[JSilver]

Just wondering

[luis]

I'm sure almost everybody will answer "yes why not", what about 5422 hands with both minors or a 5m and 4M? Do you open 1nt when you have one/both doubletons protected or always?

[lenze]

Quote

I'm sure almost everybody will answer "yes why not", what about 5422 hands with both minors or a 5m and 4M? Do you open 1nt when you have one/both doubletons protected or always?

At my age, my judgement and table sense is not so keen anymore, so I make up rules. If the hand has 15-17, I check for a singleton. If no singleton, I check for more than 2 doubletons. Next I check for a 6 card major. If no 6 card major, I pull out the 1NT card. Doesn't always work, but I don't have to think or worry about it.

BTW: About 25 years ago, I opened 1NT on

S Qx
H Qx
D AKQxxxx
C Qx

Got a top when partner played 2 Spades after a 2 Heart overcall.


Also, last week in a regional swiss team, needing a good result, I opened 1NT, NV vs Vul as south on

S KQJxxx
H Kxx
D Ax
C Ax

Had the chance to defend 4 Spades by west (In her void)

[lifemonster]

I did it routinely. Just treat it as the 6-cd 5332.

[JRG]

I have a problem with the poll. Like many polls, it is biased. It doesn't simply ask questions, it editorializes.

For example, I did NOT respond to the poll because an honest answer is that I have never opened 1NT with a six-card minor; however, it is not illegal, I do not think it is unethical, nor do I feel it will be disastrous. I just haven't done it, which, by the way, doesn't mean I won't.

John

[JSilver]

Quote

I have a problem with the poll. Like many polls, it is biased. It doesn't simply ask questions, it editorializes.

Ok, I suppose you're right that the answer choices present a bias. I was trying to have a little fun with this. But I really do want honest answers. Thanks for yours.

[Cave_Draco]

The problem is not the 6-card minor, it's the singleton or two doubletons, :-D.

Playing a Weak NT? NEVER!

Playing a Strong NT? AK-AK-Kxx-xxxxxx? Hmm, could be amusing but misleads P. So, NO!

[luis]

I'm playing weak NT allowing 5M-3-2-2, 6m-3-2-2 or 5m-4M-2-2 distributions and I think that the results are being favorable. Maybe the accuracy of our contracts after opening 1nt is not as good as it was but now we have a lot of relief in forcing NT sequences after 1h-1s or 1s-1n (we reverse the meaning of 1s and 1nt after 1h). For example we can play 1s-1n;2n to be forcing and that gives a lot of flexibility to the system.
Bah, I'm still experimenting and evaluating this.

[Cave_Draco]

Quote

I'm playing weak NT allowing 5M-3-2-2, 6m-3-2-2 or 5m-4M-2-2 distributions and I think that the results are being favorable. Maybe the accuracy of our contracts after opening 1nt is not as good as it was but now we have a lot of relief in forcing NT sequences after 1h-1s or 1s-1n (we reverse the meaning of 1s and 1nt after 1h). For example we can play 1s-1n;2n to be forcing and that gives a lot of flexibility to the system.
Bah, I'm still experimenting and evaluating this.

In the system that I designed... :-D

6m & 5m-4M were opened 1S: 4-4M & 5M opened 1D; with < 1NT response, bid your worse Major!

Do you not feel that you are overloading 1NT?

[luis]

Hi draco,

Yes we are overloading 1NT but for some very strange reason we've found that 80% of opponents suicides occur when we open a weak NT, either they pass all the time with game in their hands or decide to bid and get smashed for a number when they don't have to. They confuse themselves about what they play against weak nt, how to reopen etc. That's why I don't mind losing precision when we open 1nt as long as we open 1nt more hands....

Maybe this doesn't happen where you play but I still prefer to have a problem in the bidding after 1nt rather than after a forcing NT auction when things tend to get really dark.....

[the hog]

Playing a weak NT, you will find good players looking for an excuse to open 1NT, not an excuse NOT to open 1NT.
Absolutely nothing wrong with a 6223.

Interestingly enough one or 2 players who post here seem to believe that a weak NT should be a "disciplined" opening, whatever that means; nothing could be further from the truth.

[Cave_Draco]

With a 6-2-2-3; Why am I not opening 1S?

:-D

[the hog]

If you want to open 1S with a 6 card minor as the whole of this thread was about Cave Draco, that's fine with me. I think that is even more likely to mislead your partner, however.

[JRG]

I think Cave_Draco's response was tongue-in-cheek. Clearly 6-2-2-3 is a specific distribution; whereas 6-3-2-2 is not.

[mishovnbg]

Opening any NT with long suit you MUST have at least one 3 major (1) or if you open with 5 major you MUST have 3 cards (2) in other major. Need, if you partner have both majors (1) or 5+ cards in other major (2).
Misho