[inquiry]

Scoring: MP

This was board 6 from an ACBL online tournament this week. You are east, and you are vunerable. Contest is matchpoints.

Vote rather you would open (yes) or don't open (no), and as a side bet just for fun try to guess the percentage in a 98 table event (we round to nearest 5%) who did open or who passed.

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[bluecalm]

I open playing precision, pass playing anything similar to "standard".
I guess it's "yes" in the survey.
I think vast majority of people would fold.. err pass it.

[jjbrr]

I voted yes, 10%. I would open it for sure playing precision. I would probably not open it playing a standard system unless my partner expects this sort of thing.

[MFA]

Same here. Routine opener in my usual precision context, but pass otherwise. Voted no-75%.

[Cyberyeti]

Misread the poll slightly, voted no 10% and meant no 90%.

I would open this hand if the AQ♦ was in the spade suit, but I wouldn't open something like this where a spade lead is probably bad.

I play acol but open very light, but this is too much for me.

[Pict]

Yes at MPs and I thought 50% would open.

Rule of 19 hand. If I can legally open, I do.

[JLOGIC]

No and 90-95% seems right.

Just to make the case for pass:

We are vulnerable which will lead to -200 sometimes undoubled in whatever contract (like 1S-1N-2D-2S-p down 2), and we have a topless suit which we don't want lead (at matchpoints partner leading a spade might lead to a disaster), on top of the usual we might just get too high when partner 2/1s in hearts or whatever and we have to play a bad 3N (better at imps since there's more of a bonus for game). We also have no spot cards.

Obviously there are benefits to opening but I really dislike it vul at MP. It has way more upside to me NV at MP. I think in general people are not respectful enough of the vulnerability in situations like this.

[Pict]

I suppose then the interesting question is how much change or improvement the hand needs to move from NV opening to V opening.

I guess it's a given that moving the AQ from diamonds to spades makes it 100% opening for everyone(?). Where is the border line for 50% of players.

[cherdanno]

I think moving ♦AQ to spades still doesn't have 50% opening. Maybe 100% on BBF, but not 50% in your average ACBL tourney. WE HAVE 10 POINTS ONLY.

[TimG]

I'm surprised that more forum regulars aren't opening. Not that I'm suggesting it is right or wrong, but usually there's a lot of machismo in the forums.

How about if the hand is:

♠ J9765
♥ 8
♦ AQ2
♣ A543

[Mbodell]

I definitely open this playing precision. I might well open this playing standard, but probably not with it depending on partner and opponents and field. A few quick and dirty hand evaluations:

HCP: 10 < 12 means pass
rule of 20 (HCP+2longest): 19 < 20 means pass
rule of 22 (HCP+2longest+QT): 21.5 < 22 means probably pass
zar: 10+9+4+4 = 27 > 25 means bid

So I think playing standard I pass, but turn the 3 2s into Ts and I think I open.

I voted yes in the poll though because I always open in precision and occasionally open in standard so it felt more of a yes.

[nigel_k]

♠ 97652
♥ 8
♦ AQ2
♣ A542

I'm a little surprised at all the people opening. This hand is really bad if you have no fit and it's not that hard to get in later if they bid hearts. Sure it could come back to you at the four level but that's only one scenario. Is partner supposed to game force with:

Qx
KJxxx
Kxx
KJx

[rhm]

This hand fits my requirement for a minimum opening, playing any system, and I consider myself not a very light opener.
But for me, whether to open or not, has more to do with hand evaluation and judgment.
I expect a vast majority (roughly 90%) to pass, but I back my judgment.
This hand I upgrade due to the honor structure to 11 HCP plus distributional values.
I would not open if the hand did not have a 5 card major.
Of course the spade suit is weak and to open can easily get you too high.
(For no-trump purposes this hand is not worth an opening)

But I like to open distributional hands with aces, when it contains a major.
I think these are the hands where it pays to come in first.
More often I pass balanced hands with a 12 HCP, if the hand has a lack of intermediates and aces, where a 90% majority would open.
I am surprised to what extent even very good players are slaves to standard point count, even though many know that it is not very reliable guide for high level suit contracts.

Rainer Herrmann

[cherdanno]

You have distribution and nice hcp, but you have terrible spots and your hcp are in short suits. You are opening 9xxxx red at MP in a suit you are very likely to end up playing if you have a 5-3 or 5-2 fit! There are extremely few balanced 12 counts that are worse than this hand IMO.

[inquiry]

At this point 28% of the forum members who voted, have voted to open this hand.

When this hand was played, it was opened 1♠ 4 times and passed at the other 94 Tables (98 tables in all). I had thought a higher percentage would open this hand, and as ZAR believer, I would normally open this hand myself.

However, I look at those weak spades AND the vulnerabilty (we are, they are not) AND that this is matchpoint. Combining all of those (the fear of a costly spade opening lead from partner induced by my bid, the fear of down 200 opposite nothing in a weak 5-2 spade fit if partner uses a forcing 1NT) I have to admit this hand I would pass in first seat....

Like several people have suggested, move the D-AQ to spades, it is a what is the problem hand.

[rhm]

cherdanno, on Aug 14 2010, 05:33 PM, said:

You have distribution and nice hcp, but you have terrible spots and your hcp are in short suits. You are opening 9xxxx red at MP in a suit you are very likely to end up playing if you have a 5-3 or 5-2 fit! There are extremely few balanced 12 counts that are worse than this hand IMO.

I beg to differ.
First chances are better than even that partner has at least 3 cards in spades and I believe then I am ahead already.
Even if we do not have a fit in spades (and partner is short in spades) we may well have a fit in one of the minors and if you have a high level contract in a minor it will be far more difficult to reach it if you pass.

Second I disagree with your assessment that few balanced 12 counts are worse.
For suit contracts they usually will be and if your balanced hand lacks aces and intermediates it is not even good for no-trump.

But people often do not realize this when they go down.

Last Thursday I played in a casual partnership and raised vulnerable a strong notrump to 3NT with

♠ xxx ♥ AKTx ♦Axx ♣ xxx

Partner held:

♠ KT9 ♥ QJxx ♦ KQJx ♣ QJ

and went for minus 200 after a club lead. (not all minus 200 seem to be equally bad)

It would not occur to me to open such rubbish as a strong no-trump, but it seems to be the modern trend.

Rainer Herrmann

[dake50]

Open 1S. BUT I play a light Majors opening scheme just for these type opportunities..

[JLOGIC]

inquiry, on Aug 14 2010, 05:42 PM, said:

When this hand was played, it was opened 1♠ 4 times and passed at the other 94 Tables (98 tables in all).

I'm not sure why this would surprise you. As cherdano said, average club game/speedball players won't open with 10 points almost no matter what. The more advanced ones will if their hands meet the RULE of 20.

It's not like a non-negligible amount of these players are sitting there thinking "I usually open this shape with AQ A but I fear a weak 5-2 spade fit at MP vul!"

[rduran1216]

no 75% looking like the winner from the data.

[hanp]

I wouldn't open if my AQ were in spades.