[MickyB]

I opened 1♦, and received a lot of criticism for it in the pub afterwards! Partner bid 2♣ so I said a quick prayer and put down dummy, luckily he held the hand from the other thread, (84 T52 T8 AKQT86) so 2♣ was just there. I went for 1♦ because I didn't want to draw a 2♣ response a 2434 or, the nightmare hand, a 3433.

Looks like 1♠ will reach the same spot of 2♣, 1N will fetch 3N and 1♣ will just confuse partner completely!

[joker_gib]

As Phil, I don't think I'll pass this with 15 Pearsons and a 10-9 !

I like the premptive effect of 1♠ suggested by Justin and Mike but would likely have opened 1♦ at the table cause I may overcall on 4 cards suit but I've never discussed with partner about opening on 4 cards in those kind of situations.

Alain

[mike777]

MickyB, on Dec 12 2005, 07:43 AM, said:

I opened 1♦, and received a lot of criticism for it in the pub afterwards! Partner bid 2♣ so I said a quick prayer and put down dummy, luckily he held the hand from the other thread, (84 T52 T8 AKQT86) so 2♣ was just there. I went for 1♦ because I didn't want to draw a 2♣ response a 2434 or, the nightmare hand, a 3433.

Looks like 1♠ will reach the same spot of 2♣, 1N will fetch 3N and 1♣ will just confuse partner completely!

Amazing simple, natural and normal bidding got you to a great spot. What a system. And everyone gets on your case, Good Grief!

[mikeh]

Winstonm, on Dec 12 2005, 01:12 AM, said:

Drury on 3-card support will make me nervous. 

The conditions of contest were no drury

I have opened 4 card majors in 3rd and 4th all my bridge life. I generally use 2-way drury, to allow differentiation between 2 and 4 card support, but I am strongly of the view that many 3 card support hands should bid 1N. Thus if partner opens 1♠ and I hold Qxx Jxx KQxx xxx, I bid 1N, not 2♠. Make it Qxx Jxx Qxx KQxx and I still bid 1N, rather than 3 card drury.

Now (departing even more from the post), I also play 1N as 'semi-forcing': partner passes all minimum balanced hands and otherwise bids as if he had opened in 1st or 2nd seat. So when I hold a balanced 10 count (or even 11), I am not worried about missing game by bidding 1N.

If partner shows a 3 card drury, it is because he has a suit oriented hand and decent values. I have enough confidence in my declarer play that I would expect to make the contract most of the time: and I love my trump texture.