[blackshoe]

This is a book hand - I found it interesting so thought I'd see what will come of posting it.

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I dunno about anyone else, but I think this is a good, but not great, minimum 1♣ opener. So I open 1♣, LHO passes, and partner bids 1♥. RHO passes. How do you like your hand now? What call do you make? I'll post more later.

[kenrexford]

I'm not sure that I understand this question, but I'll try.

This hand has some qualities and deficits.

As to HCP's, it has 12. That's one more than my usual minimum, so that's mildly nice.

As to quicks/controls, I have three controls and about two quicks. That's not so good.

As to shape/LTC. 5/4's are potentially powerful, especially 5431's. Kxx or Axx is much better a holding for the 3-card suit, however. I have a heavy six losers, closer to seven. About the worst hand considering the potential power of the 5431 holding.

As to covers. I have a possible four honor covers, not all that impressive.

=============

After the 1♥ response, not much has improved. If anything, I am more wary of a bad situation. Partner might be 4432, for instance, but this and similar cardiong combinations do not impress me much. I'm not upset about the sequence so far, because I already had and can continue to pursue my planned rebid of 1♠. This does not embarass me in the slightest.

I'm glad to hear silence so far from the opponents, because I would not like my options in the heat of a battle with this hand. So far, not a problem.

[whereagles]

obvious 1♠, wtp

the opening was also completely obvious unless you're playing roth-stone

Note: I hardly every say something is obvious, so you can see how i feel about it.. lol

[jdonn]

We have found a hand where even Ken can't help but take the normal action. I hope this wasn't the extent of the problem.

[mikeh]

I'm glad you intend to post more later, because what you have posted so far is so mundane as to almost induce me not to post

Clear 1♣. I have no strong like/dislike at the stage of 1♣, other than that I always like to be the first to bid.

Clear 1♠. Any other call is irrational. I still have no strong like or dislike. While I don't fit ♥s, the opps have remained silent so for all I know we are on our way to a grand slam.. picture AQx Axxxx void KJxxx.

I appreciate that several possible calls from partner will make me dislike my hand.. an invitational 3♥ or a simple 1N would both cause me concern... but since every other pair in the room will be in the same boat, and I usually like my game compared to that of the field, I'm still reasonably content, if no longer happy

[paulg]

Be more interesting if the red suits were reversed.

Paul

[hrothgar]

agree with everyone

1♣ opening and 1♠ rebid both seem obvious

[awm]

We could have bid any of:

(1) Precision 1♦
(2) Precision 2♣
(3) Mini-roman 2♦
(4) Canape 1♠
(5) Transfer-canape 1♥
(6) Two-step-transfer-canape 1♦
(7) Fantoni-Nunes 2♣

Hopefully we won't look down at the CC and realize that 1♣ was strong/artificial.

Of course, assuming something resembling standard methods I agree with everyone about opening 1♣ and rebidding 1♠.

[han]

Clear 2-step canape 1D opening to me.

When playing standard methods I'd open 1C and rebid 1S, just like anybody else would.

It's too early to feel good or bad or worried or anxious or relieved or angry or frustrated or...

[jillybean]

Next

[neilkaz]

I have to state that this is the about most obvious 1♣ opener and 1♠ rebid ever. I hope the hand gets more interesting.

I had a tad more than a min when I opened, but after PD's 1♥ I don't care for my hand unless he fits a black suit.

.. neilkaz ..

[pclayton]

Waiting for the other shoe to drop.

[blackshoe]

I should have mentioned that you're playing essentially standard methods. No strange systems.

Seems everyone agrees that the bidding should go 1♣-1♥-1♠, and that so far the hand is pretty boring.

Suppose partner responds 1♠ instead of 1♥? I presume everyone will like his hand a bit better now. The auction continues with 2♦ on your right. Now what?

BTW, there's more than one shoe waiting to drop here.

[kenrexford]

So, partner changes his call to 1♠. He apparently grabbed the wrong card.

I get a 2♦ call to my right. That does not help the diamond Queen much, unless the contract is spades (fairly likely) and partner has Ax, in which case the diamond Queen is a nice little bonus.

I have a fit. That's nice. Whether I play support doubles or not, my bid is the same -- 2♠. So far, nothing all that interesting.

My honor-based cover card collection just decreased, but my trick-taking capacity seems nice. I like the position of my club Queen a tad more, and I like my collection of honors as suggesting that RHO has lots of heart honors (because his other possible honors will have looked poorly-placed to him and will, on average, suggest passing rather than bidding). Only slight interest.

[mikeh]

blackshoe, on Sep 25 2007, 08:14 PM, said:

BTW, there's more than one shoe waiting to drop here.

There had better be, because the only interesting aspect to the thread so far is the number of people agreeing with Ken And that includes me

[han]

I'm with Jilly.

NEXT!

[awm]

Over 1♣-P-1♥-2♦, easy pass.

Over 1♣-P-1♠-2♦, this hand is close between 2♠ and 3♠ for me. If partner has some 5-4 in the majors, then we have game chances (even say Axxxx xxxx xx xx offers some chances). If partner doesn't have four hearts, opponents have a huge (and yet-to-be-found) heart fit, and raising to 3♠ may have some preemptive advantage as well as being right on law of total tricks. Nonetheless, the ♦Q looks wasted and this talks me into bidding only 2♠. If I had ♦K instead of queen I'd bid three.

[hrothgar]

After

1♣ - (P) - 1♠ - (2♦)

2♠ seems obvious

[pclayton]

2♠ is again obvious.

This thread so far has all the excitement of watching paint dry.

You can cut to the chase any time Mr. Shoe.