[vuroth]

♠J743
♥A9873
♦QT
♣A9

All red, you deal. Open or pass? (MPs if it matters)

[helene_t]

Pass, especially if we play forcing 1NT.

[nick_s]

Pass. I don't have a good rebid.

[pooltuna]

yes open unless you are a 2/1er

[hrothgar]

No way, no how

Way too weak
Ugly rebid problems

[neilkaz]

As much as I'd love to open this 11 count, inspite of QT in ♦, I have to pass playing 2/1. What do I rebid over a forcing NT? When I open light I don't want rebid issues.

Pass

[kenrexford]

11 HCP + 9 major cards = RUle of 20 ---- check

Two quicks -- enough for me ---- check

8 losers, but that undervalues the Q10 doubleton -- enough for me ---- check

11 HCP -- expected from me ---- check

Body? Lots of 10's and 9's ---- check

Rebid?

This seems to be the hangup. I'm fine after any response except a forcing 1NT. However, I am also fine then, because I play that 2♣ could easily be a doubleton (could be stiff, actually). So, I have no rebid problems.

Yes, I'd open.

[aguahombre]

And playing the dreaded Flannery? Too worried about center opponent not being able to take a joke.

[gwnn]

don't open on this crap.

good point, with flannery i'd open

[vuroth]

Thanks guys. I passed, and when partner opened we had an easy NMF auction to 3NT.

My thought was that I should pass this, but bid if ♠s were swapped with either minor. Sounds right?

V

[Jlall]

I would always pass this, this hand is terrible.

[kenrexford]

Jlall, on Aug 4 2009, 01:36 PM, said:

I would always pass this, this hand is terrible.

Yes, but you declare well enough to handle it, right?

[gwnn]

Making the hand 5♥4m would make it less desirable for me to open it. Of course in theory the rebid problems create some difficulties and a few bad boards but the plain truth is that the more cards you have in the majors, the better your hand is (all things being equal) and I don't think other criteria can counterbalance this.

[nigel_k]

Pass, but I know I'm more conservative on these than many people.

With this shape and honour pattern I'd also pass if the four card suit was a minor. The overall offense to defense ratio of this hand is low enough that I'm not too worried about being shut out if I pass.

[the hog]

Poor hand with a rebid problem. Pass as has been said before.

[Quantumcat]

Why so particular passing when playing 2/1? You could pass a forcing NT: if they have a balanced invite, you wouldn't accept it or even be very happy at the 2-level, they don't have 4 spades, and you don't really want to play at the 3 level if they have a weak hand with a minor. A shame if you have a fit, but you might make 7 tricks in both 1NT and 2H so you'd be winning then (don't they say the first side to reach 1NT in MP's will probably win the board?). Plus, if you have a fit, you get to bid to 2H when they had a minor fit, when you might not have had a chance to overcall if you passed and have them be playing in 1nt or 2-minor. As long as your p respects your repeated rejections when he has a good hand and wants to bid a lot you'll be ok.

Here's what I think about opening:
1. open all 12's NV (and mildly interesting 11's V)
2. open all mildly interesting 11's NV and 12's V (any nice 5 card, or 5-4 or bal with 6 card)
3. open all interesting 10's NV and 11's V (non bal 6 card, 5-4 with nice suits, 5-5, bal 7 card)
4. open all very interesting 9's NV (nice 7 card suit, any 6-5, etc unless a 4M opening)
5. open 8's if they are just incredibly amazing and not a 4M opening

does anybody agree?

[the hog]

Quantumcat, on Aug 5 2009, 10:31 AM, said:

Why so particular passing when playing 2/1? You could pass a forcing NT

does anybody agree?

Agree? No. The definition of a forcing NT is precisely that - it is forcing. Be aware that some people play a 1NT response as up to 15HCP.

Secondly the reason to pass if you are playing 2/1 is that a 2/1 response is foring to game. Responder with a very good 12+ will put you into game. If you consistently bid game on these hands and go down, you will lose buckets of Imps.

[aguahombre]

For whatever reason, if you pass 1NT, or any other bid you have agreed to play as forcing, you erode partnership trust. It will come back to bite you in the future. Thinking of all the consequences in advance --including the OP's nice passed-hand NMF auction-- people pass this pile of dung in first or second.

[NickRW]

FWIW (not being a 2/1er), I play a system where I can open a little light - and I probably would open with this - just - but there would be days when I might not bother - this hand is right on the cusp of open or not for me - so I guess most 2/1ers wouldn't and I can see why.

Nick

[kenrexford]

Yeah, didn't think about that. Pass of the "forcing" 1NT is a good option.