[ahydra]

I tend not to open any but the best of balanced 11s. 4 is close to the mark, but lack of aces and 10s makes it fall short. I open 1 and 2, pass the rest.

ahydra

[helene_t]

I might pass all of them but I think 4 is an opening. Maybe also 2 and 3. 6 I would consider but I don't think I would in practice.

[MrAce]

All of them are 1♠ opener for me. (except number 2, which I would open as well)
Change the spade suit to ♥ and I may pass 2 of them.

[tritonium]

I would open only #4, which has 7 losers. All the others have 8 losers. Partnership agreement is 7 losers.

[0deary]

Well I’ve just posted a valedictory message on the previous one (feel like the shop keeper trying to sell a dead parrot ) but these new examples are great- good fun!

I’m a “playing tricks” sort: top honours need intermediate support (without it lose tricks and tempi), whole hand sets the type (offensive/defensive), and bidding is a positional consequence...so you won’t be surprised that these examples just fall short. I tried plenty of ultra weak openers and mini NT in my time but the better players just gratefully take our imps

[Tramticket]

Lots of interest and fun here. And of course there are no right answers - just answers that are right for your partnership.

For what it's worth, here are my views (perspective weak NT four-card majors):
- 1 & 2 fit easily within my no trump range and are automatic openers.
- At one of my clubs, it is becoming normal for a 1NT opening to be described as 11-14. I am increasingly including 11-counts in my 1NT - particularly at pairs. Hands 3, 4, and 6 are hands where I would probably open 1NT (never hand 5).
- I don't understand comments about "playing tricks". Playing tricks are a pretty poor valuation method for No Trump contracts. The examples are all balanced and no trumps is a likely contract.
- Some have commented that they are more likely to open these hands in third seat. I understand the sentiment, but have a different perspective based on playing a weak no trump. Third seat is the most dangerous place to open a weak NT, because your LHO is marked with some strength. I certainly won't open 1NT any weaker in third seat and might if anything tend towards caution (downgrading poor 15 counts etc.). I am very comfortable opening a weak NT in second seat - its a very descriptive bid. I will preempt aggressively in third seat, and open unbalanced hands aggressively (particularly if I want the hand led or i own the spade suit), but balanced hands tend to have plenty of defensive strength and relatively little playing strength and there is no reason to be over aggressive with balanced hands in third seat.

[fourdad]

nullve, on 2018-March-06, 08:43, said:

Yes.

first second fourth seat...12HCP and a 5 card suit. UNLESS 11 HCP 2.5 QT and a rebiddable suit....period.

[nekthen]

nige1, on 2018-March-06, 20:48, said:

In general, when you can, it pays to open the bidding. so your decision depends on with which openers your system can cope..
Playing a strong 1♣ system, with the other 1-openers limited, you might take Spotlight7's advice and risk opening all the example hands .
Playing 2/1, even 1, 2, 3, and 4 are risky openers,.

Interestingly, when playing a robot best-hand tournament, you should probably risk opening them all, because you have the boss suit and your hand caps the other hands.

Which is why "best hand" is so horrible

[GrahamJson]

Second hand, vulnerable against NV my partners would expect a little more than any of these hands have. Third hand NV I’d open those with a decent suit, but that’s about it.

[0deary]

By “playing tricks” I meant “tricks won by playing” that is “winning tricks,” sorry TrramT

Maybe “1S= 12+ but with exclusions by agreement?” (so can pass bad 12s systematically)?

But that leaves the 5 who would open Board 5; the 7 on Board 3 and the 8 on Board 6…

[PhilG007]

nullve, on 2018-March-06, 08:43, said:

Yes.

May I suggest you read the famous poem "The Boy Stood on the Burning Deck" and read the
fate of Casabianca who "always followed orders" Quite often the blind lead the blind(!)

[mulefloyd]

Very interesting. My initial thoughts were open 1 & pass the rest but 6 looked very tempting so I loved hearing everyone's thoughts.

[shyams]

I'd definitely open 1-3, probably open 4 and 6, and very likely pass 5.

[cherdano]

Interesting - I much prefer opening hand 4 with 1S over opening 1 and 2, and also prefer it over 3.

[PhantomSac]

Bleh, hand 2 is the best hand IMO. A pawn is a pawn.... oh wait this is bridge... a point is a point! Hand 1...ok that ones really bad I can't defend it

[miamijd]

Second seat vulnerable at IMPs:

Playing a 2/1 system, I would open one spade (not without some trepidation) on hand 1, one club on hand 2, and pass the rest. But with respect to hand one, remember that I don't allow 1NT forcing on any game-force hand (max of a really bad 12). No bidding 1NT forcing with 13 and then jumping to 3NT. So I will pass a 1NT response with hand one. Another reason to play 1NT as forcing with exceptions. If partner makes a 2/1 call, I'll try to steer things into 3NT rather than 4S if I can.

Playing GIB tourneys, however, all of them are easy openers.

Playing a strong club system, you can probably open all of them, although hand 5 is still a bit of a stretch.

Cheers,
mike

[nullve]

A little science: http://bridge.thomas....com/evaluator/

[Vampyr]

I would open 1 and 2. If you don’t open a weak NT, partner will never believe you have one.

[mlbridge]

First and second seat, I pass the lot if imps.

Third seat - I open any with 11+hcp and 5 spades

Fourth seat, I passed the hands with less than 11 hcp since I have no aces.

[cleveritis]

I would open 4 and 6 without hesitation... the others would pass or open depending on vulnerability... 6 has fewest points, but Im happiest opening that with the texture.