[firmit]

♠ AQ10x
♥ QJ9xx
♦ AK
♣ Ax

This hand came up. And as the only table I opened 2NT 20-21hp ( semi balanced ). This actually gave us a good shoot for the slam, which no-one reached. However, that's not the point. I defend my opening anyday: I got solid stoppers in each suit. Take away either of the minor aces, or 5431, I'd plan a reverse-bid. But not on this hand.

We use 4 card majors and NT-bids may contain a bad 6 minor, or a 5422.

Is my logic wrong? Should I be convinced of opening 1♥ and make a strong reverse bid?

[Apollo81]

The main benefit of opening 1♥ is that you will reach 4♥ when you would have reached 3NT after a 2NT opening. 4♥ is very likely to be the better contract if you have a heart fit.

The 1♥ opening also works better when pard is broke, as you will play a suit partscore instead of 2NT.

You have no rebid problem after a heart opening, so there's no reason not to make the normal bid.

[kenrexford]

This reminds me of a recent hand and the principle from that hand.

When you have 5422, there is a lot of work to do. Let's suppose, for instance, that the opponents elect to attack diamonds. You win the King and turn to hearts, for instance. If you must lose a heart, the opponents now can lead a second diamond, clearing the suit before the spades have been established. If you now need to lose a spade to set up spades, you have lost control. Give partner, for instance, Jxx-Kxx-xxx-Kxxx, and you can see the problem. 5♥ is nearly cold, but 3NT relies upon the spade hook to make the same tricks. If you actually take it, you may well be set. Switch the lead to a club, and take away the second stop from partner, and the situation is more dire.

The reasons for showing two suiters as two-suiters transcend simply description. Two-suiters are subject to this sort of assault, such that caution is a good idea.

[hrothgar]

I'd open 1♥ here without a second though (and I open offshape NT's more often than most)

1. A strong natural 2NT is an abominal opening. There is good reason why people call this bid "the slam killer". If you somehow believe that you can have a more descriptive auction following 2NT than after a 1♥ opening and a spade reverse then you really need to work on your methods.

2. You have a very descriptive sequence available that describes a strong hand with 5+ Hearts and 4 Spades. I don't understand why you wouldn't want to use it.

3. This hand has lots of Aces and Kings. It screams suit play.

4. Oh yeah, you have the wrong shape. As I mentioned earlier. There is nothing wrong with opening an offshape NT... But I don't see any good reason to want to do so.

[FrancesHinden]

What hrothgar said.

I hate opening 2NT on any 5422 hands, but it's particularly nasty when you have both majors.

[firmit]

Given the actual hand, I am beginning to see the advantage of opening 1♥. Is all of you defending the same method if spades and hearts are switched?

If after 1♠-1NT , is 3 of a minor always 5-5, but hearts may be 4? I have been presented this from someone, don't remember who. Think it is part of the system used by some of the national players in Norway.

[pclayton]

1♥ for me. If pard passes, we aren't making anything (A 3 count and so-so spades would be an exception) and I will be pleased not to be in 2N trying to establish my slow heart suit.

If Pard can dredge up a call, a reverse describes this hand nicely, followed by a push to 3N if I don't get a preference.

If pard bids 1♠, I have a rebid problem. This hand is too good for 4♠, so I'd probably try either 3♦, or invent a phony splinter with 4♦.

[Apollo81]

firmit, on Mar 30 2007, 10:12 AM, said:

Given the actual hand, I am beginning to see the advantage of opening 1♥. Is all of you defending the same method if spades and hearts are switched?

If after 1♠-1NT , is 3 of a minor always 5-5, but hearts may be 4? I have been presented this from someone, don't remember who. Think it is part of the system used by some of the national players in Norway.

1♠-1NT-3x is 5-4 or better

[hrothgar]

Apollo81, on Mar 30 2007, 05:26 PM, said:

firmit, on Mar 30 2007, 10:12 AM, said:

Given the actual hand, I am beginning to see the advantage of opening 1♥. Is all of you defending the same method if spades and hearts are switched?

If after 1♠-1NT , is 3 of a minor always 5-5, but hearts may be 4? I have been presented this from someone, don't remember who. Think it is part of the system used by some of the national players in Norway.

1♠-1NT-3x is 5-4 or better

I've actually seen a 3♣ rebid on a two card suit...
I thought it was th best bid at the time

[firmit]

Scoring: IMP

---

The only comfort is that no one in the field found slam, including nationals.

Our bidding went:
2NT-3♣ Puppet
3♥*-4♠ Partner misunderstood 3♥. Why she did not transfer, is another story. Why I passed, is still beyond me, but 3♠ would be forcing.... so...

[inquiry]

firmit, on Mar 30 2007, 10:18 AM, said:

Scoring: IMP

---

The only comfort is that no one in the field found slam, including nationals.

Our bidding went:
2NT-3♣ Puppet
3♥*-4♠ Partner misunderstood 3♥. Why she did not transfer, is another story. Why I passed, is still beyond me, but 3♠ would be forcing.... so...

Slam is not a favorite here, given that they have more clubs than any other suit and better clubs than any other suit. On a club lead, you have to catch Qxx of diamonds (or Q, or Qx) so as to set up the diamond Jack for a club discard.

[Edmunte1]

What slam on a normal club lead? I'm 100% agreeing with Hrothgar, good thinking.

[firmit]

♣ was not lead from south, ♦ Qxx south - but you are right. Luck ain't part of this game.

[skjaeran]

firmit, on Mar 30 2007, 04:12 PM, said:

Given the actual hand, I am beginning to see the advantage of opening 1♥. Is all of you defending the same method if spades and hearts are switched?

If after 1♠-1NT , is 3 of a minor always 5-5, but hearts may be 4? I have been presented this from someone, don't remember who. Think it is part of the system used by some of the national players in Norway.

Not just some, most in fact.
But that's because "everybody" here play 1M-1NT-2NT as conventional GF.
1♠-1NT-3♥ also show 5-5 then.

[firmit]

skaeran, on Mar 30 2007, 07:36 PM, said:

firmit, on Mar 30 2007, 04:12 PM, said:

Given the actual hand, I am beginning to see the advantage of opening 1♥. Is all of you defending the same method if spades and hearts are switched?

If after 1♠-1NT , is 3 of a minor always 5-5, but hearts may be 4? I have been presented this from someone, don't remember who. Think it is part of the system used by some of the national players in Norway.

Not just some, most in fact.
But that's because "everybody" here play 1M-1NT-2NT as conventional GF.
1♠-1NT-3♥ also show 5-5 then.

I actually asked this question in another thread 1M-1NT-2NT. But, yes, I agree with this, but it remains undiscussed with my current partner.