[shyams]

You are East in the 3rd seat, NV at MPs. Your side plays a typical 2/1 GF system and you don't have a specialsed bid to show a strong 2-suiter as below.

This hand comes up:
♠ AKQJx
♥ AJ
♦ J
♣ AQxxx

Two passes to you. Do you open 2C?

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

I would open 1S, but dont mind 2C.
We can raise with 4-7 and fit, and will also respond with only an Ace (unlikely holding 3).
2C is ok, you hold spade, and both suits have equal length and are comparable in strength.

1S will work better, if you survive the first round, which may end abrubtly.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[mw64ahw]

You're in an awkward position if partner has nothing and play 3m as a 2nd negative. I don't so open 2♣.

[DavidKok]

My 2♣ bids are more sound than most, and for me this is close either way. In general I strongly prefer showing suits with shapely hands, and if we open 2♣ we most likely cannot show the clubs (partner responds 2♦, we bid 2♠, and now partner will likely bid 3♣ or up and we have to decide whether to go past 3NT). However, there are arguments against opening 1♠:

• We have 22 HCP, full values for a 2♣ opening.
  
• Opening 1♠, rather than 1m in particular, means that the opponents will need more shape or strength to overcall their long red suit, and partner will not be as keen on stretching to bid with a 4-count (or so). So there is an increased risk of being passed out, since we have the boss suit.
  
• Partner being a passed hand decreases the average HCP we expect them to have.
  
• If we open 1♠ in third seat, our LHO will not be as eager to stretch for an overcall, sitting opposite a passed partner.

On balance I prefer 2♣ here, but it is very close. I intend to give up on the club suit. Your system agreements over 2♣ are also relevant - if you play something like second negative, or if 2♣ can also be weak, it can be quite awkward (I do not).

[helene_t]

Without specialised agreements I try to avoid 2c. Here we have a reasonable alternative.

[awm]

I would open 2♣. If you're that scared that partner bids 3♣ over 2♠, perhaps you are not using the 2NT rebid enough?

[apollo1201]

1S with so many points risks being passed out (opps need to come at the 2-level, partner will stretch less to respond compared to 1m).

1C would be less risky and w black suits reversed I wight strongly consider it planning to bid S twice after. Also, in case the bidding comes back at 4H, there is a safe revue rather than X after 1S that might elicit 5D from partner.

If you play 2C as GF, the hand is a little light both in HCPs or playing strength. And if partner doesn’t bid 2NT, the C suit is likely lost forever.

So not 2C, and maybe not 1S either😁😁

[Cyberyeti]

apollo1201, on 2024-August-11, 10:56, said:

1S with so many points risks being passed out (opps need to come at the 2-level, partner will stretch less to respond compared to 1m).

1C would be less risky and w black suits reversed I wight strongly consider it planning to bid S twice after. Also, in case the bidding comes back at 4H, there is a safe revue rather than X after 1S that might elicit 5D from partner.

If you play 2C as GF, the hand is a little light both in HCPs or playing strength. And if partner doesn’t bid 2NT, the C suit is likely lost forever.

So not 2C, and maybe not 1S either😁😁

I have to choose between 1♣ and 2♣ with 2♣ GF unless rebids 2N. It's close. If I open 1♠ I have to lie that I'm 6♠/5♣ which is not terrible but not ideal.

[mycroft]

I might be disappointed, but if I open 1♠ and partner passes, unless her hand is the ♣K I'm probably in good shape. If it's the ♥K and a bunch of clubs, okay, maybe that too.

Partner could have enough red cards to answer, and I will force to game, and I might still be disappointed (or 3NT might make because she has enough red cards to stop the bleeding before she can set up the clubs).

Partner will bid on the ♦A, or just a K and some spades (maybe lying and showing 6 high and 2 spades instead of 3 high, 3 spades and a singleton) or a K and a Q. Most passes will work out for me.

Sometimes we will get an overcall and it might salvage my choice. Sometimes they will overcall and outcompete us and -140 in hearts or -110 in diamonds beats -100 in 3♠ in an uninterrupted 2♣ auction.

If I open 2♣, my main partnership plays "cheapest 3", and I'll be on a guess after 2♣-2♦; 2♠-3♣. Most others will go 2♣-2♥; 2♠, and maybe I'll get my clubs in? Maybe it'll go 3♠ (passable} or 4♠ (bad hand, but a good fit, or fit and quacks - but that hand will respond to 1♠).

I hate opening 2-suiters 2♣, even though this is the best suits and shape for it (okay, playing Birthright, I'm much happier bidding 2-suiters with primary hearts, because the system gives it to me "for free"). I can bid 1♠ and 3♣ and show a two-suited 18-21ish. Pretty max for that, but how much are those three jacks worth? Is partner really going to not drive to slam with cards to make that they would if we opened 2♣?

It's not a sure bet by any means, but I don't see 2♣ making the auction any easier; it just avoids the "1♠-AP +3" case (and offers in exchange 3♠-1 on nothing and a bad lie. Sure, not likely, but neither is 1♠-AP). So I'll stick with my principles and avoid preempting myself.

I think you'd get more interest if either red jack was in clubs. Maybe even from me.

[pescetom]

mycroft, on 2024-August-11, 12:37, said:

I might be disappointed, but if I open 1♠ and partner passes, unless her hand is the ♣K I'm probably in good shape. If it's the ♥K and a bunch of clubs, okay, maybe that too.

Partner could have enough red cards to answer, and I will force to game, and I might still be disappointed (or 3NT might make because she has enough red cards to stop the bleeding before she can set up the clubs).

Partner will bid on the ♦A, or just a K and some spades (maybe lying and showing 6 high and 2 spades instead of 3 high, 3 spades and a singleton) or a K and a Q. Most passes will work out for me.

Sometimes we will get an overcall and it might salvage my choice. Sometimes they will overcall and outcompete us and -140 in hearts or -110 in diamonds beats -100 in 3♠ in an uninterrupted 2♣ auction.

If I open 2♣, my main partnership plays "cheapest 3", and I'll be on a guess after 2♣-2♦; 2♠-3♣. Most others will go 2♣-2♥; 2♠, and maybe I'll get my clubs in? Maybe it'll go 3♠ (passable} or 4♠ (bad hand, but a good fit, or fit and quacks - but that hand will respond to 1♠).

I hate opening 2-suiters 2♣, even though this is the best suits and shape for it (okay, playing Birthright, I'm much happier bidding 2-suiters with primary hearts, because the system gives it to me "for free"). I can bid 1♠ and 3♣ and show a two-suited 18-21ish. Pretty max for that, but how much are those three jacks worth? Is partner really going to not drive to slam with cards to make that they would if we opened 2♣?

It's not a sure bet by any means, but I don't see 2♣ making the auction any easier; it just avoids the "1♠-AP +3" case (and offers in exchange 3♠-1 on nothing and a bad lie. Sure, not likely, but neither is 1♠-AP). So I'll stick with my principles and avoid preempting myself.

I think you'd get more interest if either red jack was in clubs. Maybe even from me.

I agree.
I don't (quite) hate opening 2-suiters 2♣, because that's what (for us) the 2♠ "opening" already implies, 5=card spades and a great 5+ side suit. A single-suiter needing 2♣ protection would have "opened" 3♠ and a 5=card spades with 4= side suit would have "opened" 2NT ( or Birthright 2NT if necessary). But as you say, those clubs are only good, not great.
1♠ is unlikely to be passed out and after that it's mostly plain sailing.

[shyams]

The hand was from the "Free Super Sunday Daylong" on BBO. I posted it when I was still playing (and made a small tweak by saying "you are East" instead of South). I opened 1♠ and I thought it was a close decision...

---

The hand was played 108 times.
* 45 people chose to open 1♠ and played there.
* 63 chose 2♣ or some other opening.
Everyone who opened 2♣ reached at least a game contract. 12 of the 63 somehow bid to slam but only 3 succeded in it.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

I think most humans would raise 1S to 2S.
With regards to the robots, I have no idea, I guess a typical 19HCP bal.
hand wont make game very often.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[helene_t]

I'm not sure if this hand is so horrible to bid after a 2♣ opening. It will probably go
2♣-2♦
2♠-something
4♣ ..

and then I would think that partner's 4red bid will be a control bid for clubs, unless they repeat the suit they bid at the 3-level.

The hand is a bit strong for 1♠, or maybe a bit weak for showing a GF 2-suiter. And if it goes 1♠-a.p. I would feel rather lukewarm about not having opened 2♣. So I think both approaches are fine.

[mycroft]

Okay, "the heart K and a stiff club". Yeah, that might work too.

I would expect 2♣-2♦ (A/K); 2♠-4♠ (minimum) in this area. Some might try 4♣ after 2♠, I guess, but that might get to slam with 11 tricks way too easily.

But this is the hand that, as I said, likely will go 1♠-1NT hoping to rebid 2♠ "6 and 2", with 3 and 3 and a singleton. When they get a 3♣ response, he's not going to feel great going to game, until it makes...

But many will pass, yes, like the robots didn't.