[pescetom]

First a due prelude:

MP, NS vul

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Your call?

[DavidKok]

Am I dealer? 1♦.

[bluenikki]

pescetom, on 2024-October-06, 12:49, said:

First a due prelude:

MP, NS vul

---

Your call?

I hate having this little defense. But still. 13 Goren points, so Goren "optional." But two working tens, two working nines. And it has spades.

So 1♦. That may eventually force me to consider bidding 5-over-5. But it's not for money.

[pescetom]

cyberyeti checked K&R 13.45

Anyone timid enough to pass?

[jillybean]

i will pass

[Cyberyeti]

pescetom, on 2024-October-06, 14:38, said:

cyberyeti checked K&R 13.45

Anyone timid enough to pass?

Didnt need to check K&R, rule of 19, other suits 4-0, no reason to devalue, nice intermediates. Plenty to open, I would not even evaluate this as rock bottom minimum.

Besides, if I don't open I'm going to have to pass partner's multi

[jillybean]

Cyberyeti, on 2024-October-06, 15:30, said:

Didnt need to check K&R, rule of 19, other suits 4-0, no reason to devalue, nice intermediates. Plenty to open, I would not even evaluate this as rock bottom minimum.

Besides, if I don't open I'm going to have to pass partner's multi

That's not a concern for me, I'm protected from Multi.

[akwoo]

There are some partnerships in which I'd open this, and others in which I'd pass. I'd open playing Precision. I'd open in most 15-17 NT partnerships. I'd open in 12-14 partnerships depending on mood; the risk is 1♦-(2♠)-X-(P), after which a 3♣ bid really should be on a better hand, a 2N bid on a really better hand, and a pass on AT98 of spades. (Well, even worse is 1♦-(2♠)-3♥.)

[pescetom]

I would open it with a decent partner even playing 2/1. At my table (like most in the the club, I suspect) it was passed.

If you Pass, West will open 2NT (20-21).

If you open 1♦, West will respond 1♠.

Opponents silent in either case (unless North is a hothead and doubles 1♠).

[mw64ahw]

Late to the game, but I often open 1♦ (unbalanced) 10-pointers.
With West 20-21 we are in grand territory if we can establish where the tricks come from.
My auction from here is very specific and enables strength and shape to be identified with a good degree of accuracy; my bid would be an artificial 1♠.
North doubling will be a help if it shows ♠, but absent that it sounds like we have an 8-card ♠ fit with trumps breaking at least 4-1, but a high card finessible.

Edit: Auction
1♦ - 1♠ GI
2♣ (4441) - 3♣ SI
3♥ splinter ...

[thepossum]

I like bids where I can choose on the day

[AL78]

1♦ and I don't consider it close.

[pescetom]

So it starts:

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or for the more timid:

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How do you proceed (in either case) with your preferred methods?

[mw64ahw]

pescetom, on 2024-October-07, 05:56, said:

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2N - 3♣ non-promissory 5-card Major ask?
.. 3♦ denies 5M
.... 3♥ denies ♥
.. 3♥ 2/3♥2♠
.. 3♠ 5♠
.. 3N 5♥

[jillybean]

---

[Cyberyeti]

1♦-1♠-2♠ (usually 4)

2N-3♣ (5M enquiry)

[pescetom]

I am heartened to see that I am not the only one to play 3♣ as a 5M enquiry: the reply will deny 5M (2[diamonds in my convention).

For jillybean and others who play it as a traditional Stayman, the reply will be 3♠ showing 4+ cards spades and denying hearts.

[Cyberyeti]

pescetom, on 2024-October-07, 07:33, said:

I am heartened to see that I am not the only one to play 3♣ as a 5M enquiry: the reply will deny 5M (2[diamonds in my convention).

For jillybean and others who play it as a traditional Stayman, the reply will be 3♠ showing 4+ cards spades and denying hearts.

For us 3♦ also promises 3-4♠ and/or 4♥

I then bid 3♠

[akwoo]

In my Precision partnership, it goes

1D - 1S
2N - 3C (2N=(mini)-splinter or 6D/0-2S-max, 3C=relay)
3S (3S=heart shortness, 6 losers)

In my 12-14 partnerships, if I open, it goes

1D - 1S
2S (could be as much as 16 in a balanced hand)

In my 15-17 partnerships, it goes

1D - 1S
2S

[mycroft]

Also late, but I would pass in my K/S partnership. If partner bids hearts, I'm probably fine. If the opponents bid hearts, I'm probably fine. If the opponents bid spades (even 1♠), the system bites me.

It's not the hand where 1♦ is likely to preempt the opponents; it's not the hand where 1♦ is likely to be necessary to get to game; it's not the hand where I need to get my defence in to pick up 200 in the partscore fight (frankly, it's not the hand I'd be happy trying to get 200 in the partscore fight, really, even with the bad heart break). Obviously there are pluses to opening; obviously this is a great 10-count if we have a good (especially spade) fit; obviously there are situations where I might not be able to show my massive extras after going low; but it's not horrible to pass.

Having done so, I'm torn between taking the high, but may lose the spades road (3♠, then 4♥ ostensibly showing 2=1=5=5 or 3=0=5=5, then hopefully being able to suggest spades somehow, maybe with 5NT "pick-a-slam") or the low, but might lose the clubs road (3♣, then 4♦ after 3♥, then either 5 or 6 clubs. If I can show all three suits to 5, partner should be able to see my hand and know I have a "slam if your values aren't in hearts", and bid it).

Now, I know from the loud other table that partner isn't going to bid 3♥, so that means that Stayman, then "oh my" is in the cards. I might even violate my "strong hand asks" and my "only need to know controls" and "show my hand" with 5♥ Exclusion. Partner knows I'm a passed hand (isn't that lucky?), and probably can paint my points from there. Better not tank counting steps on my fingers...

If I open 1♦, and get 1♠, now I'm not as happy massively upgrading. In my K/S partnership, I'm not that upset with 2♠; ostensibly it's "15-17 playing points in support of spades", and that's not that much of an upgrade from what I actually have. Sure, I haven't made clear that "your hearts are useless, partner", but we can't have everything. Now, given the Extraneous Information from the other table, I'm pretty certain I'm going to be answering Blackwood next; I have a "one and a useful void" answer, which partner will probably work out.

In a "ACBL 2/1" partnership, or an Acol partnership, I have a much harder choice. 2♠ undervalues(!) my 10-count, but 3♠ seems excessive (and still doesn't show the prime feature of my hand).

In a Precision partnership, 1♦ wins, because now I *can* bid 3♠ (14-15 HCP, yeah, I know, 4-5 minimum, no wasted honours). I might even decide to really jam the auction with 4♥; after all I have a great hand for it. I'd be scared, though, because "where are the hearts?" I can probably work out that partner has a huge hand, which is the only reason they haven't bid their massive fit (yet); so 4♥, doubled, might find their sacrifice, and it might be paying. But we're at favourable, so only [he knows who he is] is likely to take it, and maybe 800 (if they're lucky) beats all the 680s. Maybe 1400 beats all the 1010s that didn't get 1510. Maybe it's 2300.

Having said that, if I pass, some Precision systems (not my current) will start with 1♣, not 2NT, and, provided we aren't starting at 2 or 3 hearts, partner should know everything about my hand except the ♣J soon. So it's not wrong to pass this one there, either (but I likely won't. I play Precision for the light openers, not for the strong club auctions).

Interesting hand.