[mike777]

Scoring: MP

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Your opening bid and your bidding plan at MP?

Needless to say I seem to have opened the one option that almost no one or no one else did on this hand and got a terrible score.

The most favored option was my third choice on this hand.

[whereagles]

Obvious 2NT for a hog like me

[pbleighton]

1H. 2NT isn't bad.

Peter

[mike777]

For those opening 1H was is your rebid over 1nt?

[FrancesHinden]

If I am playing with one of my regular partners I open 1H. I then have a systemic way of showing a game force with clubs over partner's 1NT.

The only disadvantage to 1H that I can see is playing there. That's a genuine risk, but there's such a huge upside: you will are much more likely to get to the right game and/or slam.

It seems that many people just play 1H - 1NT - 3C as some sort of random game force that could be a good single suiter with hearts and doesn't really promise clubs. I still open 1H (and bid 3C over 1NT) but I like it less. After all, partner doesn't have to bid 1NT.

[mikeh]

1♥.

I am one of those who play a 'random' 3♣ gf jumpshift over 1N, but it really isn't all that random: it is either ♣ or a monster one-suiter. Partner relays with 3♦ if the least bit interested in my hand type, and now 3N would be this hand, with a description of 5-4 in ♥ and ♣, 19-21 hcp. Seems okay to me, and not all that random

2N is wrong, for me at least: in terms of playing strength, it is closer to a 2♣ then 2N sequence, but I am a strong believer in showing shape with balanced two-suiters if at all possible... and, despite all the comments that non 1♥ bidders make, the reality is that I don't recall ever being passed out in 1♥ on these hands and learning that I missed anything...yes it COULD happen, but it never does.

[FrancesHinden]

Last Sunday we played in 1H+4 instead of 6C making when opener had

AKxx
AK109x
x
AKx

(this is a better hand than the one presented here, as well)

and 1H was passed out opposite xx xx xxx Qxxxxx

but I continue opening this type of hand 1H as I hate the alternatives.

[inquiry]

I open extemely light 2♣ opening bids ... when the hand meets strict requirments. I ahve opened with as few as 16 hcp. Even playing my way (well, Chris Ryal's way, which is where I stole my 2♣ method), I would not consider this a 2C opening bid.

So that leaves, 1♥ and 2NT as the options. If I were to guess, I would guess the runaway winner (as far as most votes) in a BBO field would be to open 2NT. I guess 1H and 2C would probably get about the same number of choices, with 1H being more.

The reason our experts here choose 1H and the field will choose 2NT is that unlike the field, the experts have thought about what is best to with this hand and studied their own results. Their conclusion, 1H is better. I agree.

[neilkaz]

mike777, on Sep 28 2006, 09:52 AM, said:

For those opening 1H was is your rebid over 1nt?

If I open 1♥ rather than 2NT, I jump shift 3♣ after 1NT.

I slightly prefer 1♥ to 2NT with this hand and don't think it qualifies for 2♣ with a floating KQ in ♠

[pbleighton]

"For those opening 1H was is your rebid over 1nt?"

3C for me. I have 19 hcp and a 5-4. Wtp?

Peter

[neilkaz]

FrancesHinden, on Sep 28 2006, 11:38 AM, said:

Last Sunday we played in 1H+4 instead of 6C making when opener had

AKxx
AK109x
x
AKx

(this is a better hand than the one presented here, as well)

and 1H was passed out opposite xx xx xxx Qxxxxx

but I continue opening this type of hand 1H as I hate the alternatives.

This hand is a monster of playing strength and with 21 HCP, I am unwilling to risk 1♥ passed out and will open 2♣

[mike777]

pbleighton, on Sep 28 2006, 12:27 PM, said:

"For those opening 1H was is your rebid over 1nt?"

3C for me. I have 19 hcp and a 5-4. Wtp?

Peter

Thanks for the reply Peter, well I see you call it a 19 hcp hand. Funny enough the following was the response from one grand master I emailed .

"2C planning to rebid 2N.



If those spots are as shown, this is about a 23-count, maybe 24.



Ok, I will pull back a little because 8 hcp are in my short suits.



If you moved 2 heart pips to the spade suit, I think 2C followed by 2N would be unanimous."

Needless to say this was not my approach either, but then my approach got us a terrible board.

[bid_em_up]

inquiry, on Sep 28 2006, 12:05 PM, said:

I open extemely light 2♣ opening bids ... when the hand meets strict requirments. I ahve opened with as few as 16 hcp. Even playing my way (well, Chris Ryal's way, which is where I stole my 2♣ method), I would not consider this a 2C opening bid.

So that leaves, 1♥ and 2NT as the options. If I were to guess, I would guess the runaway winner (as far as most votes) in a BBO field would be to open 2NT. I guess 1H and 2C would probably get about the same number of choices, with 1H being more.

The reason our experts here choose 1H and the field will choose 2NT is that unlike the field, the experts have thought about what is best to with this hand and studied their own results. Their conclusion, 1H is better. I agree.

What he said......

Over the long run, 1♥ will work better on these types of hands, imo.

[pbleighton]

"Needless to say this was not my approach either, but then my approach got us a terrible board"

Well, Mike, even classically pure bidders such as ourselves can't expect a top on every board

Peter

[HeartA]

mike777, on Sep 28 2006, 09:52 AM, said:

For those opening 1H was is your rebid over 1nt?

3C, wtp?