[ralph23]

♠5
♥AT94
♦AKT7
♣9865

It doesn't satisfy the Rule of 20.
It does have 3 Quick Tricks.

Would you open 1m, and if so, which minor?

[mike777]

pass easy unless my system requires I open all 11 pt hands.

[cherdano]

open easy unless system requires I pass all 11 counts

[Free]

1♦

[gwnn]

I hate to open on 11 counts but this one is mandatory 1♦.

[pbleighton]

1D, this hand is as good as 30+% of 12 counts.

Peter

[EricK]

pbleighton, on Aug 27 2007, 07:43 PM, said:

1D, this hand is as good as 30+% of 12 counts.

Peter

But perhaps that just means we should be passing at least 30% of 12 counts!

[skjaeran]

This is an obvious opening hand for me, except in 4th seat, where I pass.
1st and 2nd seat it's a systemic 1♣ for me. In 3rd seat I'd open this 1♦.

[mikeh]

There are several factors to consider.

Mps: we strain to open because bidding first is usually to our advantage

we are also protected, to some degree, by the fact that partner should not push to close games at mps, so the risk of getting too high is less than at imps, especially red at imps

Imps: white, I'd open for the same reasons as mps.

Imps: red: whether I open depends on my 3rd seat methods. I like to play that P P 1♠ P 1N is semi-forcing: opener is required to rebid if he has a sound opening bid. This protects us on this hand, where, if 1N is 'standard', we are in real trouble after a 3rd seat 1♠. If we do not play this method, then I reluctantly open...

As for what to open, I would expect the 1♦ call to be unanimous amongst 5 card majorites, no matter which minor they open on 3244 / 2344 / 4=1=4=4 hands.

Next question: what are we planning to rebid of partner bids 1♠, either directly or after a ♥ overcall?

[pbleighton]

Quote

But perhaps that just means we should be passing at least 30% of 12 counts!

In these type of questions I assume standard bidding practice in my answers, unless I specify differently. Do you think it's standard to pass 30% of 12 counts?

I know a few people whi do it, but not many. Perhaps it's different where you play - I'm in the northeast U.S., and on BBO (mostly ACBL games).

I don't see a lot of 12 counts passed when I watch world champs on Vugraph, either.

Peter

[ArtK78]

And I thought we were living in a bid-em-up society!

Back when Charles Goren was in his prime, everyone would open this hand. 11 points in aces and kings and 2 for the singleton spade. This is not even a close call.

Now, when everyone bids everything that moves, many posters are saying that they might not open this hand!

To me, this is an absolutely clear-cut opening 1♦ call. I have a good lead for my opening bid, I have 3 defensive tricks, 3 quick tricks, and a full Goren 13 point opener. I even have good spot cards! This hand is better than a lot of the "full" opening bids that I have seen.

I open some 11 counts and pass a lot of 11 counts. This one is not close. Quite frankly, I would be surprised if anyone actually passed this hand in real life (unless they played very sound opening bids).

Fourth seat is an entirely different issue. The singleton spade argues against opening the hand.

[jtfanclub]

ralph23, on Aug 27 2007, 02:11 PM, said:

Would you open 1m, and if so, which minor?

Pass 1st, 2nd, and 4th.

I don't like my rebids over the expected 1 spade response. 1NT? Yuck. 2♣? Double yuck.

If my singleton was any other suit, I'd open.

Edited to add:

Quote

Back when Charles Goren was in his prime, everyone would open this hand. 11 points in aces and kings and 2 for the singleton spade. This is not even a close call.

Now, when everyone bids everything that moves, many posters are saying that they might not open this hand!

Back when Charles Goren was in his prime, if you didn't open this hand, it would probably get passed out.

This hand has difficulties with opening but no trouble at all in responding or overcalling.

[Walddk]

I only open in 3rd (1♦). Sub-minimum 1444's = pass for me. I open 10 and 11 counts frequently, but not balanced and hardly ever three-suiters with short spades.

Roland

[P_Marlowe]

Pass.

In case I have to open, 1D.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[han]

For me this is an easy opening hand.

[pclayton]

I will open ANY hand containing an A-K, A.

I've had mixed results, and I don't think either style is right or wrong.

With the subject hand its an automatic opener.

[mike777]

pclayton, on Aug 27 2007, 04:07 PM, said:

I will open ANY hand containing an A-K, A.

I've had mixed results, and I don't think either style is right or wrong.

With the subject hand its an automatic opener.

Yes, If your system requries you to open with any AKA, then yes open.
Yes, if your system requires you to open any 11 pt hand with 3 Quick tricks.
Yes, if your system requires you to open any 11 pt hand.

If your system allows you to pass, then I think you have an easy pass. That means partner knows you pass with this hand type.

I just reread BWS opening requirements...they seem very unclear with this hand type. I assume that means we are allowed to pass or BWS should make it clearer if this is a clear opener.

" BWS-2001 is a mostly natural system based on an artificial strong two-club opening, weak two-bids in the other suits, strong notrump (with Stayman and transfers), and five-card majors (with a semi-forcing one-notrump response). Opening requirements are neither extremely sound nor light. The minimum requirement to open with a long minor is about half a point higher than with a long major.

A Q x x x A x x J x x x x

is a minimum one-spade opening bid as dealer with neither side vulnerable."
http://www.bridgeworld.com/default.asp?d=b...bwsall.html#IVA

[whereagles]

Quite obvious opening for me, except if forced to play Roth-Stone.

[ralph23]

mike777, on Aug 27 2007, 04:23 PM, said:

Yes, if your system requires you to open any 11 pt hand.

Well, this isn't exactly ANY 11-point hand, is it?

Surely there's a world of difference between the posted hand and a lot (perhaps the majority of) 11 point hands with 4441 distribution .... isn't there?

Compare e.g. to

K
Q984
AT96
Q742

This post has been edited by ralph23: 2007-August-27, 15:31