted to convey weakness asap. So instead of continuing with 2S[which I felt pushed partner to another level with my weak hand], I chickened out and bid 2Ds[With another honour in Ds I would have happily bid 2S. P then bid 2H which I passed!

Whatever you open the hand with, this 'chickening out' in the middle of the auction is a worse mistake than opening 1♠. Just finish describing your hand. If you play 2♣ as forcing to game then your sequence (2♦ then pass) was very bad indeed. If you really think your hand isn't strong enough then pass it originally, rather than pass in the middle of the auction.

[dcohio]

 655321, on 2011-January-19, 08:24, said:

If you really think your hand isn't strong enough then pass it originally, rather than pass in the middle of the auction.

Excellent advice. Once your partner has made a GF bid, or shown strength, you can't chicken out.

[jetstar]

[quote name='jetstar' timestamp='1295442493' post='523474']
Would you open with this[ NV ] and with what?

KQ872
-
AT8764
75

Views very much appreciated. Thanks.

I think your replies are spot on--and I thank you for your thoughts.
I think my 1D, on balance, was correct, but my chickening out was a poor decision. I should bid 2S after my P's strong bid. Whether the 2C* is correct is another matter, altho I think P has a difficult bid. 2C* might be the best bid in the circumstances.

[gwnn]

 dcohio, on 2011-January-19, 08:08, said:

1♠ for me. I like to find major fits ASAP.

This auction would have gone

1♠-1NT (forcing)
2[♦-3♠ 3 card limit raise
then the tough decision is pass or 4♠...

If your partner makes a limit raise and you have 6-5, bid 4♠. Not so tough.

[Phil]

Always open the 6 card suit unless your suits are touching (but not ♠ + ♣) and the higher ranking suit is a better.

[whereagles]

I usually open the higher ranking suit, but that's not standard.

[Siegmund]

As already said, which suit a matter for partnership style agreement. (My preference is majors-first, but I speak standard american with a polish accent.)

Opening at all: this hand is borderline. Nothing bad is going to happen if you pass, because you're happy to come in over a heart bid/raise at your next turn, so I would lean toward passing. If my major were hearts I might be more inclined to bid. I would really like another defensively oriented card for a 1-level opening.On the other hand a variety of bad things can happen when you open light distributional hands (partner bidding 3NT on his flat 12- or 13-count after you show both your suits is the most common.)

[the hog]

 mgoetze, on 2011-January-19, 07:46, said:

Depends on bidding system. Playing Polish Club, for instance, this is 1♠ opening.

Perhaps you meant to post in the "SAYC and 2/1 Discussion" forum?

It does indeed depend on your bidding system. Playing Polish Club this is either a 2D Wilkosz opening or a 2S opening showing S and a minor 5+5+. What it is definitely not, is a 1S or 1D opening, as openings in PC are sound.

Playing a 2 suited opening bid, that is what I use. Otherwise I would pass as I may be in trouble in partner bids a 2/1. If you force me to open, I would open 1S. The reason for this is if you open 1D and partner bids 2C, a 2S bid is a total distortion of your strength.

[mtvesuvius]

Oleberg's Signature said:

We should always assume 2/1 unless otherwise stated, because:

- If the original poster didn't bother to state his system, that means that he thinks it's obvious what he's playing. The only people who think this are 2/1 players.

Gnasher

[wyman]

One way or another, if partner's berating you for not opening this 1S (other calls aside), get a new partner.

[TWO4BRIDGE]

 jetstar, on 2011-January-19, 07:08, said:

Would you open with this[ NV ] and with what?

KQ872
-
AT8764
75

Views very much appreciated. Thanks.

The trouble with showing your 5M/6m by opening "light" ( 1m open and rebid M twice--or more) is that partner may get too excited as could happen in this case with the Responder hand you showed:
J 6 5
A 9 8 7 4 3
Q 5
A 10

Partner will take you for "reverse strength" -- he has 3 card ♠ support; he will think his ♦Q is golden; and he has your 2 losing cards in Hts/Cl covered by 2 Aces.

He will be pushing slam and getting too high.

Whereas, opening this hand with 1S will just get you to a relatively safe 4S:
1S - 1NTF!
2D - 3S! ( 3 card limt raise )
4S

[655321]

 TWO4BRIDGE, on 2011-January-20, 21:12, said:

The trouble with showing your 5M/6m by opening "light" ( 1m open and rebid M twice--or more) is that partner may get too excited as could happen in this case with the Responder hand you showed:
J 6 5
A 9 8 7 4 3
Q 5
A 10

Partner will take you for "reverse strength" -- he has 3 card ♠ support; he will think his ♦Q is golden; and he has your 2 losing cards in Hts/Cl covered by 2 Aces.

He will be pushing slam and getting too high.

What?

Firstly, in the auction
1♦ - 1♥
1♠ - 2♣
2♠

2♠ is not a reverse, and does not show reversing values.

Secondly, when opener has shown 6-5 in diamonds and spades, responder will be able to look at his hand. He will usually notice that he has only three (3) HCP in partner's suits, and will give no thought to pushing for slam.

[the hog]

That is correct; however it ignores what would happen if the hand was a little different and the bidding proceeded:
1D 2C
2S

Now 2S is a reverse and shows significantly more values than a 9 count.

This is to what I assume Don was alluding.