[mike777]

So much for my partner thinking I have 9 tricks when I open 4D vul. oh well.

I see my bid is very much out of the mainstream of expert thinking.

[pclayton]

Mike - when I was taught bridge, preempts were based on the Rule of 1, 2 and 3. At equal vul, we should be within 2 tricks of our bid.

Now, players are using 2, 3 and 4. Even then, 5♦ seems well within range.

[civill]

1♦ or 5♦? 3♦!

This post has been edited by civill: 2005-December-22, 21:22

[whereagles]

Rules of 123 or 234 or even 345 are nonsense. Preempting is exercising judgement, not counting tricks.

[Al_U_Card]

Since my previous "joker" (no offense Alain) post got some serious responses, how about opening 1♦ and then reversing into 3♣?

[Joe de Balliol]

This isn't the right hand to be a joker on, and 1D isn't really enough of a jokerish bid for me anyway.

5D (which I bid at the table) is imo fine. If pard has three aces, he's likely to go on. If he doesn't - you might miss a slam and you might bid a non-making slam, but you aren't going to get a silly result.

Incidentally, something occurred to me: You [Owen] said to pre-empt to the level where you don't know whether to be happy if opps double or not but you really want to be doubled here - I still think you'll be happy sitting a double but if they're doubling it's quite like pard has a major-oriented weak hand in which case you're going for 200 or 500 or even 800 against nothing.

J

[mike777]

whereagles, on Dec 23 2005, 07:48 AM, said:

Rules of 123 or 234 or even 345 are nonsense. Preempting is exercising judgement, not counting tricks.

Rule "a guide or principle for governing action"

1) I love rules, assuming of course they are full, correct, and battle tested.
2) I love counting tricks, I just need a good rule on how to count them. .
3) exercising judgement sounds like a rule?

[whereagles]

And your point is?

[luke warm]

his point is, having rules doesn't negate judgment... using judgment doesn't negate rules

'course he might have a completely different point

[000002]

mr1303, on Dec 22 2005, 10:05 AM, said:

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.

Merry christmas and happy new year!

I will be willing to hear that you will open 4nt in the 2006BC.this 4nt means a better hand than preemptive 5minor opening.

[akhare]

Blofeld, on Dec 22 2005, 09:53 AM, said:

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!

5♦ -- why make the last guess?

[Chamaco]

I'd consider even a 6D bid.

[Blofeld]

Scoring: IMP

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This was partner's hand. At our table they led a heart, so I went one off in 6♦.