[frouu]

Scoring: IMP

pass-pass-??

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You play 2/1, 15-17 1NT. What do you open?

[whereagles]

1♠, probably.

[nick_s]

removed nonsense

1♠

[hrothgar]

I'm normally quite happy to open 1N with a five card major...

I don't see the need on this hand. I have what I feel to be reasonable rebids over Just about any response by partner.

The only real judgement calls would appear to be

1♠ - 2♠

and

1♠ - 1N
2♣ - 2N

I suspect that I'll pass the direct raise, but rebid 3N over the 2N invite

[kenrexford]

1NT, because I have three hearts.

[Phil]

1♠ because I have a weak doubleton and no tenaces. Pard can bid hearts over 2♣, but some version of BART would be nice.

[mtvesuvius]

1♠.

[david_c]

I suspect 1♠ will work out better on this particular hand, if partner knows to expect this sort of thing. But my preferred style is to open 1NT on nearly all 5332s when in range, and this hand is in range (obviously worth an upgrade), so I guess I'd open 1NT.

[JLOL]

1S I guess.

[vuroth]

Is there a huge difference here? I mean, among the people voting, is it like a 60/40? A clear distinction? Or is it 51/49?

How much difference does it really make?

[frouu]

This was from today's Cayne match, Lauria chose to open 1NT and there was a discussion among kibitzers:

goon1407->Kibitzers: why open 1nt with such strong spades
goon1407->Kibitzers: and only a 14 count
olliebol->Kibitzers: because of strong sp
Mariner1->Kibitzers: so he promoted it to 15..... it should be
goon1407->Kibitzers: so miss a 5-3 spade fit on average...because "it is an "upgraded" 15 count"?
Mariner1->Kibitzers: I like the upgrade,,, and he is NV vs Vul
goon1407->Kibitzers: Like if he had 5 spades to the jack and a good 14 count, then id be more understanding, but the whole point is if u dont have a rebid, to open 1nt iwth 15-17... but his hand isnt ...
goon1407->Kibitzers: good enough to be looking for game oppisite a passed hand
goon1407->Kibitzers: esp for as light as they open.
goon1407->Kibitzers: and his partner can easily drury, ect to show fit
goon1407->Kibitzers: if he did have an extreme 10 count.
Mariner1->Kibitzers: Cam actually that hand would NOT be upgradeable
Mariner1->Kibitzers: he has source of tricks and texture of NT,,, he knows of which he
Mariner1->Kibitzers: bids
Mariner1->Kibitzers: btw he has all the 7's too, so luck is with him
Mariner1->Kibitzers: K&R (AQJT7 AT7 97 K97) = 15.75
BillHiggin->Kibitzers: but beer card in short suit is a minus
Mariner1->Kibitzers: true

[vuroth]

Clearly, BillHiggin would be my choice for VuGraph.

[jdonn]

Good point from the kibitzer about having all the 7s.

[Gerben42]

The simplest approach I would choose for B/I is to open 1NT on all 5332 hands in range. Since this one is a great 14 with a 5-card suit, it is in range.

The next simplest approach is to only open all 5♥332 in range with 1NT (you will thank me for not having a rebid problem after partner responds 1♠ to 1♥), and bid 1NT with 5♠ only with a bad suit. So then this hand opens 1♠, which would be my choice. When playing this style, 2NT response to Stayman shows 5♥.

[P_Marlowe]

1S.

Unless I miscounted, I only have 14HCP.

Ok, i have a really nice 14HCP count, so one could upgrade,
but since you also have a 5 card major, the major being
spades, why should you?

With kind regards
Marlowe

PS: I play with a p, who prefers to open the major, since I dont
have strong feelings eitherway, so I follow suit.

The adv. being, I dont have to alert our NT openers, since in
Germany you have to alert 1NT openings, if they can systemically
contain 5 card majors.
Because of this german alert regulation I would also recommend
to B/I players in Germany to open with the major, because than
there is no need to remember the need to alert.