[Al_U_Card]

A and C anytime, B in 3rd or 4th seat anytime and D only in 3rd seat with a weak 2S bid, non-vul vs vul.

[awm]

I think every answer except "none of the above" works in at least one of my partnerships (and I could see none of the above if I played Fantoni-Nunes type methods too). In particular:

(1) Playing two-over-one in any number of semi-regular partnerships, I would open only A. This is because I expect partner to force to game on a good twelve or any thirteen without a spade fit, and if a diamond fit fails to materialize as well (give partner Jx AKxxx xx KQxx for example) then I'll get into trouble if I opened C. My partners will open pretty light in 3rd/4th especially if holding 4+♠, which tends to protect the initial pass on hands C and D.

(2) Playing what could loosely be called standard american with Elianna (including a number of Italian conventions like Gazilli) I would open A and C. The nice thing about these methods is that partner can make a 2/1 with misfitting hands and still stop short of game when a misfit is discovered.

(3) Playing strong club and light openings with Sam, I would open A, C, and D. Once again our decisions whether to game force on a non-fitting hand are delayed a round, allowing the misfit to be evaluated. In fact if Sam held the aforementioned Jx AKxxx xx KQxx, our auction opposite hands C or D would be 1♠-2♥-2♠-Pass. Note that we are not particularly aggressive about opening balanced hands, and would not really consider opening hand B (balanced hands need to be worth a game bid opposite a 13-count from partner).

(4) Playing strong diamond and light openings with David, I would consider opening C and D only (the other response). Our 1M openings guarantee unbalanced shape, so hands A and B aren't possible 1♠ bids. Our 2/1 structures are similar to what I play with Sam. We typically pass balanced 12-counts at vulnerable, although I would consider upgrading hand A to show 13-15 balanced. At NV we play 10-12 notrumps so I would open all four hands.

(5) Playing strong club and light openings with Josh Sher, I would definitely consider opening A, B, and C. We play game forcing 2/1 bids, but the misfitting hand (Jx AKxxx xx KQxx) is probably not strong enough to make one. Our opening range is generally 10-14 in 1st/2nd seat. This makes my opening philosophy similar to what I'd open playing 2/1, except that I'm basically "adding a queen" which brings hand B into the opening range but creates the same problems with hand D that a straight 2/1 approach might have with hand C.

Anyways I thought this was an interesting survey. The results seem to indicate that people are willing to open about 2-3 points light with a 5-5 hand, which seems to me that it could get them in trouble if they play an approach where partner must immediately decide whether to game force (either via 2/1 GFing or a GF relay) without knowledge of side suit fits. Then again my opinions are decidedly non-mainstream in this regard.

[pbleighton]

"Anyways I thought this was an interesting survey. The results seem to indicate that people are willing to open about 2-3 points light with a 5-5 hand, which seems to me that it could get them in trouble if they play an approach where partner must immediately decide whether to game force (either via 2/1 GFing or a GF relay) without knowledge of side suit fits. Then again my opinions are decidedly non-mainstream in this regard."

I share your dislike of 2/1, though I play it (when in Rome...). Your objection above is valid, but the horrible 1NT forcing convention is to me a far worse defect.

That said, I open hands like C playing 2/1. The downside of passing seems worse than the occasional bad 2NT/3NT contract. Mileage may vary.

Peter

[zasanya]

A is a clear opener in the classical way.Everybody would like to open other shapely two suiters even though they do not conform to the minimum classical requirement of 12+ points.
I think the matter can be easily resolved if one plays Tartans/RCOs and multi 2♦.Then all these hands can be opened without compromising on the classical requirement of 12 points and 2 defensive tricks.
This of course cannot be done in pick up partnerships.I wonder why very few regular partnerships play Tartans with multi 2♦.

[the hog]

"This of course cannot be done in pick up partnerships.I wonder why very few regular partnerships play Tartans with multi 2D."

You are again misstating what Tartan 2 bids are. Please look them up in the Encyclopedia or Chris Ryall's web site to avoid confusing posters.

[Cascade]

bid_em_up, on Sep 13 2006, 08:10 AM, said:

I will assume we are referring to first/second seat openings in a 2/1 context.

Why do you assume that?

[Cascade]

I open all of them - although I answered A and C.

B and D I open with a weak two.