[bluecalm]

You play 1NT 14-16 and 2♦ opening as 3suiter if that's relevant. 2♣ is 6+♣.
1♦ opening is 10-15. We open every 11hcp.

First position:

AKJx
xx
xx
AQTxx

I thought opening this with 1NT is a bit too much of a stretch.
If open 1♦ I have easy rebid after 1♥/1♠. After 2♣/2♦ system will handle this hand too.
What to do after 1NT though ? Partner can still be 11 (we bid 2NT basically with 12hcp) so passing is a bit pessimistic.

So, what's the plan ?

[awm]

While I don't play the same style of precision you're using, in what I typically play a 2m rebid after 1♦-1NT does not guarantee length in the other minor. Basically the idea is:

(1) If I truly have 5+/4+ in the minors, then it's rare to have this auction without opponents coming in, and I can afford to jump to the 3-level in any case b/c I am guaranteed a pretty good fit.

(2) If I have one 5-card minor, like (34)51 or the like, then this auction is not all that unusual and we will usually have an 8-card or better fit in my minor (barring partner having some 3325 precisely or a really long minor suit of his own where he might've bid it).

(3) Bidding this way allows partner to raise with a maximum 1NT response, making it fairly easy to reach game most of the time with 14-15 unbalanced with a five-card minor opposite a maximum (10-11) 1NT response.

(4) Of course, this is influenced slightly by my style of opening 1♦ with (34)15 hands, which I suppose you would open 2♦.

So on the given hand I'd bid 2♣. Partner can pass (with a bad hand or doubleton club) or raise (with a good combination of values and club fit).

[TylerE]

1N open for me, and I don't even think it's minimum. I like good suits...

Put it another way.... would you feel bad about opening 1N on:

Kxx
Qxx
Axx
AJxx

To me that is a MUCH worse hand. Sure, you've got "stoppers", but where are your working cards?

[glen]

bluecalm, on May 3 2010, 07:20 PM, said:

You play 1NT 14-16 and 2♦ opening as 3suiter if that's relevant. 2♣ is 6+♣. 1♦ opening is 10-15. We open every 11hcp. First position:

AKJx
xx
xx
AQTxx

...What to do after 1NT though? ...

say you had:

AKJx
x
xxx
AQTxx

1♦-1NT;-2♣ is a must. Treat your 4-2-2-5 with bad doubletons the same.

[Jlall]

Just open 1N, what is the stretch about it? If you don't open 1N, you can never show a balanced hand that is this strong.

[the hog]

The plan is show my hand by opening 1NT.
I think he means a stretch because 2 suits are wide open, not because the point count is insufficient.

[jdonn]

Opening 1NT on hands like this has clear bad things that could happen but a lot of clear good things that could happen too (they lead one of your suits, they misdefend later, you get to the same contract anyway giving less information). I say just do it and simplify your life when nothing else fits.

[straube]

Easy 1N. The knr is 17.45

[bluecalm]

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(3) Bidding this way allows partner to raise with a maximum 1NT response, making it fairly easy to reach game most of the time with 14-15 unbalanced with a five-card minor opposite a maximum (10-11) 1NT response.

Thanks, your response was very helpful

Quote

Just open 1N, what is the stretch about it? If you don't open 1N, you can never show a balanced hand that is this strong.

Quote

I think he means a stretch because 2 suits are wide open, not because the point count is insufficient.

Yeah, that's what I mean. My chances to either right side the contract or to play in partscore on 7♠ or partscore/game in ♣ are basically gone.

Quote

I say just do it and simplify your life when nothing else fits.

Well, I have too little experience to say but my intuition don't like it. I am going to try it more often and see

[Free]

I would just open 1NT. You have the correct range and 5422's are balanced.