[Califdude]

In other posts it has been mentioned that there are some hands with which a weak two-bid might be a good option with only 5 cards in the suit. Last night I enjoyed getting a top board when partner opened 2S on this hand:

S KQJ10x
H AJ10xx
D xx
C x

I believe this hand was was clearly too strong for a weak 2...if you like the Rule of 22 it counts 23. The result was everyone passed, pard went down 4 not vulnerable, and the opps missed a cold vulnerable slam in clubs. Well, that's bridge. But that set me to wondering, what would a hand look like that would justify an opening weak two in a five-card suit? Can someone give some examples of such hands?

Thanks for replies.

[jdonn]

If you change the AT of hearts to two small diamonds then your hand could be a fair example, depending on vul and style.

KQJTx
Jxx
xxxx
x

[maggieb]

This is an automatic 1♠ bid. It sounds like your opponents were beginners and your partner got very very lucky, because it was the opponents' hand.

When I pick up a reasonable hand which is 5-5 in the majors, it is very likely that this is our hand. Bidding 2♠ is:

1) A misdescription to partner, she will not expect such a great hand and only 5 spades.
2) Makes it almost impossible to play the hand in hearts, and it would not be unusual to play 2♠ when we are cold for 4♥ at all, or play 2♠ when we are cold for 4♠.

Opening a weak two on a 5-card suit can be very attractive when you are at favorable vulnerability or you are in third seat. The first is attractive because you have more to gain by preempting the opponents, and they will have a hard time getting a profitable penalty. The second is attractive because it is now quite unlikely that your side has game, and it is very likely you will put a lot of pressure on your LHO.

How often you open a weak two on 5 cards is a matter of style. I would say never on 5332 and occasionally on 5422/5431 at favorable or third seat is a very reasonable style, depending on the suit quality and spot cards, QJT9x is much better than QJxxx. For a beginner, if you never open a weak two on a 5-card suit, that is fine.

[kfay]

maggieb, on Nov 21 2008, 08:24 PM, said:

This is an automatic 1♠ bid. It sounds like your opponents were beginners and your partner got very very lucky, because it was the opponents' hand.

When I pick up a reasonable hand which is 5-5 in the majors, it is very likely that this is our hand. Bidding 2♠ is:

1) A misdescription to partner, she will not expect such a great hand and only 5 spades.
2) Makes it almost impossible to play the hand in hearts, and it would not be unusual to play 2♠ when we are cold for 4♥ at all, or play 2♠ when we are cold for 4♠.

Opening a weak two on a 5-card suit can be very attractive when you are at favorable vulnerability or you are in third seat. The first is attractive because you have more to gain by preempting the opponents, and they will have a hard time getting a profitable penalty. The second is attractive because it is now quite unlikely that your side has game, and it is very likely you will put a lot of pressure on your LHO.

How often you open a weak two on 5 cards is a matter of style. I would say never on 5332 and occasionally on 5422/5431 at favorable or third seat is a very reasonable style, depending on the suit quality and spot cards, QJT9x is much better than QJxxx. For a beginner, if you never open a weak two on a 5-card suit, that is fine.

Totally agree with this.

Don't think it's unusual really to preempt on a 5-card suit. Just needs better texture than a 6-card suit. Other things about it also need to be right (definitely not 5332).

[neilkaz]

As others have said, this is an auto 1♠ opener afterwhich you rebid 2♥ unless you catch a raise.

The ♠ suit quality is good for a 5 card weak 2. The ♥ suit quality would be good enough for me to make a White vs Red weak 2 in 3rd seat.

How did PD manage to take only 4 tricks here ? One opp void in ♥ or somehow he took only 3 trump tricks ?

Your opps have to be superbad to sell out to 2♠ here.

[matmat]

I was curious, so i looked this hand up.

the 2♠ opener actually held:
KQ985
AJT63
xxx
---

RHO had a strong NT opener with no spade stopper, LHO had seven clubs to the KQ,AJxx in spades and two baby diamonds.
This also happened to be in a team match, so only one comparison; the statement 'top board' is somewhat misleading in this case.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

The main problem with the weak two bid is,
that your partner has both majors.
If he openes 2S, he has killed your chances
to find hearts.
Given that you were not a passed hand means,
that he cant rule out, that our side has enough
strength to make game.
I am not against opening a weak two with 6-4 in
the amjors, but I advice strongly against opening
a weak two with 5-5 in the majors, at least if you
face an unpassed hand.

If we would speak about a 2-suiter spades and
a minor, the minor suit without the Ace, it is a
matter of style and partnership agreement.

If you allow weak two openings with 5 cards, you
should only raise with 3 card support to the 3 level,
a agreement, which makes even sense, if your weak
two opening would promise 6 cards.

With kind regards
Marlowe