[ErnieT]

You hold: AK8763 72 QJ3 65. In first seat. What do you open? Clearly, vulnerablity and postion make a different. I am only interesting in 1st and 2nd seat openers. You are not playing a big club system or a weak nt. Would you make a different bid at unfavourable, equal or favourable?

[DavidKok]

1♠, regardless of vulnerability and position. Some people might open 2♠ with this, which I consider a terrible misbid even if your preemptive style is extremely conservative. The hand simply doesn't have the ODR. If you play an 8-11 2♠, or some other semi-constructive two's, this hand seems like a good example hand for the method. Lastly pass is also an option, and if your partnership has agreed to play 'sound openings' that might be the only option.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

in 1st, red vs. green I would go with 2S, otherwise pass.

1S is an option, if I dont like to Pass.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[mw64ahw]

Playing 14-16NT 1♠, 15-17NT 2♠.
1st/2nd seat/vulnerability won't make a difference for me with this hand.

[Tramticket]

1S at any vulnerability and seat ... except fourth seat, which I open 2S.

[mikeh]

Hi Ernie! Hey…8 posts in 21 years.

Anyway, I don’t think there’s a right or wrong answer to the problem, other than perhaps what is your partnership style?’

Red v white, relatively conservative style, 2S. Partner will know that this is within the bounds of the bid. Hope you play ogust as opposed to feature. I’d show good hand, good suit and we ought to be ok.

White v red, even within a conservative framework, I think you have to open 1S, but on some layouts 2S will prove more effective. Like I said no right or wrong.

Even vul…toss a coin. May depend on your opps. Conservative opps are more likely to pass 2S than 1S…while 1S suggests more strength/defence, 2S forces them to overcall at the 3 level if they can’t double but want to bid.

As DK suggests, there are alternative methods….as you know, Gord and I would have no problem here…our 2S shows 6+ spades, 10-13 hcp.

[AL78]

1♠ at any vulnerability. I might be inclined to pass if the QJ were separated but this is a clear minimum 1 opening for me.

[helene_t]

A bit too strong for 2sp maybe, I think it's borderline. Not enough OD for 3sp so the alternative to 2sp is 1sp.

Pass is not an option and this is something I feel strongly about. The 9-11 range is the most frequent one, especially with unbalanced hands. So the idea that a hand can be too strong for a 2opening while too weak for a 1opening is contraproductive.

[shyams]

I genuinely hate hands like this one, especially if it were to come up when playing with my regular partner.

I would want to open 1♠ with it, but my superstition is that it's this deal when partner will be unusually strong & we end up too high in the auction.

Nevertheless, I too would open this 1♠.

[nullve]

DavidKok, on 2024-June-07, 13:04, said:

The hand simply doesn't have the ODR.

Is that because in you, unlike Robson/Segal (and Cohen, for that matter), view the ace of trumps as much more useful on defence than offence?

[DavidKok]

nullve, on 2024-June-08, 14:39, said:

Is that because in you, unlike Robson/Segal (and Cohen, for that matter), view the ace of trumps as much more useful on defence than offence?

Quite the leading question. No, this is not the reason.

[nullve]

DavidKok, on 2024-June-08, 15:33, said:

Quite the leading question. No, this is not the reason.

okidoki