[mikegill]

Scoring: MP

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I was reminded of this hand I held a few years back by noble's post. 2nd unfav matchpoints, RHO passes to you - how many spades do you open (or, I suppose, do you pass and await developments) ?

[Fluffy]

1♠ for me, enough defense for the bid.

[Apollo81]

I remember this hand but not the outcome or the action that was taken at the table.

I would open 3♠, but i can understand opening 2♠ as we are more likely to get to hearts when it is right. I don't see how opening 1 is better, and 4 is too aggressive at these colors IMO.

[Fluffy]

Apollo81, on May 7 2007, 02:39 PM, said:

I remember this hand but not the outcome or the action that was taken at the table.

I would open 3♠, but i can understand opening 2♠ as we are more likely to get to hearts when it is right.  I don't see how opening 1 is better, and 4 is too aggressive at these colors IMO.

opening 1 helps you on the way to slam, and helps you when opponents bid 5 of something.

On the contrary I see few hands where playing in hearts is better than in spades , well with such a suit maybe any that has void opposite.

[pclayton]

Too much defense and a crappy suit make this a 1♠ opener for me. If I have to choose between preempting and passing; I'll pass.

3 or 4♠ could work out great, but will frequently happen is that they will overcall 4♥ and we'll have an easy beat but can't double.

[inquiry]

1♠ no problems yet.

[P_Marlowe]

3S

With kind regards
Marlowe

[whereagles]

4♠ for me. I'm not wimping out on a 5-6 loser hand ^^

[gwnn]

The hands I hate MP for....

I guess I'll try 3♠.

Because it's so close and every choice has its ups and downs, just about anything should be OK.

[mike777]

mikegill, on May 7 2007, 08:56 AM, said:

Dealer: East Vul: N/S Scoring: MP

♠ J8765432 ♥ KJT ♦ 2 ♣ A

I was reminded of this hand I held a few years back by noble's post.  2nd unfav matchpoints, RHO passes to you - how many spades do you open (or, I suppose, do you pass and await developments) ?

4spades.

[mikegill]

I think if I held this hand today, I think I would just open 1S, but I really have no strong feelings about it - I think 1 and 3 are both reasonable. I certainly wouldn't bid 4. 2 is interesting and could work really well.
The result on this hand was very funny at the table. I chose, at the time, to open 2S, intending to bid again if I felt it was necessary. RHO balanced with 2N minors, and I bid 3S. LHO competed to 4C, and partner had no idea what was going on, but raised to 4S anyway. LHO hacked this, and partner put down the other 3 bullets. Spades were 2-2 and I guessed the heart Q for +1190.