[geofspa]

Scoring: IMP

---

Having recently read (re-read) Marty Bergens Points Smoints I picked up this hand and pondered a while - should I open or not. I would like to have your opinion on this one ... I'll let you know I did eventually open 1♥

Geof

[mike777]

Close but I would just pass with AJ in my short suit.

[TylerE]

Pass and hope I can balance. Opening on this MIGHT lead to a thin 4♥, which may or may not have play. It may also lead to partner whacking off the opponents when they bid their cold game.

[jillybean]

Mandatory opening for me, but then I bid most 65 hands. I've found these 65 hands to great source tricks but you need to get in and bid your suits, here you don't even need to reverse.

[TylerE]

65 is a great source of tricks IF you can set your suits up. The spots here are so awful I have no confidence in that.

[geofspa]

As an additional - or follow up - may I ask what the weakest hand, in terms of HCP, may be that you have opened ?

[TimG]

I vote for 2♥ if that's a weak two-bid and I'm playing standard methods (i.e. not a light initial action type system). It seems obvious to me to get into the auction (especially first seat favorable). But, I've just recently reread Robson-Segal's pressure bidding chapter.

Tim

[gwnn]

I will pass this, the suits are awful. I hope I can get in later.

[mike777]

geofspa, on Dec 22 2009, 09:19 AM, said:

As an additional - or follow up - may I ask what the weakest hand, in terms of HCP, may be that you have opened ?

less than 9 points: Very rare.....more than 10 cards in long suits ....or something outstanding like....ATxx....AT9xxx.....void......xxx(3 first round controls)

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

1H is certainly ok, but I would have passed.

I decided a long time ago, that I need 10HCP for an opening
bid, and that there is no breaking the rule, i.e. 10HCP is the
line I never cross.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[Fluffy]

I used to do that Uwe, but 6-5 and 6-6 are different things.

I don't mind any action with this hand, I'd open with ♦10 I think.

[Codo]

I show my two suiter later.

[pooltuna]

Codo, on Dec 22 2009, 11:46 AM, said:

I show my two suiter later.

Why wait, start early, 2♥ and bid ♦ next

[mikeh]

I pass

Yes, there was that Bols Bridge Tip: 65 come alive, but there have to be limits for several reasons, all to do with partnership issues.

I don't mind a style wherein we agree to open these hands, tho I'd be wanting to play a forcing club method if this were an opening.

Most who discuss these types of hands, within a 2/1 or std context, seem to ignore the long term effects. In the short term, we may land on our feet, or we may get too high, or double off a cold contract..... but in the long term we will cripple our partner.....he has to start catering to this type of opening.... and when we open at the one-level with shapely 21 counts (as most do) as well as shapely 9 counts, we simply can't bid as constructively as when our range is narrower.

BTW, compare this hand to xx AQJxxx Qxxxx void....I'd hate to pass this one...which is the same shape, same count, same honour cards and yet a much, much better hand...I'm not sure what I'd bid, but I doubt that it would be pass.

On the OP hand, I smell some unusual notrump in my future if the opps are bidding.

[whereagles]

obvious opening to me

[Jlall]

Do whatever is consistent with your partnership style. I think if you don't play limited openers you are stretching it too wide to open this, but if your partnership likes to open light and accounts for that then by all means go for it.