All News

Thinking Ahead.

That might be the theme behind today’s problem. It is not just about your first bid but also the follow up. With that in mind, we have an opening bid problem today:

 

A nice hand, for sure but how nice? Considering the developments after an initial opening bid is:

Nigel Kearney “1: Starting with 1 then rebidding 2 over 1 from partner is much better start to the auction for us, compared to opening 2 and having to bid 3 as our second bid.

A hand that is playable in three or more strains should not be opened 2 unless it is exceptionally strong. There is a very small risk that 1 is passed out and we miss a game. However, I expect partner to usually respond. It is simply a myth that you need 6 HCP to respond. When holding a four card or longer major that can be bid at the one level, most 3/4 HCP hands should respond. For example, if partner has Jxx QJxx xx xxxx, they should respond 1 and with any less we probably do not make 3NT.”

The only realistic alternative is 2, Game Forcing for most. While some play a 3-way Multi 2, the strong minor option is usually single-suited. This may be a hand where it would be nice to open a not game forcing but strong 2 (2 in Benjaminised Acol) though you will still be describing your hand at a higher than necessary level.

Kris Wooles “1: natural of course and not a hand I would want to open 2. 1 natural allows room to develop the hand and convey shape and points as the auction (hopefully) progresses. 

Bruce Anderson “1: an unbalanced hand that is not good enough for a game force 2. There is little chance 1 will be passed out, so the spade suit should not be lost.”

These are the problems you could encounter by opening 2 with a marginal game-force:

Leon Meier “1: Clear 1. I would never consider 2. It is far too hard to show shape after that. If partner bids 3NT over 3 (3/ would show a 5+ card suit) we are not so happy bidding 4, and if they bid 3 and we bid 3 then we still do not get the diamond quality across, compared to 1-1-2 (game- forcing) -2NT-3.
We also run into giant problems in the very likely scenario the opponents pre-empt in hearts over 2, and we do not even have one suit shown yet.”

There is, though, some support for 2:

Michael Ware “2: Although 1 all pass is very, very, unlikely, and 2 will pre-empt our own auction, letting partner know we have a big hand is also useful. Partner will struggle to believe we are this good later on (if we open at the 1-level).”

Stephen Blackstock “2: A little reluctantly, since 1 would be a better start for a constructive sequence, but I require so little opposite for game that I won't risk all pass.”

Both open 2 with some reservations. The 1 openers are more certain:

Lysandra Zheng “1: planning to reverse in spades later. I do not think there is any alternative.”

Andy Braithwaite  “1: Easy answer. You do not want to open 2 as you will probably lose the spade suit. In addition, someone will bid hearts to give us an easy take-out double option if it is the opponents.”

We are so much better off having opened 1 if the opponents intervene. That seems to be a key factor.

Wayne Burrows “1: a normal 1 opening. Well short of maximum for me.
If partner has fewer than five points and cannot respond then the opponents also both need to have passes. Even then it is only bad if we have a game or we are significantly better off in another denomination. I am happy with my chances of getting another bid and being able to describe my distribution and strength later in the auction.”

Peter Newell “1: while the hand has enough playing strength for a game force, it is not suitable given how cramped the auction gets. If you open 2 and partner responds 2 or 2, you will need to bid 3 and then partner may be fixed for a bid, or if they bid 3 you then have to decide whether to bid 3 or 3NT. 

With strong distributional hands, you rarely get passed out at the 1 level as other players may not have many points but they are likely to have distributional hands and will bid. By starting with 1, if partner responds you can bid 2 which will describe your hand much better.

 If the opponents bid hearts, doubling for take-out showing spades will also describe your shape. While your hand is very strong for these actions, you can catch up later, more important initially to find what denomination you should be in so you get to a sensible game and can invite slam if you have a fit or partner has enough strength.”

I am not a great fan of counting losers until a fit is established but we have a 3-loser hand and with diamonds the main suit and not 100% solid, that does not equate to a 2 opener for me. There seems little chance of 1 ending the bidding to our disadvantage.

What can go wrong by opening 1? A missed game? Alas today, it is much worse, a missed slam! Look!

 

The making small slam is in spades, not diamonds. 

There is a good lesson here for those who make imperfect take-out doubles. The only realistic way for East-West to reach 4, let alone 6, after a 1 opening, is for South to double, or overcall 1, the latter the more realistic of the two options. Nigel Kearney said West would bid with major suits with 3+ hcp. Would they bid 1 with no hcp? Finally, the lack of spades should put North off balancing in the pass- out seat.

A victory therefore for the 2 openers though the fact that several auctions ended in 3 suggests that the auction went 2 2 3 pass. Game force should mean just that no matter how bad the responder’s hand is…and 2 x 5-card major suits is not that bad even with no honour cards.

The deal occurred at the Otago Bridge Club where only one of the 13 pairs reached game and that game was the unmakeable 3NT. (South will never lead a spade to that contract.)

Perhaps here a rare victory for the 2 opener and maybe for those who open a Precision style 1. Even there, finding the spade fit will not be obvious in an uninterrupted auction.

Our Panel mainly opted for  the 1 opening and I doubt seeing what did happen in several cases, (1 or (3!) passed out will alter their view about the better bid to start the auction.

Richard Solomon

Go Back View All News Items