[ehhh]

---

Both vulnerable the dealer North passes to you.
Evaluating the hand with 9 hcpts, a six card ♥ suit, and a singleton ♦ this hand may be too strong for a weak 2♥ opener yet too weak for a 1♥ opener.
What is your preference and opinion?

[ArtK78]

In my opinion, there is no hand that is too strong for a weak two in a suit that is not good enough for a one bid in the same suit. However, there are reasons for not opening a weak two bid.

Some might not open 2♥ on the East hand because of the Qxx of spades. That would not bother me.

I am in second seat at equal nonvul. In second seat, there is less of a reason for opening a marginal weak two bid. So partner should expect a more sound hand for a 2 bid. I open 2♥.

[ggwhiz]

+1

I will never convince partner that I have this much playing strength if I pass and whatever your methods after a weak 2♥ (2nt by partner asks ?) I surely have an answer that shows a max and in the context that it is not allowed to be a piece of cheese in this seat.

[Tramticket]

Easy 2H.

Or better still, a multi 2D. (Hence my vote for 'other'). 😃

[Vampyr]

ArtK78, on 2016-May-12, 14:09, said:

In my opinion, there is no hand that is too strong for a weak two in a suit that is not good enough for a one bid in the same suit.

Well, poor suit qualitiy and values outside could produce such a hand.

[P_Marlowe]

Given that we are 2nd, I would go with 2H.
In 1st and esp. in 3rd I would strongly consider 3H.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[GrahamJson]

I don't see much point in playing weak twos if you are not going to bid it on hands like this, which looks pretty much like a text book example to me.

Incidentally, I prefer using multi two diamonds and a version of Tartan Twos in the majors. Between then they cover all the bases.

[mikestar13]

Vampyr, on 2016-May-12, 21:24, said:

Well, poor suit qualitiy and values outside could produce such a hand.

I agree, a hand might be unacceptable for a weak two because of a low ODR, but just not have enough high cards to open one. I would describe the hand as 'too defensive for a weak two" rather than "too strong...",but terminology may vary. I will assert that if you take a middle of the road reasonably good ODR weak two, there is no side high card you can add to it that will make it too strong and not also enable a one bid--perhaps slightly shaded. (I say side high card, because an extra trump, whether high or low, might suggest a higher preempt rather than a one bid.)

[Cyberyeti]

ArtK78, on 2016-May-12, 14:09, said:

In my opinion, there is no hand that is too strong for a weak two in a suit that is not good enough for a one bid in the same suit. However, there are reasons for not opening a weak two bid.

We have exactly one hand that fits this category, we won't open a weak 2 with 2 aces, and Axxxxx, xxx, Ax, xx is not a 1 opener. We have this rule because our weak 2s can be truly terrible, not the standard minimum.

[silvr bull]

The OP hand is an easy 2H open for me. If the C2 was a S2 instead (so 4=6=1=2), I would pass. We try to avoid 1st or 2nd seat preempts with a side 4 card major.

[ahydra]

Seems a clear-cut weak 2 opener to me, particularly in second seat where partner should be expecting a better hand than if we were in 1st or 3rd.

ahydra

[ArtK78]

Vampyr, on 2016-May-12, 21:24, said:

Well, poor suit qualitiy and values outside could produce such a hand.

Quote the whole paragraph next time.

"In my opinion, there is no hand that is too strong for a weak two in a suit that is not good enough for a one bid in the same suit. However, there are reasons for not opening a weak two bid."

[wank]

Tramticket, on 2016-May-12, 16:21, said:

Easy 2H.

Or better still, a multi 2D. (Hence my vote for 'other'). 😃

lol noone prefers a multi to a weak 2 in isolation. people only play multis because they free up other bids.

[PhilG007]

As I don't know what's sitting opposite me yet,I have to take the hand
at face value. So 2♥it has to be for the time being.

[msjennifer]

1H is out of question.I do not like to open 2 H in second position with honor to three or xxxx in spades.In 3rd seat yes I will open 2H.

[billw55]

GrahamJson, on 2016-May-13, 01:55, said:

I don't see much point in playing weak twos if you are not going to bid it on hands like this, which looks pretty much like a text book example to me.

This. Hand is a 100% 2♥ opener for me. There is nothing about it that would even remotely discourage this.

Also, I have heard of people who will not open a weak 2 with a four card major, and some hold this opinion very strongly. But I have never heard of Hxx as a reason.

[neilkaz]

This hand is one of the most routine second seat V/V 2♥ openers ever dealt to anyone. S/A or US 2/1 bidding here.

[TylerE]

For the hand to be even close to an interestingf decision I'd suggest something like

---

[Dinarius]

ArtK78, on 2016-May-12, 14:09, said:

In my opinion, there is no hand that is too strong for a weak two in a suit that is not good enough for a one bid in the same suit. However, there are reasons for not opening a weak two bid.

Some might not open 2♥ on the East hand because of the Qxx of spades. That would not bother me.

I am in second seat at equal nonvul. In second seat, there is less of a reason for opening a marginal weak two bid. So partner should expect a more sound hand for a 2 bid. I open 2♥.

Agreed.

2H.

D.

[mikestar13]

Cyberyeti, on 2016-May-13, 02:58, said:

We have exactly one hand that fits this category, we won't open a weak 2 with 2 aces, and Axxxxx, xxx, Ax, xx is not a 1 opener. We have this rule because our weak 2s can be truly terrible, not the standard minimum.

Good decision, especially with your partnership's tendencies. But this hand has a quite low ODR: the ♦A is just as useful on defense, and the ♠A is not much more useful than on defense (they are unlikely to be void) unless partner has a good fit. ♠QJ9xxx OTOH, would be very offensively oriented it will provide tricks opposite mild support, and is dead worthless on defense