[jocdelevat]

Dealer: South Vul: All Scoring: IMP

♠ K965 ♥ KJ743 ♦ ♣ KJ63

West North East South

 -     -     -     1♥
 Pass  4♥    Pass  Pass
 Pass  

do you open with my hand in first seat?
I usually don't open in first or second seat with 11 points however when i had a void and 11 points i always thought is good openning till this board when my pard criticize me for that. I think my pard point that she can have a good hand and try for slam was right but how often that happend?
.......................................................................................................................

Dealer: South Vul: NS Scoring: IMP

♠ K4 ♥ 2 ♦ AKJT3 ♣ Q8542

who to blame for this?
I blamed my pard lol. this is her hand. do you bid 2c with that hand? Im not sure here which suit is better to open clubs or diamonds?
[FONT=Courier]

Scoring: IMP

---

West North East South

 -     1♦    Pass  1♥
 1♠    2♣    Pass  4♦
 Pass  5♦    Pass  Pass
 Dbl   Pass  Pass  Pass
 


Thank you in advance for your advice

[HeartA]

First hand. It's OK to open and I can accept a pass as well. It is not a white/black question.

Second hand. 1D is the automatic opening. 1H and 2C bids are normal. I think the worst bid is 4D. I would bid 3H, with 3D as a close alternative.

[EricK]

The first hand is a clear opening bid. After all, if partner has support for any one of your suits and little or no wastage in ♦ then they only need a smattering of points for you to have an easy game or even slam.

The bidding on the second hand starts out OK. In standard systems, with 5-5 in touching suits it is always correct to start with the higher of the two suits (and when talking about bridge, "always" is a word I rarely use!). Partner was then correct to introduce the ♣. Bidding the suits in this order allows you to show preference without raising the level. I don't like the 4♦ bid as it is too commital. At this stage the possible denominations are ♥ and ♦ (and even NT is not yet off the radar (eg with Ax Jx Kxxxx AKxx 3NT is laydown if ♥ are not 5-0 and with partner's actual hand, 3NT probably in practice just requires a 3-3 ♥ break).

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

#1: the opening is ok, you have a fairly
good rebid (2C), and the only response
you dont like to hear is 2D

#2: 1D followied by a 2C rebid
....

#3: 4D gives up on the heart suit, and is
also a move toward slam, i.e. partner
cant pass, and 5D is logical.
Simply bid 3H, a slight underbid, or
bid 4H.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[the hog]

I don't mind passing on the 1st hand - personally I would not, but I can understand it.

1D followed by 2C on the second hand is 100% correct. EricK makes some sensible comments above regarding the 4D bid. Unless 4D elicits 4H you are virtually precluding a 4H contract. I would go via 4th suit forcing and see how the bidding progresses. The hand is not strong enough in HCP for this action, but the nice D fit and the excellent H suit make this worth it. I would be looking for 4H if pd shows a weaksih opening, as the H suit is virtually self sufficient.

[whereagles]

1. The 1♥ opener is completely routine. Arguing about it is nonsense unless you agreed to play something like Roth/Stone.

2. Just bid 3♥ or 4♥ the 2nd round, depending on how lucky you feel. 4♦ is a slammish bid, one which you'd make with something like

x
AKQxx
Qxxx
AJT

[helene_t]

1. 11 points and this shape is above-minimum for opening, but you have no aces, no tens and scattered honours. I would still open but it's minimal.

2. You bid fine. Always open the higher-ranking of two 5-cards, certainly if they are adjacent suits.

[jtfanclub]

jocdelevat, on Mar 14 2007, 12:21 AM, said:

West North East South

 -     1♦    Pass  1♥
 1♠    2♣    Pass  4♦
 Pass  5♦    Pass  Pass
 Dbl   Pass  Pass  Pass

I don't understand the purpose of the 4♦ bid. 3♦ is already a jump.

I don't see anything wrong with 2♠, 3♦, or 3♥. I like 3♦ myself...sounds to me like partner has some spades and therefore a heart shortage, so I'd say 3♦

[Apollo81]

1. This hand is a normal opener, albeit a minimum one.

2. I don't think anyone bid too badly. South might have bid 2♠ (or maybe even 3♥) rather than 4♦. I don't think 3♦ is a very good choice.

[FrancesHinden]

1. There's nothing much wrong with either passing or opening 1H on the first hand. On the positive side it has a fair amount of distribution. On the negative side it has no aces, no good pips and an auction starting 1H - 2D - 2H is not very encouraging. If you play a method where 1H - 1NT - 2C is artificial, it's also less tempting to open.

Saying either pass or 1H is wrong, or routine, or arguing is nonsense is, er, nonsense.

2. Opening 1D and rebidding 2C is absolutely correct. Looking at AKQxxx in hearts and four card diamond support in your partner's hand, I would certainly have considered driving to game as well, and gone off.

[pbleighton]

I open the first hand.

On the second hand, the auction is fine until 4D, I would bid 2S instead.

Question on 2S though: is it 4sf or a good diamond raise? In any case I would bid it, though 3H appeals as well.

Peter

[jtfanclub]

pbleighton, on Mar 14 2007, 09:30 AM, said:

Question on 2S though: is it 4sf or a good diamond raise?

If 2♠ is a good diamond raise, what would you say with a good club raise?

[pbleighton]

"If 2♠ is a good diamond raise, what would you say with a good club raise?"

Good point, it must be 4sf, which is what I want it to be.

Peter