johnu, on 2014-January-23, 13:40, said:
Maybe if you're playing "classic" tournaments where GIB can be declarer. On the other hand, if you still need training wheels in the bidding and play, .......
It is not a question of hogging hands. It is just that GIB has a more defined set of bids over a 1NT opening than it does over 1 of a suit, and the good results obtained from opening 1NT given any excuse justify the bid.
I open 1NT on any balanced 14-17 count, and I usually open 1NT with any balanced 14-17 holding a 5 card major or a six card minor unless there is a very good reason not to do so.
I used to frequently open 1NT holding a singleton in a major suit, but I got tired of GIB transferring to that major and then passing, leading to a bad result. So I don't do that very often anymore. I will often open 1NT holding a singleton in a minor suit playing with GIB.
I would have opened the South hand in the OP with 1NT, but I would not pass 3
♣.