[Phil]

1♠ is warranted and I consider it winning bridge, although I don't consider pass 'crazy'. Pass might work of course, although its hard to see how. Surely you are competing to 2♠ later if you pass, so I'm not sure what passing initially gains.

So, we won't remove your frontal lobe but please stay on your meds which will reduce these manic episodes.

[neilkaz]

mikeh, on Aug 10 2010, 06:24 PM, said:

cloa513, on Aug 10 2010, 06:15 PM, said:

Because of the poor quality outside suits and the vulnerability, 2♠ (if weak) is a better bid.

Now...this is closer to 'hopeless' on my continuum..... white v red we are thinking of preempting? Wow. I know we are in second seat, but the vulnerability is the most important factor....have you even seen what people preempt on at favourable over the past 20+ years??? I mean, make the clubs xx and most would open a weak 2 at favourable...the spades aren't hideous, after all.

Agreed completely.

This hand is good enough for me to open 1♠. While KQ tight is a defect to be sure, I have some spot help in the red suits and no rebidding issues and won't be ashamed of my hand playing 2/1 if partner makes a 2/1.

[gwnn]

jdonn, on Aug 11 2010, 03:20 PM, said:

gwnn, on Aug 11 2010, 05:33 AM, said:

looking for excuses not to bid 1♠ will not win you the Bermuda Bowl

ugh! even favourable! my eyes! oh, the humanity!

Haven't you heard about that hand where Versace made a well timed pass of an 11 count with 6 decent spades at favorable, thus generating the swing to win the Bermuda Bowl? You haven't?

No, I wonder why not?

[rogerclee]

You know, you can succeed playing a style where this is a pass, a 1S opener, or a 2S opener.

People here talk all the time like it's crazy to do anything but open 1M on a bad 10-11 and 6322 shape, but in reality there are good pairs that open 2M on these (gasp, even with bad suits and vulnerable!), and in the end it doesn't matter that much, and it's up to you what kind of style you want to play.

[bluecalm]

Quote

and in the end it doesn't matter that much, and it's up to you what kind of style you want to play.

But there are no really good pairs who pass it.

[rogerclee]

bluecalm, on Aug 11 2010, 09:59 AM, said:

Quote

and in the end it doesn't matter that much, and it's up to you what kind of style you want to play.

But there are no really good pairs who pass it.

It's true that I don't think many top pairs typically pass holding a bad 10-11 6322 with a 6 card major, but that is not my point. Maybe the EV on opening 1M/2M vs pass is positive, but I bet it isn't huge, and all I was saying was that for succeeding at whatever level vuroth wants to succeed at, worrying about what this hand should be opened is not a hugely constructive use of his time, since it all amounts to about the same thing, and every style is playable as long as you follow that style.

There are a lot of obstacles in becoming a "really good" player, but worrying about weak two style isn't one of them, because despite what you might read on BBF, the world will not explode if you open a hand like QTxxxx Ax Qxx Qx with 2S first seat at all red.

I wanna add though that I'm not advocating anything but opening 1S with the hand in the OP (I think it's pretty obvious), just that all this talk about it being crazy to pass or open 2S is totally unwarranted, if your definition of crazy is "hugely -EV".

[aguahombre]

bluecalm, on Aug 11 2010, 10:59 AM, said:

Quote

and in the end it doesn't matter that much, and it's up to you what kind of style you want to play.

But there are no really good pairs who pass it.

That settles it, then. My research and polling skills are not that good, so I defer. It is hard enough to just remember what I would do.

Would probably open 1♠ unless I received some of that ESP or thought it was time for a swing.

[bluecalm]

Quote

I wanna add though that I'm not advocating anything but opening 1S with the hand in the OP (I think it's pretty obvious), just that all this talk about it being crazy to pass or open 2S is totally unwarranted, if your definition of crazy is "hugely -EV".

I agree with you, for one I was one of the few who want to open 2♠ with that hand.
Passing is a problem though. Of course one situation doesn't matter in big picture but if you want to win you have to bid a lot and if you start passing in more spots with good values and good 6carder then you have pretty big leak in your game.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

as long as you do it always with similar hands (*), it is not unreasonable,
although you have to keep in mind, that such an action is not the
mainstream action, and going against the field is usually not a good
idea playing MP.

(*) Except for tactical reasons, I have no idea, in what kind of situation,
but when peoble talk about tactical bids, they usually refer to stretching, but
"underpreempting" is also a possible tactical way of randomizing the possible
outcome.

With kind regards
Marlowe