Openinghand or not 5card spade and 11 points
#1
Posted 2015-September-14, 13:21
KQJxx Qxx 10x QJx. He says its not enough quick tricks to open this hand in first or second position.
#2
Posted 2015-September-14, 13:47
I can say that your losses from having partner double 3♦ expecting 2 tricks from you are more than outweighed by your gains from partner leading a spade against NT.
#3
Posted 2015-September-14, 14:34
pros: good suit, which is spades
cons: quacky, scattered honors, balanced, no aces, lack of spots (or so I assume - those x could matter)
Yes, I think it is borderline, bid or pass is ok as long as style is mutually agreed. So if your partner wants pass, I suggest to go with that.
Personally, I will open this in 3rd or 4th seat, any conditions, and 1st or 2nd if nonvul at matchpoints. Otherwise, pass.
-gwnn
#4
Posted 2015-September-15, 02:47
#5
Posted 2015-September-15, 03:21
I would open in third or fourth position.
But otherwise I have more sympathy for your partner than for you.
For me this is a balanced 10 point hand and I do not open balanced 10 HCP hands in first or second position. In my opinion it is a losing proposition.
Weak players are usually mesmerized by quacks because with the same amount of HCP when they lack aces, they have more honors and because they have more they tend to be in sequence, of which some people make a big deal.
In white I have some sympathy for a weak two in spades. At least it could work out.
Rainer Herrmann
#6
Posted 2015-September-15, 04:06
UdcaDenny, on 2015-September-14, 13:21, said:
From practical on-line experience, BBOers would open it, without thought
#7
Posted 2015-September-15, 04:27
So I'm not opening this hand in 1st, 2nd, or 4th seat. In 3rd seat, if I open it, I'd bid 2 ♠, not 1 ♠. But my partners know, anything goes with 3rd seat weak 2s.
I'm one of those old geezers who, like your partner, believe you normally need some QTs to open a hand. Normally, it's 2 QTs and 12 HCP, but will open all 3 QT hands and will open 11 HCP with 2 1/2 QT.
I'll also consider opening Rule of 20 hands that have 2 QTs, but I do use some judgment with those. With ♠ AJ432 ♥ AJ432 ♦ xx ♣ x, I'm not sure I'd open. But with ♠ AJ10xx ♥ AJ10xx ♦ xx ♣ x, I have no trouble opening 1 ♠ in any seat. The working intermediates make the hand quite a bit better.
Occasionally, I might open a balanced 11 HCP hand with 2 QTs, but it usually has lots of working intermediates in it. Maybe something like ♠ AQ10xx ♥ K109 ♦ Q10x ♣ xx.
If I do open with less than 2 QTs, it usually a hand with lots of playing strength. For instance, I had no trouble opening ♠ - ♥ xx ♦ KJ10xxx ♣ KQ10xx with 1 ♦.
Consider this. If you can open 1 ♠ and show a minimum with ♠ KQJxx ♥ Qxx ♦ 10x ♣ QJx all the way to ♠ KQJxx ♥ AKx ♦ xx ♣ xxx, you may give your partner unsolvable bidding problems. With something like ♠ Axxx ♥ xx ♦ AKJxx ♣ xx, a ♠ game is a good contract with the latter hand, but destined to go down at least 1 with the former. If you have too many bad results with hands like the former, it will shake your partner's confidence in your bidding. Then you'll be in really deep trouble if and when partner starts "compensating" for your bidding.
#8
Posted 2015-September-15, 20:02
Ultimately, you and your partner need to come to some understanding about your bidding style. To be effective, you've got to be in sync. I've seen some pairs who are very aggressive and do very well. I've also seen some pairs that are more disciplined and also do very well. Both sets of players have adjusted to accommodate their style and are comfortable with what they do. So there's no one right answer. The goal is to play good bridge because that's always a winner.
#9
Posted 2015-September-15, 20:55
UdcaDenny, on 2015-September-14, 13:21, said:
KQJxx Qxx 10x QJx. He says its not enough quick tricks to open this hand in first or second position.
I would open.
"It's only when a mosquito lands on your testicles that you realize there is always a way to solve problems without using violence!"
"Well to be perfectly honest, in my humble opinion, of course without offending anyone who thinks differently from my point of view, but also by looking into this matter in a different perspective and without being condemning of one's view's and by trying to make it objectified, and by considering each and every one's valid opinion, I honestly believe that I completely forgot what I was going to say."
#10
Posted 2015-September-15, 23:01
UdcaDenny, on 2015-September-14, 13:21, said:
KQJxx Qxx 10x QJx. He says its not enough quick tricks to open this hand in first or second position.
To repeat others, opening is a partnership agreement. Clearly, clearly partner says you do not have an opening bid per agreement.. For some reason you want to disagree about your agreements. Partner says this is NOT an opening hand....you diaagree....seems time to say thy and bye.
btw I think this is a great partnership QUESTION...
FWIWTHIS IS clearly a piece of crap hand....if you open it per agreements ...great....but agree.
#11
Posted 2015-September-16, 01:28
#12
Posted 2015-September-16, 04:34
#13
Posted 2015-September-16, 06:54
#14
Posted 2015-September-16, 10:53
helene_t, on 2015-September-16, 06:54, said:
The problem is not a 1NT response you might be able to pass.
The problem is when partner forces to game - and in 2/1 this decision comes early even on borderline hands - but there is no game, when partner doubles opponents or when he is even stronger and will consider slam.
I know if my partner opened 1♠, I would not expect a hand with a single second round control as his only important asset.
If you want to open light open hands like ♠AJxxx ♥Axxxx ♦xx ♣x.
This can badly backfire, but it can at least win as well.
Rainer Herrmann
#15
Posted 2015-September-16, 11:51
K&R (KQJxx Qxx Tx QJx) = 9.85
https://www.youtube....hungPlaysBridge
#16
Posted 2015-September-16, 17:15
kuhchung, on 2015-September-16, 11:51, said:
K&R (KQJxx Qxx Tx QJx) = 9.85
KnR can be used only for upgrades, never for downgrades!
Joke aside, I said I'd open this 1♠ and I am ready to admit to be off on this.
Otoh whoever thinks about opening weak 2, with a weak NT hand ....upgrades my reply from being worst.
"It's only when a mosquito lands on your testicles that you realize there is always a way to solve problems without using violence!"
"Well to be perfectly honest, in my humble opinion, of course without offending anyone who thinks differently from my point of view, but also by looking into this matter in a different perspective and without being condemning of one's view's and by trying to make it objectified, and by considering each and every one's valid opinion, I honestly believe that I completely forgot what I was going to say."
#17
Posted 2015-September-17, 03:13
#18
Posted 2015-September-17, 03:36
#19
Posted 2015-September-17, 04:04
So I think I'd open when playing a weak NT, NV, first in at IMPs, and perhaps favourable (not white) at MPs. Probably not in any other situation if I was being disciplined (ETA - oops. Except third in, obviously), though in practice I'm sure I'd open more often at the table.