[MickyB]

Scoring: XIMP

(P)-P-(P)-?

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You are playing 12-14 NT, 5 card majors, Better Minor, and partner is solid. The opps are good, and they play 15-17 NT, 5 card majors. Do you throw this in or find an opening bid, and if so, what? You don't play Drury, a 1NT response would be NF (upto a bad 9 points).

[Gerben42]

1♦, planning to pass whatever comes back. Not enough for 12 - 14 NT.

[Winstonm]

Pass but it's close.

The problem I have is this: if all I'm protecting is a partscore then the loss isn't too great; however, to bid any game we might have requires me to bid again over partner's response and that would easily get us to high opposite a balanced 10-11.

If my shape were one card better I would open, either 4441 or 4351 - but balanced hands facing balanced hands need more high card strength to produce game so I'm going quietly on this one.

Winston

[mike777]

Gerben42, on Dec 10 2005, 10:45 AM, said:

1♦, planning to pass whatever comes back. Not enough for 12 - 14 NT.

ditto

[awm]

I rather like a 1♠ opening. It gets the lead in, and we can still safely pass any continuation by partner. We probably have a making partscore, and probably not a making game.

My concern with 1♦ is that most weak notrumpers play sound minor suit openings. If the auction becomes competitive (say a 2♣ overcall by LHO) then partner will tend to play us for a much better hand. There's also the possibility that partner bids 2NT ("invitational") over 1♦ on some hand that wants to be in game opposite 15 points balanced, and has no play for 2NT opposite these cards.

Over 1♠, the most likely continuations are partner raising (could be a 4-3, but that's okay at the two-level with this suit quality), partner bidding 1NT (semi-forcing? whatever, I pass), partner making a two-over-one (I can pass this in any suit). Even if opponents bid over 1♠ (less likely since it consumes more space and 2♣ bid would be less preemptive), partner will not play me for a strong notrump in the subsequent auction. The only really bad possibility is that partner makes a limit raise, and I've heard that 4-4 major fits play okay anyway.

[han]

I like 1D as I can pass any response and be confident that we are in a good spot. If partner was a light opener then I would pass.

[Fluffy]

If opponents are good its time to pass.

[pclayton]

1♦ or 1♠ can work and I might bid either on different days. The best thing about 1♦ is that it might get us to hearts; after all the idea when we open lite in 4th is to get out with some plus. Why preclude a strain?

I don't think I'll pass this with 15 Pearsons and a 10-9.

[whereagles]

1♠ or 1NT.

[Free]

Easy pass for me. If you're playing 12-14 NT, then it means you won't open on 11 count balanced hands... Even in 4th seat it still isn't necessary.

[bearmum]

Free, on Dec 11 2005, 10:38 PM, said:

Easy pass for me. If you're playing 12-14 NT, then it means you won't open on 11 count balanced hands... Even in 4th seat it still isn't necessary.

ITA

[Robert]

Hi everyone

I would tend to pass. As I do not open about 10% of balanced 12HCP hands playing a 12-14HCP range. This counts to 10.9HCP using my 'tie breaker'
count system A=4.3 K=3.1 Q=1.7 and J=.9

You do not have to count fractions very often. Aces 'balance out' Queens and Kings 'balance out' Jacks.

I do like the KJ109 combination in spades, however, it is not quite worth 1.1HCP IMHO.

I pass this hand, however, it is very close. Several of my partners do not like to throw in hands. They would open this hand in a heartbeat with 1NT and I have no objection. They play their cards well and any competition will find us with 4 decent spades and Jxx of hearts so the other pair will often be forced to three clubs.

I cannot see opening this hand 1D using a 12-14 1NT opening range because partner will expect either long diamonds or 15+HCP balanced 'if' I open 1D.

Opening 1S also has risks since I am light on values and do not have a 5 card major.

In the modern game everyone likes to bid and/or jump overcall. Why start something that you cannot finish. It might work on this hand, however, on another hand partner will 'hold back' fearing that you have opened with trash.

Regards,
Robert

[Kalvan14]

1♠, the most interdictive bid, even if I've to tell a lil lie.

[mikeh]

1♠

Gets me to 1N, rather than 1♥, gets me to 2♠ when that is correct. Preempts the opps

[Winstonm]

mikeh, on Dec 12 2005, 12:02 AM, said:

1♠

Gets me to 1N, rather than 1♥, gets me to 2♠ when that is correct. Preempts the opps

Why do I need to preempt the opps when I can do so permanently with pass?

Getting to 1N is no bonus when pard holds 8 or 9 and no length and I have no source of tricks - and getting to 2N when he's passed an 11 count isn't going to be a joy to play. Drury on 3-card support will make me nervous.

On second thought, if I am going to open this thing maybe the best call is 1C - then for sure I can pass anything my partner bids.

(You can always tell the ones who are the really good declarers - they never want to pass up a chance to play a hand. )

Winston

[P_Marlowe]

Pass.

Maybe it's good, maybe not.
We are playing IMP's, and I am
lazy.

Marlowe

[flytoox]

mikeh, on Dec 12 2005, 05:02 AM, said:

1♠

Gets me to 1N, rather than 1♥, gets me to 2♠ when that is correct. Preempts the opps

Agree. The only minus is pd's response of 2C as natural

[helene_t]

Does "partner is solid" mean that he would pass a good 11 HCP? Then I open. Rule of 15. But it's close.

I would prefer to open 1♠ but without Drury I would risk a natural 2♣ response which I would have to pass. Or an invitational raise.

So 1♦.

[Chamaco]

I am strongly biased towards a pass at IMPS, but if indeed pard is a solid opener, I'll open 1D.

I won't mastermind with any hand distortion by opening 1S or 1C here.