[plaur]

Scoring: IMP

p-p-p-?

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How strong a hand do you need for a weak 2 in fourth?

[Mbodell]

Like many things, this depends on partnership agreement. A lot of beginners just bid in 4th seat like they would in any other seat. If this is you're agreement than this is a fine 2♥ call.

More standard is to realize that a preempt in 4th should aim for a positive score as a pass gives you a guaranteed 0. As a result a number of people play that a preempt, including a weak two, should play for stronger in 4th seat, for instance my agreement is that it should play for -1 opposite a balanced non-fitting minimum. Picture partner with xxxx xx xxx xxxx and think is it likely you make 7 tricks. This way if partner had something like xxxx Qx xxx AKxx partner might think he has 3 tricks for you and raise 2♥ to 4♥ expecting to make. If this is your agreement then you can't open 2♥ on this as you are around 1.5 tricks light (make the Q of diamonds the K and give yourself a black A and you have a 4th seat 2♥ call). Therefore you might either open 1♥ or might pass out the hand if this is your agreement.

Some players play in 4th seat you need 15 HCP+spades to open the bidding. This hand fails that test with just 12 (10+2). Past threads on this board have suggested that this "rule" isn't the most effective, and obviously you wouldn't pass a hand with 13 hearts even though it fails this rule, but some people might therefore expect a pass with this hand too.

So any of pass, 1♥, and 2♥ would get votes IMO if you polled people what they'd do 4th all red at IMPs with this hand. Personally, I like 1♥.

[pclayton]

Looks like a minimum 2H opening to me. 10-12 and a great suit.

[neilkaz]

Jlall, on Aug 24 2008, 07:01 PM, said:

I think I would pass but open if the spades/hearts were reversed. Not really sure, if I opened I would definitely open 2H.

I think we agree...I'd pass this out, but give me the Q of ♥ instead of the J and I'll open and that opening will be a 4th seat 2♥.

.. neilkaz ..

[the hog]

Looks like a clear pass to me. Insufficient Casino count.

[jdonn]

I'd bid 2♥, no reason to be so pessimistic as to assume the opponents must have a spade fit, or that opening is wrong if they do.

[SoTired]

i play 2M in 4th seat shows about 14-16 HCP and a good 6-card suit.

[hotShot]

I think that opening a weak 2♥ is a winner here.
You have a good suit and every reason to believe that your parter will have another 10 HCP for your side. Your opps and partner did not have a weak opening so they are probably (semi)balanced.

[P_Marlowe]

The given hand is borderline for the bid, it is a maximum weak
two (given the points and the suit quality), so 2H is certainly
fine, but than you are short in spades.

Open it or pass it out, just be consistent, ... I would pass.

With kind regards
Marlowe