[shevek]

Playing Acol, how do you open this chestnut from today (All vul, IMPs)

♠43   ♥AK752   ♦QT3   ♣AT8  ?

Would your answer be different if 1♥ would show five?

I know this is old ground but thanks in advance anyway.
The views of this panel are helpful

Nick

[FrancesHinden]

It's relevant what range a 1NT opening bid would be.
"Acol" does not imply "weak NT"

[Flameous]

I open 1NT whenever possible, meaning also 14-16NT.

[shevek]

FrancesHinden, on Dec 27 2008, 06:18 AM, said:

It's relevant what range a 1NT opening bid would be.
"Acol" does not imply "weak NT"

I could have made it clearer, 12-14 at all vuls.
The EBU's "Standard English Acol" is a curious system.
Apart from 12-14 throughout, it contains this

"With two four card suits open the higher - except with H and S, open 1H."

Are beginners really expected to open 1♠ with this:

♠J876   ♥A7   ♦KQ76   ♣AQ3  ??

[helene_t]

shevek, on Dec 27 2008, 01:49 PM, said:

Are beginners really expected to open 1♠ with this:

♠J876   ♥A7   ♦KQ76   ♣AQ3  ??

yes

[hotShot]

<rant>If you start putting even 5 card major suits into your NT opening, why do you call it Acol when you could describe it as Precision without a strong 1♣ opening as well?
</rant>
If you have 2 cards in every suit and argue you have a (semi) balanced hand (Yes that includes 7222!) and you want to open that with 1NT, it's fine with me (just don't call it Acol).
Obviously given your system a (semi)balanced 1M opening will have 15+ HCP, rarely 4 more often 5 cards in that suit. If you are weaker this would be compensated with 6+ cards. I'm quite sure that the average ♥ length on a 1♥ opening of such a system is closer to 6 than to 4.

So playing Acol this is definitely a 1♥ opener.

[helene_t]

Calm down hotshot, whether you open 1NT with a 5cM or not is just a style issue.

[foo]

shevek, on Dec 27 2008, 04:24 AM, said:

Playing Acol, how do you open this chestnut from today (All vul, IMPs)

♠43   ♥AK752   ♦QT3   ♣AT8  ?

Would your answer be different if 1♥ would show five?

I know this is old ground but thanks in advance anyway.
The views of this panel are helpful

Nick

If 1H-1S;1N shows extras, you open this 1N unless you are willing to rebid ♥'s.

If it does not, you are playing a Strong NT here and can choose between
1H-foo;2H and 1H-foo;1N

[nige1]

shevek, on Dec 27 2008, 04:24 AM, said:

Playing Acol, how do you open this chestnut from today (All vul, IMPs)
♠43   ♥AK752   ♦QT3   ♣AT8  ?
Would your answer be different if 1♥ would show five?
I know this is old ground but thanks in advance anyway.
The views of this panel are helpful

IMO

• 4-card majors: 1N = 10, 1♥ = 9, 1♣ = 2.
  
• 5-card majors: 1N = 10, 1♥ = 8. 1♣ = 2.

But, for 1N, more tenaces, including an honour in ♠ would be preferable.

[EricK]

Playing 12-14 NT I open 1NT. I would do this no matter what form of Stayman we were using.

[P_Marlowe]

1H, followed by 2H.

When I played Acol, we said, we make it depend on
the suit quality, to open 1H or 1NT.

I once opened 1NT with AKQxx in hearts, afterwards,
no discussion was needed to agree, that the suit quality
would be sufficient to open with 1H, ...
The end of the story: I prefer a style, which says, always
open 1H or 1 NT.
I want to be able to excersice judgement, if I see any need,
but not with the first call.

And actually I think, there is a lot to be said for
always opening 1NT, but I have to find a partner,
who will like to play this way.

Currently I play, that I always open 1H.

With kind regards
Marlowe