[nikos59]

Hi all

A question of style: suppose you hold six cards in one major
and not four cards in the other major. Is there any hand
under any combination of vulnerability-position where
you would pass because your hand is too strong for a
weak 2 but too weak for a 1-level opener?

Is there for you a No Man's land between 2-level and 1-level
openers?

In my most humble opinion, there is no such an animal.
If I have six cards in a major I open them at either 1 or 2
level (or perhaps at 3 or 4 level:). I believe that whoever
passes a six-card major with 6 hcp or more deserves
any disaster that unavoidably happens to him.

I just saw an example of this in BBO Vugraph, Madeira
tournament. It was Round 7, Board 6 and one team was
in slam. Only one lead could beat the slam, but the
consensus of the commentators was that this (diamond)
lead was "out of this world". But the opening leader
led an unerring diamond, beating the slam. I strongly
believe that the diamond lead was a punishment from
Above. You see, declarer was dealer, vul. against not,
and he had originally *passed* holding:

A5
QJ8643
10 3
K 10 5

Nikos

[the hog]

This is a 1S opening

A5
QJ8643
10 3
K 10 5


This is not a 1S or a 2S opening
Txxxxx AQ Qxx Jxx

[nikos59]

Very good example, I might even agree, Ron.

Would you also pass with
JTxxxx AQ Qxx xxx (or Jxx)?

n.

[Fluffy]

There are no alternatives for the 8-12 range with a 6 card major other than opening in that suit at some level.

But agree with some you: 10xxxxx is a 5 card suit , J7xxxx rates for the same probably.

[the hog]

I'd open 2S with your second example, Nikos.

[jikl]

Another problem hand is something like:

9xxxxx, A, Axx, xxx

You want to open but the 2 As mean that partner will not believe you have a weak 2. You open at the one level and partner bids 2♥, you bid 2♠, and you get the obvious 3NT back and you hate yourself.

Sean

[pclayton]

There are some hand that don't qualify for a weak 2 or a one bid. But its more of an issue of suit quality. Frankly, my weak 2's and one bids overlap around a 10 count.

1♠:

KJTxxx
x
AQxx
xx

2♠:

KJTxxx
xx
Axx
Qx

[mikestar]

For me, there are no hands that are too strong for a weak two that aren't strong enough for a one bid, excepting the cases where the "too strong" is purely extra shape, in which case the hand qualifies for a higher preempt. I will never pass a hand that is too strong for a weak two.

However, this doesn't mean that I won't pass a hand that is stronger than another hand that I'd open a weak two. I would open
2S on QJTxxx xx xxx xxx and pass xxxxxx Kxx Kx Kx. The latter hand isn't too strong for a weak two, it is too defensive.