[han]

I'd open 1C, this seems fairly clear.

[jtfanclub]

Jlall, on Aug 22 2007, 05:42 PM, said:

xxxx xxx --- AKQT9x

You're playing MP, red vs white at a club vs what look like weak opps, your pard is a client. Three passes to you. Your card play can be expected to be significantly better than theirs.

I'd open 1 club. I would pass if the shortness was in either major.

[benlessard]

I had a few of "impossible" 4th hand with 3 passes and fairly often an opponent miscounted his hands.

So I would check the table these board started. If I know its a table where they would likely reshuffle the board (if its all pass) then i guess 1 of my weak opps miscounted his hand and ill pass.

Otherwise i bid 1 club. The next question is what i do if partner bid 1d ?. My bid is 1s but im not convinced.

[Fluffy]

3♣, I hope this is the field's pick.

[kenrexford]

I hate these types of hands.

So, I always do the math -- spades plus HCP's. I know that this is flawed, but that takes away the stress.

[Codo]

Even if my declarer abilities are as good as Mister Lalls I need other reasons to open.

1. Am I tired and need a break? Clear pass

2. What does my client want? Winning or learning? If it is the later, I pass and tell him something.

3. IF he wants to win, I will judge if one opponent had problems with his pass or is getting uncomfortable with his bid now. In this case I pass again.

4. If there are no signs, I will open 1 Club and hope that the following will happen:
4.1. I play a spade or club contract at a low level
4.2. They go overboard in the bidding.
4.3. My client makes 2 Heart.

This is a risk, but at least I have a good suit to play in.

[skjaeran]

Being a light opener, expecting partner to open most balance 11-counts, I'd pass this.

[Free]

1♣, lets beat these suckers

[pclayton]

1♣. If I had shorter majors I might do something drastic like pass or 3♣.

[lowerline]

Jlall, on Aug 22 2007, 05:42 PM, said:

xxxx xxx --- AKQT9x

You're playing MP, red vs white at a club vs what look like weak opps, your pard is a client. Three passes to you. Your card play can be expected to be significantly better than theirs.

1♣. Over 1M from partner I pass or compete to 2M if they bid diamonds. Over partner's 1♦ I rebid 1♠.
I do fear a bidding like: 1♣ - (1♦) - p - (2♦) - p - (p) - dbl (I'll run to 3♣) or 1♣ - (p) - 1M - (p) - p - (2♦) - dbl (I'll run to 2M).

Steven

[Gerben42]

Too bad I don't have a 2♣ for this...

I don't think 1♣ is fairly clear with a void in a suit that outranks yours.

Quote

Your card play can be expected to be significantly better than theirs.

This is decisive. Against World Class opponents I'd throw it in. Now I open 1♣.

[Halo]

1C

Can't see passing this out in the circumstances described. Even with a regular partner passing is a little boring at a club night, though probably correct.

[jikl]

Were you tempted by 3NT Justin?

Sean

[sceptic]

3Nt from me and a smile from pard if it makes

[neilkaz]

Rule of 15 ? Well..we also have to think when we apply "rules". Clearly this club suit is worth more than 9 HCP of playing strength and we are 4306 as well ! I think we have positive expectancy by opening this 1♣ and PD may have the right hand for game in either major (note your ruffing values) or be able to scape up 3 tricks for 3NT (assuming ♣ behave) if he gets a fortunate lead or play.

When we sat down vs these weaker opps we had positive expectancy for this board. If we open 1♣ I think we still have positve expectancy vs them. If the opps compete somewhat in ♦ and we have no major fit my hand (noting that the outstanding 31 HCP must be split rather evenly) offers good play for 3♣. If our weakish opps bid higher than that, I'll hope it is too high.

If we were playing vs WC opps we had negative expectancy at the start of this board, so passing it out becomes reasonable, although I still might open due to my 4♠. Reverse the majors and now there's a decent chance that we get outbid in ♠ as well as ♦ and I'll pass vs strong opps.

[neilkaz]

sceptic, on Aug 25 2007, 01:55 AM, said:

3Nt from me and a smile from pard if it makes

PD holds Axx, Kx, Axxxx, xxx and with no spots he decided not to open his scattered 11 HCP in 2nd seat. A ♥ is lead thru PD's K and luckily they split 44 but try as you may after running 6♣ tricks, the opps, having knocked out one of your aces, are able to guard both pointed suits and you can't find the 9th trick.

LHO right after the play says, " Nice lead PD, if it had been my lead I would have lead low from my ATxx of ♥".

At some other tables the bidding after 3 passes(assuming wimpy opps pass thoughout) went 1♣-1♦-1♠-2NT-3NT and a ♥ was lead presenting declarer with his 20 HCP game.

Opening 3NT is a bad gamble here for several reasons, 1) wrongsiding the 3NT, 2) a passed PD cannot be counted upon to provide 3 tricks assuming the opps don't take the first 5 tricks, 3) you have enough cards in the majors and HCP are clearly divided so the preemptive effects of 3NT aren't needed very often. 4) If you belong in 3NT you often can get there by the slow route anyhow, and inspite of some expected opp comp.

[Winstonm]

Looks like the odds are 2:1 that the opps erred and that it is their hand. I back the odds and pass.

[pclayton]

sceptic, on Aug 24 2007, 10:55 PM, said:

3Nt from me and a smile from pard if it makes

On Monday, pard opened a Precision 2♣ on: ♠xxxx ♥--♦xxx ♣AKQTxx. I decided to put in 3N after an inquiry with: ♠Q, ♥ K532, ♦AQxx, ♣xxxx. Opps led a small heart and the ♦ hook worked. Wrapping. Opps can make 3N with a high spade lead from AKxx.

Partners stopped in 3♥ +170.

[rbforster]

I took Justin's comment on superior card play to apply to both his opponents and his partner. This is a pro-client problem, isn't the answer always to open 1NT? We're well placed with majors if partner transfers, and similarly the opponents may not have a way to compete naturally in diamonds. The main danger is that partner takes us for more values and puts us in 3NT without providing 3 tricks on his balanced 10-12 count. Still, I've got to think 1NT is better than 3NT...