mgoetze, on 2011-July-17, 02:52, said:
I don't think 1NT as 13-15 in a standard or 2/1 context would be a very good idea.
I am not so sure about this, theoretically I can see a lot of advantages of 13-15. But OK, nobody play it so it probably
is a bad idea.
For one thing, the 15-16 balanced hands are awkward in competitive auctions and by opening 1NT with 15 you have solved more than half of those problems.
Another thing is that if you play 12-14 in 1st/2nd then you really should be playing 14-16 in 3rd/4th. This is because the whole point of opening a weak NT opposite a passed p is to bid game when p has a maximum pass. But this is complicated, playing 13-15 throughout is easier.
You will obviously lose on the balanced 12-counts this way. But I am not sure the loss is that great. The standard bidders open a nebolous 1m which is of course less vulnerable to preemption than a pass but still quite vulnerable. The weak notrumpers open 1NT which is obviously a winner 1st seat white and probably a winner overall, but when holding a balanced 12 count at red I am not unhappy playing a system that doesn't force me to open 1NT.
If you don't have an agreement, you don't have an illegal agreement. Except in the ACBL, where apparently you can have an agreement even if you don't have one :) --- Blackshoe