[Blofeld]

Scoring: IMP

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Your preferred opening? Partner knows that you tend to preempt fairly aggressively.

I bid a semi-psychic 4NT (specific ace-ask), figuring that it had a reasonable chance of working out ok (for one thing, if partner has no outside aces opponents seem less likely to bid over 5♦ than a direct opening, despite actually having more opportunities to bid). Of course, it was a silly hour in the morning and my brain doesn't function well at the best of times ...

Still, would like opinions of the 4N bid, as well as of the other options (my first choice was really 1♦, but I never get the chance to psyche 4N openings with a reasonable hope of a good board); the other table had a 5♦ opening.

Mock away!

[mr1303]

OK, I'll start the Owen mocking process....

1) To bid 4NT on these hands is a breach of partnership discipline. When partner tables a 14 count with one ace, and watches you go off in 6D he will not be impressed, when the opponents make nothing.

2) Whilst you don't have much defence, you do have some solid suits to lead from. If the hand is a misfit, you'll do well to stay low, and if it's a fit hand, partner will still be there.

I would open 1D every day of the week.

[pbleighton]

1D and 5D are both reasonable choices. 4NT is problematical - your hand isn't good enough for one ace to be enough for a slam - and if pd bids 5M you are there.

Peter

[Blofeld]

Oh, I know that 4NT is not a good bid here. It will work well sometimes and pretty poorly elsewhen.

I'm not convinced that it can be a misfit if I hold KQJTxxxx, though.

[han]

This is very offensive hand. I would open 5D.

[Robert]

HI everyong

I am going to take the dog for a walk.

Open 1D

Regards,
Robert

[whereagles]

1♦ if you feel like being a joker. 5♦ otherwise

[Blofeld]

My gut objection to a 5♦ opening is that the hand is too offensive! I won't be very happy if the opponents bid 5 of a major (sure, sometimes they'll do it and it'll be wrong. But lots of the time it won't). Which inclines me to look for another bid. Am I being too fussy?

[joker_gib]

whereagles, on Dec 22 2005, 04:56 PM, said:

1♦ if you feel like being a joker. 5♦ otherwise

1♦ as I feel like being a joker !

[Winstonm]

5D. Otherwise, the joke will be on me.

Winston

[Al_U_Card]

If you REALLY want to be a joker, open 2♣ (not up to my criteria for a 2♣ bid but.....) and raise 2♦ to 5 or over a positive response investigate for slam.........safer than 4NT I would think

[pclayton]

5♦. I've stopped being cute with preemptive hands where I don't hold spades.

As far as a 4N ace asking - what is this going to accomplish? If either opponent has the mountain, the ruse will be evident.

The problem comes in when pard has to make a judgement call at the 6 or 7 level. I'm not saying he'll get it right (especially with your side defense), but after 4N, cooperative bidding becomes impossible.

[mike777]

4D

Out on that cold cold Christmas Tree Limb all alone on the night before Christmas and not even a mouse was stirring to join my bid.


"More than any other time in history, mankind faces a crossroads. One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness. The other, to total extinction. Let us pray we have the wisdom to choose correctly."

Woody Allen

[Free]

Don't like it! If partner only has 1 ace in a Major suit, you're going down for no reason at all. I to play 4NT as specific Ace ask, and this hand doesn't have enough control to handle the rest of the auction...

My favorite opening: 1♦, wtp?

Btw, what are your responses to this ace asking thingy? Do you have a method to show 2 specific Aces, 3 Aces,...?

[han]

I agree with Phil's objection to 4NT. My objection to 2C is even stronger. Now surely the opponents will enter the auction, and partner will have no clue what's going on.



4D is also way off in my opinion (sorry Mike). You make 5 when partner has one ace!!

[mike777]

Game, geez I was worried about going minus 800 in 5D or taking a bad sacrifice, oh well.

Mr. Conservative.

[han]

Mike, here are the reasons why I would never bid 4♦, you can see for yourself whether you agree with them.

1) If partner has the club ace then we likely have game. This is much more than my partners would expect for a 4D opening so I am worried about missing the game bonus.

2) The opponents likely have a good major suit fit and I would certainly sacrifice over their major suit game. I'd rather bid 5D immediately to make it harder for them to find their fit.

3) It is possible (but very unlikely) that we can go for -800 in 5D. However, they won't have a trump stack and if I bid it directly then it will be harder for them to make the right decision.

[mikeh]

5♦

Anything else adds unnecessary complication to a simple hand

[bearmum]

5♦

[Kalvan14]

pclayton, on Dec 22 2005, 11:52 AM, said:

5♦. I've stopped being cute with preemptive hands where I don't hold spades.

As far as a 4N ace asking - what is this going to accomplish? If either opponent has the mountain, the ruse will be evident.

The problem comes in when pard has to make a judgement call at the 6 or 7 level. I'm not saying he'll get it right (especially with your side defense), but after 4N, cooperative bidding becomes impossible.

5♦ for me too. Phil's has correctly stated the (huge) disadvantages of 4N.
2♣ would be even worse (and if I am right the hand is too weak in HCP to be legally opened 2♣ in many places).

5♦ gives a more than reasonable picture of your hand. And if oppos get cute and enter the fray at 5-level, I'll pass pard's double without any exitation.