It seems to me that pass followed by a 2 suited overcall on the second round (assuming that is a possibility) describes this hand perfectly (5-5 or better, little defense). That being so why make an opening bid that will almost inevitably lead to you having to miss-describe your hand on the next round? Also, even if your opening of 1H or 1C finds a fit with partner it won't necessarily work out well. Suppose, for example, opponents save over your 4H contract and partner doubles. How confident would you be in letting it stand? Yet pulling to 5H could turn a big plus into a minus. If you had passed originally then you can let the double stand with a clear conscious.
Opening Bid
#42
Posted 2020-May-19, 09:28
GrahamJson, on 2020-May-19, 08:44, said:
It seems to me that pass followed by a 2 suited overcall on the second round (assuming that is a possibility) describes this hand perfectly (5-5 or better, little defense). That being so why make an opening bid that will almost inevitably lead to you having to miss-describe your hand on the next round? Also, even if your opening of 1H or 1C finds a fit with partner it won't necessarily work out well. Suppose, for example, opponents save over your 4H contract and partner doubles. How confident would you be in letting it stand? Yet pulling to 5H could turn a big plus into a minus. If you had passed originally then you can let the double stand with a clear conscious.
I agree, ... but this is something you decide before you pik up the hand.
You should make up your mind, how to handle certain borderline hands, and do it consistently.
With kind regards
Uwe Gebhardt (P_Marlowe)
Uwe Gebhardt (P_Marlowe)
#44
Posted 2020-May-19, 21:36
Partner had this hand: five hearts to A, six clubs to AK. He opened one heart, opponents bid to 3 spades, and he bid four clubs. I'm doubleton in both hearts and clubs so took him back to his first bid. Doubled, down 2. 4C is down one. Some virtue in bidding longer, stronger suit.
#45
Posted 2020-May-19, 21:48
tkmelpaso, on 2020-May-19, 21:36, said:
Partner had this hand: five hearts to A, six clubs to AK. He opened one heart, opponents bid to 3 spades, and he bid four clubs. I'm doubleton in both hearts and clubs so took him back to his first bid. Doubled, down 2. 4C is down one. Some virtue in bidding longer, stronger suit.
That's a very different hand; I think 1♣ would be pretty unanimous there.