[pescetom]

Another fun board that was destined to our beginners instead of real competition.

MP

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Anyone opening this at unfavourable vulnerability?

[mw64ahw]

Yes if you have Muiderberg or something similar

[DavidKok]

Yes, 2♠.

[jillybean]

No, not quite good enough
with ♠KQTxx I would perhaps open 1♠

[WasWinM]

I need the 10 of spades to replace the 9 and then I'm a 2S opener. Now I pass.

[shyams]

Pass

[Kaitlyn S]

pescetom, on 2026-September-22, 14:44, said:

Another fun board that was destined to our beginners instead of real competition.

MP

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Anyone opening this at unfavourable vulnerability?

I would open if I wanted partner not to force to game as responder with Qxxx, KJx, Kx, KQJx in the future.
I would open 2S if I wanted partner not to raise to 3S with xxx, AKxx, xx, KJxx in the future.
Clearly opening both 1S and 2S are more attractive if all green, but I think I would pass anyway. I like 2S better than 1S. Partner has to be able to expect that I have play to defeat a grand slam when I open at the one level.

[akwoo]

I'm not opening this (at least at these colors) in my light opening Precision partnership! (And we open light even for Precision players)

[P_Marlowe]

Pass.

At any other vul., even at the same but in 3rd pos., 2S looks ok ..., I would not suggest this to beginners.

[pescetom]

All very sensible.
So:

a)
MP

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b)
MP

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[mw64ahw]

2N for both although I go via 2♣ for a) playing reverse birthright.

Slam tries await.
a) .. 2N - 3♥ GF - 3♠ 2♠<5♥ - 4♦ 5x5x SI I'm fine with the slam try given the expected mod. loser counts.

b) I don't play Muiderberg, but here my bidding would go
2♠ - 2N
3♠ max. with ♦ - 4♣ SI ♦
4♦ even/zero KCs - 4N Q♦?
5♠ Q♦ plus K♠

[shyams]

A. It will go 2NT - 3♥; 3♠ - 3NT and South will declare there.

B. I don't have gadgets to show a 5-card suit for the 2♠ opener. So, after 2♠ - 2NT, North will bid 3♠ to show no outside features.
We do have a rarely used 3NT option available for North to show AKQxxx or AKJ10xx. It vanished over time... because I am more likely to open AKQxxx xx xxx xx as 1♠ not 2♠

[P_Marlowe]

a) 2NT
b) if it is a w2, I bid 4S, if it is 2-suited I bid 3NT

[DavidKok]

a) 2NT-3♥; 3NT-?, where 3NT shows a spade doubleton (or shorter). Now I would probably pass as responder - you really need very fitting cards opposite for the diamond slam
b) 2NT*-3♣; 3♦-3♥; 3NT-P showing a maximum weak two with 5 spades and at most 2 hearts. I do not have a way to show the diamond suit, and the slam is missed. Even opposite a maximum I would not get excited as South, but maybe I'm overcompensating for having seen both hands.

[thepossum]

I think I pass. Depends how I feel on the day. Can't decide on 1 or 2 of anything

[pescetom]

MP

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I was mentoring a promising "beginner" (such as they are at best, these days: newly pensioned, several years on funbridge, excellent AI skills) who was baffled by my 3NT, but decided that it was more likely to be positive and showed his diamonds. With a well fitting maximum and no discussion about how to proceed when pulled, I bid slam, making +1 on this lucky layout.

I didn't damp his enthusiasm, bringing home a slam builds confidence and his AI will probably explain what was going on.
I was mainly curious if anyone's methods and hand evaluation would have led to the same slam, with reason or not.

[Cyberyeti]

I open 1♠ for my sins, I think it's VERY close, but I don't fancy a multi which I play rather than a weak 2♠.

1♠-2♦
3♦

and on to 6

[jillybean]

weird