[pescetom]

MP

---

Your bid?


[Accidentally deleted an opening discussion that included mention of the option 1NT]

[DavidKok]

I would open 1♣, and am not very worried about the continuations in my Dutch Doubleton.

More generally I think people really struggle to bid x=y=4=5 hands, and people will do all sorts of things to solve this issue. I think 1♣ works well, but others prefer 1NT or 1♦.

Do keep in mind that systemically opening 1NT with this hand is not always legal, as it contains a small singleton.

[mw64ahw]

It's a 1♦ for me playing my Esoteric Unbalanced ♦

[pescetom]

DavidKok, on 2026-April-10, 15:24, said:

Do keep in mind that systemically opening 1NT with this hand is not always legal, as it contains a small singleton.

100% kosher at any level in my RA (FIGB) so long as the agreement is correctly disclosed.
I fought for this and think that is an enlightened choice, but you are quite right that many do not have this option.

[mike777]

1C planning on rebidding 2C

[mikeh]

pescetom, on 2026-April-10, 15:51, said:

100% kosher at any level in my RA (FIGB) so long as the agreement is correctly disclosed.
I fought for this and think that is an enlightened choice, but you are quite right that many do not have this option.

I would run away from any partner who thought that opening 1N on this hand was sensible.

[pescetom]

 mikeh, on 2026-April-10, 22:48, said:

I would run away from any partner who thought that opening 1N on this hand was sensible.

So would most. I open it systemically as 1NT as an experiment with one partner, all I can say is that it's fun and not disastrous overall.

But that's not what the thread is about, let's assume 1♣ and move on (as soon as I get to a PC).

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

I would open 1C, planning to either rebid 2C (in case p bids 1H), or 2D (in case p bids 1S),
raise to 3D, bid 2C after 1NT, over a natural 2NT I am make a 4H splinter, after 3NT I will
make a 4C bid ... natural fit setting, SI.

I think I covered all responses from p?


Simple.
Standard.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[Cyberyeti]

I would open 1♣ (weak NT 4+♣), intending to rebid 1N over ♥.

[mw64ahw]

I like a 2♣ rebid to show six so it comes down to methods. If partner bids 1♥ are you in the camp that bids 1N with a singleton or not?
Playing a 1♦ opening I expect partner to bid 1♠ as a game invite. Now opener responds 1N showing a 5431 type shape. Responder with extras bids 2♣ asking for specific shape with 2♦ showing 5♦ and other bids 5♣.

[P_Marlowe]

mw64ahw, on 2026-April-11, 05:26, said:

I like a 2♣ rebid to show six so it comes down to methods. If partner bids 1♥ are you in the camp that bids 1N with a singleton or not?
<snip>

Ok, ..., but treating AKQJx as a six carder is not the end of the world.
If you agreed to play rebidding clubs as showing 6, you will have hopefully agreed on a bid, that catches all the hands, that dont fit
the rest of the bid, without promissing add. strength and keeping you low.
If you dont have such an agreement, drop playing rebidding clubs as showing 6.

And if the default rebid is 1NT with a singleton, ok ..., alert it, because it will be systemically, and fine.
Be aware that most conventions, that are inplace after a NT rebid wont work as well as usually, but that is the price, and it may be ok
to pay this specific price to enable you to have a club rebid showing 6.

[pescetom]

MP

---

West responds 1♥ (unlimited) to your 1♣, with opponents silent.
Your rebid now?

[pescetom]

I dislike a 1NT rebid not so much for the singleton in partner's suit but for the NF underbid.
I also hate rebidding a 5 card minor: but it seems the lesser evil here and the suit could hardly be better.

[Zelandakh]

I would open 1♣ in Acol (or S+5) and 1♦ in Strong Club. I would not seriously consider a 1NT opening whatever the range is.

[mike777]

If partner shows H, I will follow thru with my plan and rebid 2C.

Now partner's rebids:

2D, art and gf

2S="impossible 2S convention" =inv in minor, forces 2NT.

2H, weakish, 3H iNV.

2NT=invite

3C or 3D= natural weakish

[P_Marlowe]

pescetom, on 2026-April-11, 05:50, said:

MP

---

West responds 1♥ (unlimited) to your 1♣, with opponents silent.
Your rebid now?

2C, see above, the hand did not improve, and rebidding a suit with AKQJx cant be
a big distortion.

[pescetom]

 mike777, on 2026-April-11, 06:25, said:

If partner shows H, I will follow thru with my plan and rebid 2C.

Now partner's rebids:

2D, art and gf

2S="impossible 2S convention" =inv in minor, forces 2NT.

2H, weakish, 3H iNV.

2NT=invite

3C or 3D= natural weakish

For me, 2D also promises 5+ card hearts, although I guess that might be unnecessary.

Is your "impossible 2S convention" widespread?
I understood "impossible 2S" as 1H-1NT;2C-2S, showing some type of hearts raise.
I agree that 1C-1H;2C-2S need not be natural 4 card spades because opener already denied the same.
We play it as a spades stopper expressing interest in NT and possible concern about diamonds, but I know that is not everyone's cup of tea.
Using it as an invite in the minor seems odd to me as you already have 3C available for that. Perhaps you meant Inv+, but even then I struggle to see the need so long as 4C is forcing.

[Cyberyeti]

pescetom, on 2026-April-11, 06:10, said:

I dislike a 1NT rebid not so much for the singleton in partner's suit but for the NF underbid.
I also hate rebidding a 5 card minor: but it seems the lesser evil here and the suit could hardly be better.

15-bad 19 for us, I did specify we play weak NT, too good for 1N rebid if you play strong

[mike777]

 pescetom, on 2026-April-11, 08:17, said:

For me, 2D also promises 5+ card hearts, although I guess that might be unnecessary.

Is your "impossible 2S convention" widespread?
I understood "impossible 2S" as 1H-1NT;2C-2S, showing some type of hearts raise.
I agree that 1C-1H;2C-2S need not be natural 4 card spades because opener already denied the same.
We play it as a spades stopper expressing interest in NT and possible concern about diamonds, but I know that is not everyone's cup of tea.
Using it as an invite in the minor seems odd to me as you already have 3C available for that. Perhaps you meant Inv+, but even then I struggle to see the need so long as 4C is forcing.

The Impossible 2S convention is old, decades old, as am I. Smile 😊 This is merely an extension of the convention.

Three clubs or 3D over 2C is weakish

How else do you show a weak long club or long D hand along with 4H? We don't play weak jump shifts.

No 2D art, gf does not promise 5H, however
Partner on this deal certainly may have long H.

On this deal over 2D I would bid 3D, Natural, shows 4 card D suit. Denies 3H.

[pescetom]

mike777, on 2026-April-11, 11:54, said:

The Impossible 2S convention is old, decades old, as am I. Smile �� This is merely an extension of the convention.

Three clubs or 3D over 2C is weakish

How else do you show a weak long club or long D hand along with 4H? We don't play weak jump shifts.

We play weak jump shifts which handles most weak long D hands.
I don't see a pressing need to preempt with 3C holding long weak clubs rather than pass 2C (and see what happens) retaining 3C as an invite.
But always interested to know what others play and why.

mike777, on 2026-April-11, 11:54, said:

No 2D art, gf does not promise 5H, however
Partner on this deal certainly may have long H.

On this deal over 2D I would bid 3D, Natural, shows 4 card D suit. Denies 3H.

I would bid the same way.
Not promising 5+ card hearts is certainly playable but looks awkward to me at first sight.
will think about it. [EDIT I did, and agree that it makes sense]