[gwnn]

aguahombre, on Jun 22 2010, 02:16 AM, said:

since mikeh's post on this thread is unavailable to me, I got confused by 655321's post.

But, a mere 2C here, after partner's spade overcall, gives opener too many tools, and doesn't do anything to help our side. the 4C splinter is --- at the same time, knocking them out, showing the great power of this passed hand, and suggesting we might have more than just game. Not to worry about some old dogma against splintering with a stiff bullet.

http://forums.bridgebase.com/index.php?sho...ndpost&p=468298

[Apollo81]

655321, on Jun 21 2010, 09:27 PM, said:

Apollo81, on Jun 21 2010, 12:10 PM, said:

The "Rule of 20" is something that you can use to decide whether to open the bidding with a borderline hand.  Add your HCP to the length of your two longest suits.  If the total is 20 or more, open, else pass.  This will work pretty well most of the time. 

Agree with mikeh.

mikeh's post essentially says "i open using my own advanced/expert judgment, which is better than the rule of 20 although most of the time the two metrics will agree" How on earth is the average non-AE player supposed to apply that at the table? The Rule of 20 may not be the end-all opening metric, but it's certainly an improvement to opening Kxxxx xxx QJxx A and passing KQxx AKxx xxx xx.