[cnszsun]

I have read Stephen Levy's artilce "What the Pros Play".
This is quoted from his article:"I once asked Barry Crane to give me one good tip in bridge. He told me, Never open 1NT with 4-4 in the majors. We do not open 1NT with two 4-card majors."
Do you agree with him and why? Do you know what's the reason behind his suggestion?

[Trpltrbl]

Personally I don't agree, but it must have worked for him, since he won a lot.
I like to describe my hand as quick and easy as possible. But I won't never ever open 1 NT with 5-4 in majors.

Mike

[Free]

I also disagree, but it has some logic. 1NT is used as some sort of preemptive weapon. If you have both mastersuits, you don't need to lose the entire 1-level. But when playing 5 card Majors, you're still not showing your real suit... Also, you get rebid problems imo, to show your exact HCP range.

I'll still open 1NT with 4-4M...

[bearmum]

Guess it depends on what system u play ( AND what version of what system )My reg P in f2f and I play ONE version of Precision and 1NT is 13-15 BUT NEVER two 4 C majors

[inquiry]

Barry Crane was the ulitimate matchpoint player. His advice, I think would be better geared for a matchpoint game. In fact, correct me if I am wrong, but Matchpoint precision had the same "rule" about not opening 1NT with 4-4 in the majors, and explained it along the lines of the bad result you will get at your table using weak notrump if bidding went 1NT-all pass, while at the other tables the weak notrump hand opened a minor and their partner responded a major.... since you safely play two of the major in 4-4 fit whch is likely to take at least one extra trick.

Ben

[tysen2k]

In my homegrown system for matchpoints I play 1N never has a 4cM. I also extend the range to 11-15, using 2♣ as a strength ask.

At matchpoints, missing the 2M partial costs a lot more than at IMPs.

[bearmum]

inquiry, on Apr 7 2004, 01:27 AM, said:

Barry Crane was the ulitimate matchpoint player. His advice, I think would be better geared for a matchpoint game. In fact, correct me if I am wrong, but Matchpoint precision had the same "rule" about not opening 1NT with 4-4 in the majors, and explained it along the lines of the bad result you will get at your table using weak notrump if bidding went 1NT-all pass, while at the other tables the weak notrump hand opened a minor and their partner responded a major.... since you safely play two of the major in 4-4 fit whch is likely to take at least one extra trick.

Ben

Think you are right about Matchpoint Precision Ben ( but since I have not yet found the book sonce we moved) I couldn't look it up but we play it at ALL times

[paulg]

inquiry, on Apr 6 2004, 12:27 PM, said:

Barry Crane was the ulitimate matchpoint player. His advice, I think would be better geared for a matchpoint game. In fact, correct me if I am wrong, but Matchpoint precision had the same "rule" about not opening 1NT with 4-4 in the majors, and explained it along the lines of the bad result you will get at your table using weak notrump if bidding went 1NT-all pass, while at the other tables the weak notrump hand opened a minor and their partner responded a major.... since you safely play two of the major in 4-4 fit whch is likely to take at least one extra trick.

Ben

I think Ben is right too.

However if you adopt this policy then you also have to consider the consequences. If the auction now goes 1♦-1NT do you raise with 16 points? This will get you a level higher than most of the field who will bid 1NT-Pass.

Also it means more work on the 1♦-2♣/♦ sequences as you can hold any balanced hand in the 12-19 point range.

Personally I advocate that balanced hands should open, or rebid, NT.

Paul

[luke warm]

playing a weak nt where a 1nt rebid shows 14-16(17), i'd still open this with my better minor... if pard shows a major, i can raise.. if it goes 1D/2C, i just bid 2H (not a reverse)... this is at matchpoints, i might open 1nt at imps

[Fluffy]

I used to play 1NT as 15+1/2 - 17+1/2 range, meaning with both 15 and 18 you have to pick your opening, playing there I made good results opening every 4 card major with 15 or 18 with 1 minor. Never tried it with 16/17 because my partner is suposed to expect unbalanced after a level 3 raise in a major so I cannot argue there.

Now I play 15-17 as most strong NT pairs do, and I often still devaluate my 15 with 4-4 in majors, still getting good results.