[jillybean]

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[smerriman]

2NT. May be the 'slam killer' but I have nowhere to go if I open 1♦.

[mw64ahw]

My 20-21/upgraded 19s go though 2♣. 2N is so n/b.
Otherwise this balanced hand goes though 1♣.
If playing Acol it's 2N (19-20) to keep the n/b happy.

[mike777]

I will try 1D
Or Mexican 2D if permitted

[pilowsky]

2NT - we use 19-22.

[jillybean]

2nt , partner transfers to spades

1♦:1♠

[mike777]

1D-1S
2Nt-?

Or
2D-2H
2S-?

2D=18-19 bal.
2H=tfr to spades. Denies various other hand types.
2S= Deny 4S

[mw64ahw]

1♣ - 1♥ transfer
1N 17-19 balanced

[P_Marlowe]

jillybean, on 2025-May-14, 21:57, said:

2nt , partner transfers to spades

1♦:1♠

#1 If I opened 2NT, then I will execute the xfer
#2 If I opened 1D, I will make the jump rebid to 2NT

[mikeh]

While I sympathize with opening 2N…..it’s a toss up for me and I’d like/dislike either to an equal degree…this time I opt for 1D. Just 3 hours ago I opened 2N on xxx AK9 Kx AKQ8x (I think this hand is a little stronger than the OP hand).

But if I opened 1D, 1S is one of the more welcome responses I could hope for. I have an easy 2N rebid….easy because if I felt that it was too strong for this, I would have opened 2N. I didn’t open 2N, ergo I then thought and still think that this is a 2N rebid.

Compare to how you’d feel if he’d responded 1H.

[DavidKok]

I think this is worth a 2NT opening. Normally I hate upgrading into 2NT, and I think systemically stretching those to 19 is a mistake. This hand is too strong to be valued at 19 though, in my opinion.

If I don't open 2NT it depends a lot of system. I play Dutch Doubleton, Strong Club and standard systems. Each of them treat this hand differently. A common theme here is that this is a slightly awkward hand (well, not in strong club), especially if partner shows hearts.

You say that partner transfers to spades if we open 2NT. For me that transfer is forcing to game - does partner still bid it? I'm sorry for putting my system demands on your poll, I'm happy to answer something more standard instead.

[Cyberyeti]

2N good 19 - 21

I complete the transfer

[Huibertus]

A clear 2NT opening, no alternatives, too strong for 1♦ and 2NT rebid, not enough ♦ and not a 1 suited hand for a jump ♦ rebid. Plenty of reasons to upgrade, 5 card and many aces will do.

[jillybean]

If you opened 1♦, how imaginative is your partner?

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[DavidKok]

I would try for a slam with the North hand on the 1♦-1♠; 2NT-start.

[jillybean]

DavidKok, on 2025-May-15, 09:30, said:

I would try for a slam with the North hand on the 1♦-1♠; 2NT-start.

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[Cyberyeti]

Difficult to be objective seeing both hands.

I suspect 2N-3♥-3♠-4N-6♦ might well be the auction, even though it's a 19 count, it's clearly worth more than that, and the only dubious card in the hand is in partner's suit so is now full value, so I would treat it as top half of good 19-21.

Strangely if you exchange the J and K of diamonds, we have a completely different auction and sail into slam after a 1♦-2♠ start, but Jxxx is not sufficiently good, nor is the hand for this bid.

[P_Marlowe]

jillybean, on 2025-May-15, 06:54, said:

If you opened 1♦, how imaginative is your partner?

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Even after a 1D opening it gets hard to bypass 3NT, you have a combined 30HCP
and a bal. hand facing a (semi) bal. hand.
Responder will find out that the p does not have a spade fit, but a diamond fit.
The key card is the Queen of spade.

After a 2NT opening, opener has already stretched, i.e. he wont sell this hand as a max
any longer.

[thepossum]

Just here to see how many n/bs there are offering advice
That's almost certainly 2NT opener for me