[miguelm]

Scoring: IMP

---

As South, how do you open this and what are your intentions later?
Please elaborate on the merits and demerits of a 2C GF opening versus a 1S opening.

Thanks in advance.

[655321]

1♠. Plan to bid a lot of clubs later on, perhaps even 6, but see what happens over 1♠ first.
See no point at all in opening 2♣.

[rogerclee]

1♠ is clear, planning on JSing in clubs.

Some problems with opening 2♣:

1) You start at a higher level, making it even more difficult to get both suits in. As a consequence, partner will have a tougher time evaluating his hand.
2) Partner will not expect a hand so weak in HCP/defense.
3) There is very little chance that it will go 1♠, All Pass. If you feel so strongly about (practically) forcing to game with 2♣, you can just jump to 4♣ after any balance to suggest something like this.

[the hog]

1S. Not 2C under any circumstances, (sorry Nuno).

[P_Marlowe]

1S, planning to rebid 3C.

My final plan is to play on the 6 level, but I will
try to give myself the best chance to reach 7.

2C wont achieve anything, the hand wont get
passed out, and this is the only reason, why
one would open 2C
An 2C opener will mean, that i need 3 rounds
to show my suit instead of 2, ... and this assumes
I have 3 rounds time.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[finally17]

rogerclee, on Feb 22 2008, 05:00 AM, said:

1♠ is clear, planning on JSing in clubs.

Some problems with opening 2♣:

1) You start at a higher level, making it even more difficult to get both suits in. As a consequence, partner will have a tougher time evaluating his hand.
2) Partner will not expect a hand so weak in HCP/defense.
3) There is very little chance that it will go 1♠, All Pass. If you feel so strongly about (practically) forcing to game with 2♣, you can just jump to 4♣ after any balance to suggest something like this.

This.

Except that I'm willing to say, with 25 red cards 20 red HCP out, that there is an effectively zero chance it will go 1♠ float.

[Trinidad]

miguelm, on Feb 22 2008, 04:45 AM, said:

Dealer: South Vul: N/S Scoring: IMP

♠ AKxxxx ♥ x ♦   ♣ AKJxxx

As South, how do you open this and what are your intentions later?
Please elaborate on the merits and demerits of a 2C GF opening and a 1S opening.

Thanks in advance.

This hand is closer to passing than to opening 2♣. Depending on your system, pass may be a frivolous option. You may get a chance to show your two suits (55+)in one bid on the next round of bidding.

If you open 2♣, there is a very good chance that you will only be able to show one suit (e.g. 2♣-3♥-Pass-4♥; ??).

This hand is dominated by suits, not by HCPs. So try to show the suits that you do have, rather than the HCPs that you don't have.

Rik

[helene_t]

1♠ 100
2♣ 40
6♠ 30
1♣ 10
Pass 10

[miguelm]

helene_t, on Feb 22 2008, 06:26 AM, said:

1♠ 100
2♣ 40
6♠ 30
1♣ 10
Pass 10

I wonder if you mean 4S instead of 6S.....

[gwnn]

miguelm, on Feb 22 2008, 02:48 PM, said:

helene_t, on Feb 22 2008, 06:26 AM, said:

1♠ 100
2♣ 40
6♠ 30
1♣ 10
Pass 10

I wonder if you mean 4S instead of 6S.....

no she didnt

[Codo]

I open my longest suit and rebid spades as long as possible.

I can cope easier with interferences then compared to a 1 Spade opening.
I open my strongest and longest suit.
A club slam counts more then game in spades.
They won´t outbid me anyway. I may refuse to bid 7 Spade after
1♣ (4♥) pass (7♥).... but it is close.

Okay 1 Spade is a second choice, pass the third. 2 Club? Great, if this shows a black two suiter with game forcing strength. If 2 Club is simply strong and gf this is no option.

[gwnn]

Codo, your spades are equal length to your clubs.

[han]

Agree with 1S of course.

[pclayton]

1♠. I'm sure Ben will expound on the merits of MisIry here.

Obviously I plan to bid a lot of clubs.

[Cascade]

1♠ not close to 2♣ but then I am the guy who a couple of months back opened 1♥ with

Scoring: MP

---

It worked out well on that hand so I can't see why it won't work well with your hand.

As others noted when you open 2♣ on this sort of hand you might only get to show one suit and that is exactly what happened with my hand. My wife at another table opened the hand 2♣ and when at both tables the bidding came back at 4♠ I was able to bid 6♦ whereas she without detailed agreements about showing two-suiters punted 6♥. As it happened 6♥ was reached at both tables but 6♦ could easily have been far superior to 6♥.

My plan with this hand is to open 1♠ and then make a forcing bid in clubs - 3♣ over 1NT, 2♦, 2♥; explore slam over a spade raise. With (likely) interference I will make a forcing club bid if possible otherwise I will jump to 5♣ or 6♣ if we have not found a fit depending on whether I can expect values from partner or not on the bidding.

[cherdano]

Cascade, on Feb 22 2008, 01:00 PM, said:

1♠ not close to 2♣ but then I am the guy who a couple of months back opened 1♥ with

Scoring: MP

---

It worked out well on that hand so I can't see why it won't work well with your hand.

As others noted when you open 2♣ on this sort of hand you might only get to show one suit and that is exactly what happened with my hand. My wife at another table opened the hand 2♣ and when at both tables the bidding came back at 4♠ I was able to bid 6♦ whereas she without detailed agreements about showing two-suiters punted 6♥. As it happened 6♥ was reached at both tables but 6♦ could easily have been far superior to 6♥.

I think this is a bad example. Over 2♣ (2♠) P (4♠) or similar this hand has an easy 5N bid.

[pclayton]

cherdano, on Feb 22 2008, 11:05 AM, said:

Cascade, on Feb 22 2008, 01:00 PM, said:

1♠ not close to 2♣ but then I am the guy who a couple of months back opened 1♥ with

Dealer: South Vul: None Scoring: MP

♠   ♥ AKQJxx ♦ AQJxxx ♣ A

It worked out well on that hand so I can't see why it won't work well with your hand.

As others noted when you open 2♣ on this sort of hand you might only get to show one suit and that is exactly what happened with my hand.  My wife at another table opened the hand 2♣ and when at both tables the bidding came back at 4♠ I was able to bid 6♦ whereas she without detailed agreements about showing two-suiters punted 6♥.  As it happened 6♥ was reached at both tables but 6♦ could easily have been far superior to 6♥.

I think this is a bad example. Over 2♣ (2♠) P (4♠) or similar this hand has an easy 5N bid.

5N? I'd take that for the minors.

Why not 5♠?

[Cascade]

cherdano, on Feb 23 2008, 08:05 AM, said:

Cascade, on Feb 22 2008, 01:00 PM, said:

1♠ not close to 2♣ but then I am the guy who a couple of months back opened 1♥ with

<!-- ONEHAND begin --><table border='1'> <tr> <td> <table> <tr> <td> Dealer: </td> <td> South </td> </tr> <tr> <td> Vul: </td> <td> None </td> </tr> <tr> <td> Scoring: </td> <td> MP </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td> <table> <tr> <th> <span class='spades'> ♠ </span> </th> <td>  </td> </tr> <tr> <th> <span class='hearts'> ♥ </span> </th> <td> AKQJxx </td> </tr> <tr> <th> <span class='diamonds'> ♦ </span> </th> <td> AQJxxx </td> </tr> <tr> <th> <span class='clubs'> ♣ </span> </th> <td> A </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td>  </td> </tr> </table><!-- ONEHAND end -->

It worked out well on that hand so I can't see why it won't work well with your hand.

As others noted when you open 2♣ on this sort of hand you might only get to show one suit and that is exactly what happened with my hand.  My wife at another table opened the hand 2♣ and when at both tables the bidding came back at 4♠ I was able to bid 6♦ whereas she without detailed agreements about showing two-suiters punted 6♥.  As it happened 6♥ was reached at both tables but 6♦ could easily have been far superior to 6♥.

I think this is a bad example. Over 2♣ (2♠) P (4♠) or similar this hand has an easy 5N bid.

I agree that there are ways to avoid the problem.

In practice many partnerships have not discussed these things and or do not have partnership trust. Sure better partnerships will usually know what they are doing.

Of course if you think you know what you can do over 4♠ there is always the problem of what to do over 5♠ or 6♣ etc.

Essentially the point is that it is easier to show your two suits if your first bid is natural.

I noticed Phil has already disagreed with 5NT - therein lies the problem unless you are on 100% firm ground. Maybe you think you can correct to 6♦ over 6♣ and most of the time you will be able to but occasionally the opponents will bid 6♠ and partner will have a different view of his hand if he thinks you have minors than your actual two suiter and may double or not double etc inappropriately.

[han]

[quote name='pclayton' date='Feb 22 2008, 02:25 PM'] I think this is a bad example. Over 2[cl] (2[sp]) P (4[sp]) or similar this hand has an easy 5N bid. [/QUOTE]
5N? I'd take that for the minors.

Why not 5[sp]? [/quote]
I'd bid 6D, leaping Michaels.

(smillie -> joke)