[barsikb]

---

Pass?
1H?
3H?
4H?

Dealer

Non-Vul against Vul

[eagles123]

4H for me

[billw55]

4♥ is 100% automatic for me.

Although, I know there are some posters here who have a really low standard for opening at the one level (well, low compared to me anyway). I am curious to see if any are willing to go this low.

[TylerE]

The downside to open 4♥ on this hand (even though it's likely what I'd do ATT) is that opponents will complete the "transfer" to 4♠ a lot of the time, it will frequently be right, and they may not get there on their own.

[billw55]

TylerE, on 2013-October-17, 08:33, said:

The downside to open 4♥ on this hand (even though it's likely what I'd do ATT) is that opponents will complete the "transfer" to 4♠ a lot of the time, it will frequently be right, and they may not get there on their own.

This could happen sometimes. I prefer to think of all the other best contracts for them (anything from 3♣ to 6NT, in any strain but hearts!) that they will have a hard time reaching.

[Zelandakh]

billw55, on 2013-October-17, 08:32, said:

Although, I know there are some posters here who have a really low standard for opening at the one level (well, low compared to me anyway). I am curious to see if any are willing to go this low.

I may be on that list for light openers but this is a clear 4♥ for me too.

[neilkaz]

WTP and text book 4♥ bid. I have 8♥. I have 7 tricks.

[neilkaz]

TylerE, on 2013-October-17, 08:33, said:

The downside to open 4♥ on this hand (even though it's likely what I'd do ATT) is that opponents will complete the "transfer" to 4♠ a lot of the time, it will frequently be right, and they may not get there on their own.

I'll take my chances. Sometime they may run into PD's stack and get crushed. Sometimes they may err with the decision to go for slam and either go set at a higher level or miss a lay down 6♠ where all we take is our ace.

[ahydra]

Put me down in the 4H column.

ahydra

[ggwhiz]

4♥

Sure they may get it right but it forces them into a pin the tail on the donkey (one shot) bid. I just hope it's not me.

[P_Marlowe]

4H is certainly a reasonable option.
The only problem with the bid is, that you are very heavy such a bid, given the vulnerability.
Partner can / should take into account, that a game level preempt, can have some reserves,
if the reserves you have are too much, depends a lot on partnership agreement.

The side Ace is not nice, but again, due to the fact, that 4H is a game level preempt, it is ok.

Due to this, 3H is out of the question. If you are quite heavy for 4H, you are way too strong for 3H.

Regarding 1H: You know, which suit you want to set as trumps, you are light on HCP / defensive tricks.
Add. you have to think about your 2nd bid, do you make a 2H rebid, maybe not even showing a 6th
heart, or do you make a 4H jump rebid.

I dont fear 4S, if they will bid it over 1H, they will bid it it over 4H. In fact 1H may discourage
them bidding 4S.

Regarding Pass: Passing now, and coming in later is an underrated strategy. Peoble will tell you, that
pass is giving them a free ride, but ommit, that
#1 nowadays. peoble know, how to deal with preempt openings
#2 in lots of situation a delayed preempt is causing a lot of trouble
BIT is quite often happening in those situations, and BIT puts a lot of ethical pressure on the opponents
#3 you may have the chance of hearing, what partner has to say.

Besides Pass, the only alternative to 4H is 5H.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[daveharty]

P_Marlowe, on 2013-October-24, 01:50, said:

Besides Pass, the only alternative to 4H is 5H.

I don't think I've ever opened 5H/5S, but my understanding is that the standard meaning of such a bid is a different hand than that in the OP. Basically solid except for the AK of trumps, so partner is expected to raise to 6 or 7 with one or both honors, respectively.

[aguahombre]

daveharty, on 2013-October-27, 09:08, said:

I don't think I've ever opened 5H/5S, but my understanding is that the standard meaning of such a bid is a different hand than that in the OP. Basically solid except for the AK of trumps, so partner is expected to raise to 6 or 7 with one or both honors, respectively.

That understanding means you are very old or old fashioned. Oh, wait..That is my understanding, too, and I am also very old.

[daveharty]

aguahombre, on 2013-October-27, 09:46, said:

That understanding means you are very old or old fashioned. Oh, wait..That is my understanding, too, and I am also very old.

Leaving aside the matter of our dotage, are you suggesting that there have been recent advancements in this crucial area of bidding theory? What am I supposed to do at the club on Thursday evening when I pick up (void) QJTxxxxxxx AK A? I don't want to embarrass myself (any more than I do already)!

[aguahombre]

I recommend not trying it if your suit is a minor

[the hog]

This is a clear 4H opening.

[chasetb]

I know I am flying solo, but I am only bidding 3♥. I am afraid of forcing 4♠ if I go all in with 4♥, and while I do have 8 trump, I am missing both the Ace and King.

On a side note, I (as a 26 year old) also play 5M openings as Grand Slam Force, but only one person I play with would possibly recognize it.

[gwnn]

TylerE, on 2013-October-17, 08:33, said:

The downside to open 4♥ on any hand (even though it's likely what I'd do ATT) is that opponents will complete the "transfer" to 4♠ a lot of the time, it will sometimes be right, and they may not get there on their own.

FYP.

[Antrax]

"a lot of the time, it will sometimes be right" isn't a great fix

[gwnn]

Well they do very often bid 4♠ but I don't mind at all. Partner has a good chance of bidding 5♥ and/or doubling them. They will also have to guess whether to try for slam because 4♠ is incredibly wide ranging (can have a 5125 9-count or a 7132 17-count). Maybe other people are annoyed if opps get to game through (4♥)-4♠ instead of, say, (3♥)-3♠-p-p-p, but I'm quite happy since both opps were involved in the latter decision and only one in the former. 4th seat decided there was no game in the second case and unless 4th seat is bad at bridget, this means that the first auction led them to a non-% game. I'm ignoring us missing game in the second auction because partner also passed that. So I am not willing to bet that CHO and RHO are beginners.