From: bs@gauss.mitre.org (Robert D. Silverman)
Subject: Re: How to bid this one?
Organization: Research Computer Facility, MITRE Corporation, Bedford, MA
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1992 13:56:34 GMT

In article <1992Aug13.121452.23309@corax.udac.uu.se> olle@astro.uu.se (Olof Morell) writes:
:|> >:>Last night (pairs event) i got the following west hand, N dealer , All:
:|> >:
:|> >:>AT9
:|> >:>AKJ92
:|> >:>-
:|> >:>AKQ75
:
:It has been suggested by several people to open this hand with one heart.
:
:WHY?
:
:21 HCP, eight controls, first controls in all suits, three losers,
:six missing points, whatever your prefer...
 
[Bob throws up his hands in disgust...........]

I have been over this a dozen times and the message just doesn't seem to
get through.

Say you open 2C on this hand. LHO jumps to 4D, partner passes or doubles
according to your agreements and RHO now bids 5D.

Now what?

You are at the 5 level and partner still doesn't know what your hand is.
He doesn't know what suits you hold, whether you have a balanced 23 count
or this hand, etc.

Opening 2C on strong 2-suiters is an open invitation to get preempted
out of your suits. Remember also that since this hand only has 21 HCP
there is more for the opponents to hold, which makes it more likely
that they can compete than if you held a 24 or 25 count.

If you don't accept this argument: fine. Bid as you like but not with me
as your partner.

On the other hand, if you open 1H you can rebid clubs safely at whatever
level is appropriate.

The idea that there is a limit to the HCP of an opening 1-bid is extremely
old-fashioned and dates back to Goren. [Actually this isn't quite true.
However, an opening 1 bid can go up to 23 or 24 points without problem.]

As an extreme case in point: suppose you hold:

AKQxxx
AKQxxx
A
-

This is a 22-count. Does anyone seriously believe this should be opened
with 2C?  If you open 2C you could be at the 6 or 7 level before
showing either of your suits and you will have to guess which suit to
play in.

e.g.

2C-4C-P-6C
??

If you bid 6 of either major partner will probably pass. You might be
cold for 7 of the other suit and going down in 6 of the suit you bid.
[or 7 if you bid 7 of the wrong suit].

However, opening 1S you are fine. Your next bid is 7H and PARTNER
picks the suit.

:
:Isn't that putting too much pressure on your one bids? And on partner?

Why? If partner can't respond to 1H you probably don't have a game.

:Especially since you do not have any real difficulties with rebids after 2C, 
 
Assuming the opponents don't interfere.

:or 2H as I would open it playing Acol - which was the stated condition 
 
I said I had no problem with an ACOL 2H. --> you get to show your suits


:It is NOT inconceivable that you may get 1H passed out, giving partner 4-5
 
I think you are living in fantasy land. There are too many missing HCP
and too many missing diamonds and too much shape to get passed out.

:I also think Bob's sequence is a little unrealistic:
:a hand which has no controls at all and without extreme playing strength
:is not likely to push very hard for slam opposite an opening
 
I think you need some lessons in hand evaluation. 4C is hardly an
overbid after partner jump shifts.

I suspect also that my requirements for a jump shift by opener are somewhat
stricter than yours. I also suspect that I bid 1NT forcing on hands you would
pass as responder.
--
Bob Silverman
These are my opinions and not MITRE's.
Mitre Corporation, Bedford, MA 01730
"You can lead a horse's ass to knowledge, but you can't make him think"
Newsgroups: rec.games.bridge