[olegru]

Scoring: IMP

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[Gerben42]

Given the vulnerability I open 4♥. My partners won't expect more. This is really a style thing. Agree a style and stick to it.

AGREEMENT --> DISCIPLINE

[whereagles]

3♥ for me. Don't like the quacks.

[coyot]

6.5 LTC means that 4♥ is quite safe and conservative bid.

I'm used to playing 5332 or 4332 or 4322, so green vs. red my hand is good enough even in the most conservative setting. (And if partner supports my suit, bidding 5♥ over whatever opps come with, I would gladly raise that to 6♥, knowing that I have originally underbid the hand .

(Yes, green vs. red I will open 4♥ with any hand that would go down 5, making 5 tricks. Here 6 tricks are sure, 7th needs the heart finesse).

green vs. green I would open 4♥ as well, red vs. red I would maybe toss a coin (playing 4332) or bid 3♥ (playing 4322)

[luis]

4♥ protecting the club Q...

[inquiry]

4♥.. i am not vul and they are.. this is the time to bid em up, and that is overlooing protecting the club queen... I didn't even think of that, but after luis pointed it out it is now clearly obvious.....

Serious note, in second seat I would NOT BID 4♥.

[cherdano]

geez, getting old here, 3♥ only

[mikeh]

3♥

wrong shape for 4♥: give me 7321 and I bid 4♥.

being non-vulnerable is not the same as being invulnerable

[cherdano]

mikeh, on Feb 10 2006, 07:39 PM, said:

3♥

wrong shape for 4♥: give me 7321 and I bid 4♥.

Not only the shape, but also the honor concentration makes this hand a little too defensive for my taste. Give me xx KQJTxxx xx xx and I open 4♥.

[pbleighton]

1H if I open light, 4H else.

Peter

[P_Marlowe]

4H, take away the Jack of spade and the Queen
of clubs and this is still a 4H bid for me.

Marlowe

[mike777]

pass

Need to practice my defense.

[awm]

Pass for me. This is the sort of hand that falls through the cracks I suppose. In fact this hand has somewhat defensive values, including the ♥A and side Q/J in short suits. I feel that if I bid 4♥, I am too likely to go down when the opponents are not making game. If the opponents compete over my 4♥, then partner is likely to misjudge since this hand could easily be worth as many as 2-3 tricks on defense (♥AQ+♣Q may score). On the other hand, a 3♥ bid (which I would be happy to make at other vulnerabilities) will lead partner to expect a weaker hand and cause us to miss games too frequently.

This hand does not qualify as a one-level opening for me.

In an interesting contrast with P_Marlowe's post, I would be much more likely to open this hand with a heart preempt if you took away the outside queen and jack. Those cards prevent me from bidding a "normal" 3♥ with this hand.

[reisig]

I rarely comment ...since I usually agree with MikeH. But - Pass seems "out of this world". And 4♥ is like saying "I don't need a partner". Therefore - 3♥ seems more middle of the road and keeps partner in the game.

[Walddk]

reisig, on Feb 10 2006, 11:21 PM, said:

I rarely comment ...since I usually agree with MikeH. But - Pass seems "out of this world". And 4♥ is like saying "I don't need a partner". Therefore - 3♥ seems more middle of the road and keeps partner in the game.

I always comment since I usually agree with Richie and Mike. 3♥ it is because I live by the "Rule of 2-3". Overbid by 3 tricks non vulnerable, by 2 tricks vulnerable.

This is a perfect hand for it, and partner will know what to do. He is already supposed to have 3 tricks in order for me to make the contract. Besides, if the opponents take over, there is a chance that my ♣Q will score on defence, since declarer will play my partner for that card.

Roland

[han]

I am not comfortable opening 2H or 3H with this hand.. I usually have far less at these colors. So the choice is between 1H and 4H. I find my shape very unattractive for 4H so I am opening 1H.

Note that I usually play in partnerships that open quite light. Without this understanding I would not open 1H.

[luke warm]

mike777, on Feb 10 2006, 02:37 PM, said:

pass

Need to practice my defense.

hahahahah

i'd open it 3H

roland said:

3♥ it is because I live by the "Rule of 2-3". Overbid by 3 tricks non vulnerable, by 2 tricks vulnerable.

ditto

[Blofeld]

I treat this one as a case of eliminating possibilities. At these colours I'm too heavy for 2♥ or 3♥ - partner will never play me for this much.

The shape is horrible so I can't quite bring myself to open 4♥.

Which leaves 1♥ and pass. Which I pick is down to partnership agreement on how light we open.

[mr1303]

Clear-cut 3H for me. I may have a maximum for it, but I'm allowed to have a maximum on occasions.

As Paul Bowyer (England U25 coach) said, 6322/7222 shapes are not worth that much on pre-emption. Too many losers. I'm not counting the J of spades or the Q of clubs as having much value.

[Free]

I would NEVER consider 3♥, my hand is waaay too strong for a NV vs V 3-level preempt. Take away 2 ♥ and I'll do it. But ofcourse, that's all about agreement. With Toothbrush I'd pass, but 4♥ is a good alternative imo.