Hi
Sadly I have lost the hand but cant show it. I am a returning bridge player, trying to relearn the game, and used to play 4 card majors in ACOL. Now I'm learning 2/1 5-card majors. Recently I was playing IMPs. We were not vulnerable but EW were vulnerable. I picked up what looked like a very nice but weak hand which was close to an opening 1S
S AQJ10x H Qxxx C x D xx
That only comes to 9 HCP and 12 Total points. My rather aggressive/preemptive side came out and I bid 1S which ended up ok. I was hoping to end up in a max of 2S but the robot pushed to 4S. We only went down 1 trick worth only 0.2 IMPs against us so not a bad result, but risky.
What I would like to ask people, especially 2/1 players is if you regard my opening bid as acceptable. In appropriate situations I like to push point count on good weak hand even at the one level sinec the 1S is essentially a 1-level preempt
regards P
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Opening 5-card major with 9HCP and 11-12 Total points
#2
Posted 2018-September-12, 00:03
The hand has only 12 cards. You may want to amend it
But generally, 2/1 is not particular suitable for light openings. If partner has to cater to a 9-count, he needs some 14-15 points to force to game so the range of the 1NT response now becomes 5-13(14) which is not manageable. The standard 5-11(12) range is already stretching it.
Some 2/1 players play Polish 2-opening which allows you to open 7-10 counts with two five-card suits at the 2-level. This reduces the temptation to open light at the 1-level. Another workaround is to switch to a strong club system, but then we are talking about a completely different system so that is probably not so relevant.
Otherwise, the cost of playing 2/1 is that you will have to pass with most 10-counts and some 11-counts. Of course, you can chose to open light anyway even if partner isn't supposed to cater to it. You will then end up in some very thin games when partner has a misfitting 12/13 count, but maybe you will find that the benefits of light openings compensate for it. In that case you would probably be able to do better playing a different system, though.
Note that in 3rd/4th seat, the 2/1 system doesn't apply, and it is common to use 2♣ as a conventional response (Drury), showing 3-card support and asking opener if he has a "real" opening or not. So in 3rd/4th seat, you can certainly open light.
But generally, 2/1 is not particular suitable for light openings. If partner has to cater to a 9-count, he needs some 14-15 points to force to game so the range of the 1NT response now becomes 5-13(14) which is not manageable. The standard 5-11(12) range is already stretching it.
Some 2/1 players play Polish 2-opening which allows you to open 7-10 counts with two five-card suits at the 2-level. This reduces the temptation to open light at the 1-level. Another workaround is to switch to a strong club system, but then we are talking about a completely different system so that is probably not so relevant.
Otherwise, the cost of playing 2/1 is that you will have to pass with most 10-counts and some 11-counts. Of course, you can chose to open light anyway even if partner isn't supposed to cater to it. You will then end up in some very thin games when partner has a misfitting 12/13 count, but maybe you will find that the benefits of light openings compensate for it. In that case you would probably be able to do better playing a different system, though.
Note that in 3rd/4th seat, the 2/1 system doesn't apply, and it is common to use 2♣ as a conventional response (Drury), showing 3-card support and asking opener if he has a "real" opening or not. So in 3rd/4th seat, you can certainly open light.
The world would be such a happy place, if only everyone played Acol :) --- TramTicket
#3
Posted 2018-September-12, 01:27
helene_t, on 2018-September-12, 00:03, said:
The hand has only 12 cards. You may want to amend it
But generally, 2/1 is not particular suitable for light openings. If partner has to cater to a 9-count, he needs some 14-15 points to force to game so the range of the 1NT response now becomes 5-13(14) which is not manageable. The standard 5-11(12) range is already stretching it.
Some 2/1 players play Polish 2-opening which allows you to open 7-10 counts with two five-card suits at the 2-level. This reduces the temptation to open light at the 1-level. Another workaround is to switch to a strong club system, but then we are talking about a completely different system so that is probably not so relevant.
Otherwise, the cost of playing 2/1 is that you will have to pass with most 10-counts and some 11-counts. Of course, you can chose to open light anyway even if partner isn't supposed to cater to it. You will then end up in some very thin games when partner has a misfitting 12/13 count, but maybe you will find that the benefits of light openings compensate for it. In that case you would probably be able to do better playing a different system, though.
Note that in 3rd/4th seat, the 2/1 system doesn't apply, and it is common to use 2♣ as a conventional response (Drury), showing 3-card support and asking opener if he has a "real" opening or not. So in 3rd/4th seat, you can certainly open light.
But generally, 2/1 is not particular suitable for light openings. If partner has to cater to a 9-count, he needs some 14-15 points to force to game so the range of the 1NT response now becomes 5-13(14) which is not manageable. The standard 5-11(12) range is already stretching it.
Some 2/1 players play Polish 2-opening which allows you to open 7-10 counts with two five-card suits at the 2-level. This reduces the temptation to open light at the 1-level. Another workaround is to switch to a strong club system, but then we are talking about a completely different system so that is probably not so relevant.
Otherwise, the cost of playing 2/1 is that you will have to pass with most 10-counts and some 11-counts. Of course, you can chose to open light anyway even if partner isn't supposed to cater to it. You will then end up in some very thin games when partner has a misfitting 12/13 count, but maybe you will find that the benefits of light openings compensate for it. In that case you would probably be able to do better playing a different system, though.
Note that in 3rd/4th seat, the 2/1 system doesn't apply, and it is common to use 2♣ as a conventional response (Drury), showing 3-card support and asking opener if he has a "real" opening or not. So in 3rd/4th seat, you can certainly open light.
Hi Helene
Thanks for the advice. As I said I couldn't remember the hand. Maybe it was two doubletons or 3 and 1 so it actually only had 11 total points
Maybe I need to learn to count to 13 before progressing any further in bridge. Maybe it explains why I am often going down 1 on a forgotten trump
Best P
#4
Posted 2018-September-12, 06:15
I'm sure you would have got some 'feedback' from partners at an Acol-based bridge club opening this hand in 1st or 2nd seat, and the same applies to 2/1. It is always better to be consistent and disciplined than aggressive. The hand does come out at a tad over 11 total points - my calculation - but total points shouldn't be a consideration where an opening bid is made with a standard 5422 or 5431 shape. It's difficult to put the brakes on when partner has made a game forcing response in 2/1, so as Helene rightly says, many 10 or even 11 point hands are not suitable for an opening bid in 2/1 so opening with a 9 count is a definite no-no except if a find a partner who is tolerant of your aggression.
At least GIB doesn't leave 'feedback'
At least GIB doesn't leave 'feedback'
#5
Posted 2018-September-13, 21:36
The_Badger, on 2018-September-12, 06:15, said:
I'm sure you would have got some 'feedback' from partners at an Acol-based bridge club opening this hand in 1st or 2nd seat, and the same applies to 2/1. It is always better to be consistent and disciplined than aggressive. The hand does come out at a tad over 11 total points - my calculation - but total points shouldn't be a consideration where an opening bid is made with a standard 5422 or 5431 shape. It's difficult to put the brakes on when partner has made a game forcing response in 2/1, so as Helene rightly says, many 10 or even 11 point hands are not suitable for an opening bid in 2/1 so opening with a 9 count is a definite no-no except if a find a partner who is tolerant of your aggression.
At least GIB doesn't leave 'feedback'
At least GIB doesn't leave 'feedback'
Thankyou. Yes, its good not having to worry about GIB feedback although occasionally I have managed to project my embarrassment for a bad bid onto the robot and been convinced it was playing with some irritation
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