Have you ever downgraded by 2 pts before?
#1
Posted 2005-October-29, 06:09
♠AJ ♥AQ ♦J8xx ♣QJ9xx.
What do you think? Of course I ended up opening 1NT anyway, but would you consider 1♣,maybe with worse spots in the minors?
Arend
#2
Posted 2005-October-29, 06:14
I think I'd open this 1NT playing 15-17. On the other hand, I might also open it 1NT playing 12-14.
#3
Posted 2005-October-29, 06:41
There were a number of different opinions regarding hand evaluation.
From my perspective, 14-16 NT is dead on. I'd feel a bit less happy about a 15-17 NT, but would probably open this as well since it feels more accurate than 1♦ or, worse yet, 1♣.
#4
Posted 2005-October-29, 08:27
cherdano, on Oct 29 2005, 07:09 AM, said:
♠AJ ♥AQ ♦J8xx ♣QJ9xx.
What do you think? Of course I ended up opening 1NT anyway, but would you consider 1♣,maybe with worse spots in the minors?
Arend
Easy 14-16 1nt, next hand.
#5
Posted 2005-October-29, 08:45
#6
Posted 2005-October-29, 09:13
KJx
QJxx
QJ
Qxxx
to 10 hcp and passed 1st hand. But that was the only time in my life
#7 Guest_Jlall_*
Posted 2005-October-29, 14:05
cherdano, on Oct 29 2005, 07:09 AM, said:
♠AJ ♥AQ ♦J8xx ♣QJ9xx.
What do you think? Of course I ended up opening 1NT anyway, but would you consider 1♣,maybe with worse spots in the minors?
Arend
I would open 1N and accept the invite hehe... QJ9xx is really good imo.
#8
Posted 2005-October-29, 19:58
#9
Posted 2005-October-29, 21:14
QJxx
QJxx
KQ
KQx
Being downgraded to 1♣ opener playing a 15-17 NT. But this is an extreme.
A lot of good players say - they frequently upgrade and never downgrade. This is an egotistic approach. If you want to play a 14-16 NT and call it a 15-17 because of all the upgrading you do, go ahead.
#10
Posted 2005-October-30, 13:56
cherdano, on Oct 29 2005, 12:09 PM, said:
♠AJ ♥AQ ♦J8xx ♣QJ9xx.
What do you think? Of course I ended up opening 1NT anyway, but would you consider 1♣,maybe with worse spots in the minors?
Arend
I think playing 14-16, I would consider it a nobrainer 1NT.
Even playing 15-17 I'd still open 1NT for the reasons below.
Not having 4 card majors, and especially holding 5 clubs and 4D, I much prefer to risk a slight overbid of 1NT.
Potential pluses:
- anticipates competition in the partscore from opps
- immediate description of the hand-type
- honors in short suit are not necessarily wasted
- in the given hand, the quacks are in the long suits and pull their weight; I like to count the Q of hearts as full value, being accompanied by the Ace; I MIGHT discount the J of spade, but still, the AJ tenace does not look all that bad if pard has a little something in spades.
Potential minus:
- pard may go overboard
- we might lose a partscore when we could compete to 3m
All in all, I like the pluses better than the minuses.

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