[kayin801]

Matchpoints

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1) Initial pass, yay or nay?
2) What's your call?
3) Do you consider any other calls close?

EDIT: Title should read bidders', typo

[nigel_k]

1) Agree with initial pass
2) Would now bid 3♥ showing a good spade raise
3) I suppose you could splinter if you play them after interference. But it's quite a bad hand and the stiff king isn't ideal.

[mtvesuvius]

1) I would have opened.
2) I would bid 3♥ as well (unless 2N shows this hand for you)
3) Nope.

[mgoetze]

1. Pass playing standard. 1♥ playing precision or polish.
2. 2NT = limit raise+ with 4-card support.
3. No.

[Hanoi5]

1) Yes, I pass on my first round
2) I reluctantly bid 3♥.
3) Pass and 3NT are options in my opinion. I think I would bid 3NT at the table, though I usually regret that kind of bids.

[kenberg]

Pass first round, not a close decision imo
3H over 2H, not happy but I don't consider other options realistic.

[655321]

Yes open. I wouldn't say that passing is wrong, but I do think pass is approaching the the border between an acceptable if conservative action, and a wrong action.

Now, 2NT or however you show a 4 card raise.

[mr1303]

I would open 2D, showing an minimum opening with 4-5 in the majors.

Now I show a limit+ raise in spades, however it is I do that.

[Siegmund]

For me it's an opening bid if I am playing a majors-first style, but a pass if my partner is the type who responds 2C instead of 1S on a strong 4-2-3-4 hand.
Now I do whatever forces to game in spades in our system - probably start with a cuebid.
I also consider pass (and the less confident you are that your side has a game, the more you should consider pass.)

[skjaeran]

1. I'd open 1♥
2. 2NT now, inv+ with 4-card support
3. I'd not consider any other call.

[Free]

mr1303, on 2010-December-12, 17:43, said:

I would open 2D, showing an minimum opening with 4-5 in the majors.

Kill him for almost using the F-word!

1. pass first seat is ok, I only open when I agree to open light (like precision)
2. I'd bid 2NT as limit with 4+♠ support. If we're lacking this, I guess 3♥ is the only alternative.
3. Show your INV with fit. If you can distinguish between 4 or 3 cards, great.

[Fluffy]

I don't know if my hand is worth single raise, invitational or game raise.

With 3 spades I would try to pass, but 4 card support is too much, but I will encourage some extra bidding with just 2♠

[lexlogan]

Fluffy, on 2010-December-13, 07:26, said:

I don't know if my hand is worth single raise, invitational or game raise.

With 3 spades I would try to pass, but 4 card support is too much, but I will encourage some extra bidding with just 2♠

Seems overly cautious. You have a 7 loser hand; the stiff King of diamonds rates to have some value (partner must have some values outside hearts) which compensates for not having an Ace. Partner opened in 3rd seat; his five card "support" for my spades will cover most of my heart losers. If he provides 3 or 4 high card tricks I expect to make 3 or 4 spades -- oh, partner is playing it? I trust he knows how to play a dummy reversal, or perhaps he can just ruff diamonds. The KQ of hearts looks great -- two pitches, or more likely, one trick and no heart loser. Partner isn't likely to be void (overcaller's partner did not raise). If they get Ace of hearts and a ruff, partner likely is short in clubs.

[lexlogan]

Pass initially (no Ace, stiff King), 2NT (=4 card raise) or 3♥ now according to style.

[mikestar13]

Agree with pass, though it's close: put ♦K in clubs and it's a clearcut opening.

Having passed, this is a limit raise (presumably 3♥), but this hand is closer to 2♠ than 4♠.

No alternatives come to mind.

[kenberg]

I agree with this. If the minors were Kxx and x, I would open. When I said earlier that I would pass the given hand and did not consider it close, I meant that I had no second thoughts, no should I or shouldn't I, I just pass. It was mentioned that if playing a certain unmentionable convention then 2D is right. I play this convention with one partner but I would still pass.

[Phil]

Flannery gets such a bad rap around here lol.

[Free]

Phil, on 2010-December-14, 21:01, said:

Flannery

Oooh that's a bridge too far

[Fluffy]

lexlogan, on 2010-December-14, 14:19, said:

Seems overly cautious. You have a 7 loser hand; the stiff King of diamonds rates to have some value (partner must have some values outside hearts) which compensates for not having an Ace. Partner opened in 3rd seat; his five card "support" for my spades will cover most of my heart losers. If he provides 3 or 4 high card tricks I expect to make 3 or 4 spades -- oh, partner is playing it? I trust he knows how to play a dummy reversal, or perhaps he can just ruff diamonds. The KQ of hearts looks great -- two pitches, or more likely, one trick and no heart loser. Partner isn't likely to be void (overcaller's partner did not raise). If they get Ace of hearts and a ruff, partner likely is short in clubs.

Not only cautious, but more like encouraging opponents to make a mistake.

LHO didn't raise hearts because he couldn't do it yet, with the hand I have in mind for RHO partner will often have a void and our hand is pretty bad then, with the hand you have in mind for RHO you can surelly get +800 in 2♥ so dunno why you give yourself a chance of just 140.

I won't be surprised if 3♥ lands us in a cold game, nor do I claim 2♠ to be obvious, but I am willing to try today.

[Coelacanth]

Yes to an initial pass, although this is the hand that Flannery was invented for if you are playing it.

I need to know a little about my partner's style of 3rd-seat opener. If partner is me, for example, this hand is a game force. I start with 3♥ and look for a slam unless partner signs off in ♠. If partner is prone to some crazy 3rd-seat specials then 2♠ may be too high. But I think I'd still bid 3♥.