[TMorris]

3rd in hand all non-vulnerable at matchpoints

Do you bid - if so what?

System is weak NT 4-card suits.

I am curious about third in hand openings & how aggresive it pays to be.

Hand is

♠ A65
♥ Q42
♦ 86
♣ Q7432

All thoughts welcome.

[Phil]

I think opening hands like these is very bad bridge.

[hrothgar]

Phil, on 2011-April-21, 09:49, said:

I think opening hands like these is very bad bridge.

I've seen Zia open these hands with a 3rd seat "weak" NT on numerous occasions...

[TMorris]

The main reason I ask is that all vulnerable at matchpoints a top class player opened in 3rd position

♠J54
♥J6
♦J10932
♣A65

1 ♦

against me.

Which made me think I was being a bit conservative in my thinking (this doesn't resemble any sort of a bid for me). Hence I wonder if the hand I posted (played last night) was an opening of some sort or not.

[gnasher]

The only actions I'd consider on the hand in the original post are 3♣, 1♥ and 1♠, but I wouldn't do any of them. On the 3253 in your second post, I'd be happy to open 2♦.

Very light one-level openings in third seat have the considerable disadvantage that they make it hard for your partner to bid sensibly. For example, if it goes

pass pass 1♣ 1♠
dbl 2♠ pass pass

and responder has a balanced 10-count, it's hard for him to judge what to do if you might have a balanced 8-count or a balanced 14-count.

[gwnn]

gnasher, all vulnerable at matchpoints you'd open 2♦?

[JLOGIC]

These are both the wrong types of hands to bid with in 3rd seat imo.

[gnasher]

gwnn, on 2011-April-21, 13:04, said:

gnasher, all vulnerable at matchpoints you'd open 2♦?

No, I wouldn't. I hadn't noticed that the vulnerability was different.

[Yu18772]

TMorris, on 2011-April-21, 10:02, said:

The main reason I ask is that all vulnerable at matchpoints a top class player opened in 3rd position

♠J54
♥J6
♦J10932
♣A65

1 ♦

against me.

Which made me think I was being a bit conservative in my thinking (this doesn't resemble any sort of a bid for me). Hence I wonder if the hand I posted (played last night) was an opening of some sort or not.

NV this resembles 2♦ opening much more than 1♦, especially with a diamond more and an Ace less...... the original hand you posted does not resemble any opening at any vul to me.
I think that opening 3rd hands very light (and I mean 3♣ with ♠xxx,♥xxx,♦x,♣Q9xxxx light) is useful only if you think that the 4th hand has at least 2NT or better, which means you have 2-3 points and a long suit enough to preempt, and think ops wont catch you or if they do they miss slam. Otherwise open if you have some competitive values - 10+ points and suit, at worst 9 points and 5:4 in majors (and by agreement with partner).

[Free]

If I want to open light in 3rd seat I prefer to have a good suit. Qxxxx and JTxxx are not good suits for sure.

The only opening that I'd consider is 1NT: partner can transfer in which case we'll play 2M (hopefully) or 3M in a 5-3 fit, or he can stayman which we can pass. I'm just too afraid partner will invite with a 5 card Major, so I think pass stands out. After passing, partner can overcall his 5 card M and we can raise.

[ahydra]

NV I'll go as low as perhaps 8-9 HCP in 3rd - slightly more if vul - but only if the hand has some shape. Both those hands are balanced and the club suit in the first hand is raggier than... a raggy thing. Pass on both.

ahydra

[whereagles]

JLOGIC, on 2011-April-21, 15:29, said:

These are both the wrong types of hands to bid with in 3rd seat imo.

Agree. There are hands to open light in 3rd seat, but those aren't the ones. Losing tactics on the long run.