[ArtK78]

 whereagles, on 2012-March-11, 09:17, said:

Yes it is. Because the follow up is what to bid over 1NT. Oh I forgot you use the revolting 3♣ as the "solution".

The obvious alternative is to open 2C.

Obviously you do not know my methods after 1♠ - 1NT.

I would bid 3♣, but not for the reason that you assumed. I play 3♣ as an artificial game force with a one or two suited hand. So, I don't have as much of a problem as others might.

[Zelandakh]

 TWO4BRIDGE, on 2012-March-09, 15:47, said:

If I calculate that "Rule-of-13" correctly, it says open 2C :
Defensive tricks:
AKQ = 3
  A = 1
 QJ = 1/2
      4-1/2 multiplied by 2 = 9
Add that to "all length cards greater than 3 in a suit " = 4

9 + 4 = 13

You need to go get a copy of Culbertson out of the library Don! Defensive tricks (aka Honour Tricks) were popular back in the 1930s and 1940s and Ely described them in great detail. An AKQ counted as 2+, AQJ counted as 1.5+, and Qx was a +, where the + is something slightly above a quarter of a trick. That gives you 3.5+++ for this hand, so something above 4.25. Multiplying by 2 and adding 4 gives a Rule of 13 score of over 12.5 making this hand absolutely on the boundary. Offensively this hand has 9 playing tricks, since here AQJ9862 counts as 6 and AKQ count as 3.

In practise it seems to me that this hand is a minimum 2♣ opening. If you have a strong 2 in spades available in some form or another then you could of course choose to use it. But even that is not certain since this hand has more than it might for a strong 2. If you play Benji and happen to use the sequence 2♣ - 2♦; 3♠ for a 9 trick one-suited hand then this fits the bill nicely. Playing almost any other system just take the big club out of the bag.

[TWO4BRIDGE]

Thx again, Zel ! !

[phil_20686]

 whereagles, on 2012-March-11, 09:17, said:

Yes it is. Because the follow up is what to bid over 1NT.

The obvious alternative is to open 2C.

Wouldn't it be great if after 1s-1N there was a bit to show short diamonds in a (reasonably) self sufficient spade single suiter, and slam try strength?

Oh wait. I think they call that an auto splinter.

Partner bidding 1N over 1S is literally the best thing that can happen, it is much harder to bid this hand if partner starts with a 2/1. Especially in standard methods, as 1s-2c-3s would be self sufficient, and after 1s-2c-2s its going to be hard to describe your hand after partner raises, and at any rate you will end up spending a bunch of bids looking for a strain and it will be difficult to get across your extra strength etc.

If you had the heart K instead of the heart Q you could open 2C bid 3s next and then just bid keycard if partner shows any life. But with only the Q of hearts that will be tricky. I am in the 1S camp because I don't thjink that it will be that easy to get to slam if I open 2C, because I might easyil not be able to find out if partner has a heart control after the not unlikely auction 2c-2d-3s-4d. If the minors were reversed opening 2c has much more appeal. as after 2c-2d-3s-4c-4d- partner will basically be obliged to cue a heart control. Further, in my style, I would expect partner to be basically close to driving a slam if he has an ace and a K opposite a 2c opener, and I just dont see that working out here. If partner has kS AK diamonds and you open 2c he is pretty likely to just bid keycard at some point.

[FM75]

I would suggest 2♣ on two grounds. The hand has offensive strength and because of your shape and strength there is a reasonably high probability 1♠ gets passed out.

• On average, each of the other 3 hands has 7.3 points.
  
• The most probable shape of each hand is 4432.
  
• 1♠ is fairly pre-emptive, given the likely card distributions and point distribution.
  
• If partner were to pass 1♠ (fairly likely), opponents may balance in with 7-9 card fit.
  
• If he doesn't pass, his most likely bid is 1NT, which does not tell you much.
  
• 2♣ is significantly more preemptive than 1 ♠ and you probably do not want to defend against 2 red.

Yes, I would hope that I were playing with a precision partner were I to pick up this hand. It would be nice to have immediate low level control ask available.

[jmcw]

If partner has a bust, I would still expect to make 9 tricks unless he also has 0/1 ♠.
18 points, 3 or 4 expected tricks on defence, what else do you need for 2♣.

[Fluffy]

2♣ is a psyche, and psyches are barred in my land on strong openings

[nige1]

IMO 1♠ = 10, 2♣ = 9, 4♠ = 6.
2♣ seems perfectly OK provided your methods allow it.
... and fire (FLAMES).

---

[Zelandakh]

 Fluffy, on 2012-March-27, 17:29, said:

2♣ is a psyche, and psyches are barred in my land on strong openings

A psyche is defined by the system and agreements being used. This may be a psyche for your agreements but it certainly is not for several other posters. Different partnerships have different criteria for what constitutes a minimum 2♣ opening. Unless your RA also defines a minimum legal standard which this hand falls below it is not per se a psyche.

[han]

I upvoted Phil20686.

[gordontd]

 HighLow21, on 2012-March-09, 17:25, said:

But I'm all about 2♣ on this hand. Here are some different rules I can apply:
1. 4+ QT's and 4- losers? Check. (Well, almost. Technically 3.5 QT's, but that wrongly ignores the 2 rounded queens and the j spades, any of which might be a quickie.)

When you apply a rule and it gives you an answer you don't like, just re-write the rule!

[TWO4BRIDGE]

Regarding the title:

The only thing to fear is fear itself...And Snakes ....

....unless you are in New Zealand.

No snakes or poison ivy there... just friendly people.

[phil_20686]

 han, on 2012-March-28, 01:58, said:

I upvoted Phil20686.

Best day ever.

[benlessard]

Its an easy hand to bid whatever you start is, you will also be able to deal with ennemy preempts so why risk 1S making 4 ?

I strongly believe in opening 1M rather than 2C but here 1S is just taking risk for almost no benefits. If you know youre playing against friendly opponents who rarely pass in 4th seat than I like 1S.

[Fluffy]

 han, on 2012-March-28, 01:58, said:

I upvoted Phil20686.

I had meat with potatoes for lunch

[HighLow21]

 gordontd, on 2012-March-28, 04:13, said:

When you apply a rule and it gives you an answer you don't like, just re-write the rule!

When you live strictly by rules and don't exercise any judgment whatsoever, then you can be an expert!

[jdeegan]

Old school rules:

1. Game forcing opener shows (normally) 4 quick tricks and four losers in a major - 4 quick tricks and three losers in a minor.
2. The reason for the strong opener is to prevent the hand from being passed out in a one bid when game is a reasonable spot.

This hand is right on the cusp with 3.5 quick tricks and 3.5+ losers. Personally, I would open it for 1♠ since I have only 18 HCP, so getting passed out in the modern world with game in hand is not a huge concern. If pard musters a bid, I bid 4♠ right or wrong. Opening 2♣ can't be considered wrong, imho. I just would not do it. If I open 1 ♠, I might be able to walk the dog up to 3♠ and buy the hand for a good score.