[lenze]

I totally missed this one. Playing with a competent, but casual partner, I held

S – A
H – KT954
D – T975
C – A74

Non Vul vs. Vul

I dealt and passed. It’s not my style to open this hand. LHO passed, and partner opened 1H. RHO overcalled 1NT. I finally decided to bid what I thought we could make, 4H. LHO bid 4S, back to me. After consulting with the ceiling, I bid 5H, doubled by LHO. Partner only went down 1400. It never occurred to me that partner would open 1H on

S – 875
H – 9
D – 864
C – JT8754

Oh well, we had something to talk about at the bar.

[flytoox]

Quote

I totally missed this one. Playing with a competent, but casual partner, I held

S ?A
H ?KT954
D ?T975
C ?A74

Non Vul vs. Vul

I dealt and passed. It’s not my style to open this hand. LHO passed, and partner opened 1H. RHO overcalled 1NT. I finally decided to bid what I thought we could make, 4H. LHO bid 4S, back to me. After consulting with the ceiling, I bid 5H, doubled by LHO. Partner only went down 1400. It never occurred to me that partner would open 1H on

S ?875
H ?9
D ?864
C ?JT8754

Oh well, we had something to talk about at the bar.

This is why we should be very very cautious with pyschic bid. It backfires more often than not.

[luis]

You got what you deserved for not opening 1h :-)
When you have a 1h opening and you pass you are not allowed to blame pd for choosing the wrong opening bid.

[inquiry]

Hi Lenze,

When did you start playing with MishoVnBg? Lol, just kidding, but he is the self-professed pscyh king of the BBO. But even he would not open that hand 1H. This is an example of a poor psych. First, you are bound to catch your partner with a few hearts and get a heart raise. A much better psych is 1NT or 1S or 1C.

I think, however, that 40% of expert players would psych with that hand under these conditions. I am just certain that the vast majority of them would not do so in 1H.

Having said that, let me make a couple of suggestion for you here. First, be alert for 3rd seat not vul versus vul funny business after two passes, especially when something odd happens.. partner opens a heart, you have five of them, and your opponent overcalls 1NT.

Second, maybe double of 1NT is better option than a leap to 4Hs. After all, they are vulnerable, the undertricks are very rich source of imps for you. If they run to spades, ok, you can get back into hearts.

Having bid 4H's, you should be barred from taking a push to 5Hs. Now alarms and wistles should be going off in your hand. Your RHO bid 1NT vul versus not, and your RHO who could not open 2S or 3S, found a vulnerable 4S bid, no doubt to make.. This must be based upon a goodish hand and long spades. There are WAY to many hcp in this deck. Count them up, 16 on your left, at least 9 on your right, and your 11. There should be flashing neon signs in your face now.

If you think they are the ones being frisky, you can double with your hand, overwhich clearly your partner will pull to 5Clubs, which with your hand I would pass.

If you were allowed to play psyche control, over 4S, you might try 4NT on the way to 5H's. With the idea that partner will bid 5H when he has hearts, and his long minor is he opened something very strange. But of course, these bids are outlawed.

[lenze]

I agree that I was asleep at the wheel on this one. But in over ten years of playing with this partner about once a month, he had NEVER not had his bid. The possibility of a psyche never entered my mind.

[EricK]

Quote

I agree that I was asleep at the wheel on this one. But in over ten years of playing with this partner about once a month, he had NEVER not had his bid. The possibility of a psyche never entered my mind.

Isn't this how it is meant to be?

If the possibility of a psyche does enter your mind, and you make a different bid than you would otherwise, then wouldn't that be "fielding" the psyche, and hence illegal?

I don't think 5H is the correct bid anyway. if you haven't got a strong way to raise Hearts on the previous round (2NT?) then I think you should double here. If partner runs to 5C, I think that exposes the psyche, so it is OK to pass.

BTW it is much better to psyche 1S on that hand. If partner can't raise you have stolen their suit, if he can then you will make a few more tricks than you would have in hearts!

Eric

[luis]

Quote

Quote

I agree that I was asleep at the wheel on this one. But in over ten years of playing with this partner about once a month, he had NEVER not had his bid. The possibility of a psyche never entered my mind.

Isn't this how it is meant to be?

If the possibility of a psyche does enter your mind, and you make a different bid than you would otherwise, then wouldn't that be "fielding" the psyche, and hence illegal?

I don't think 5H is the correct bid anyway. if you haven't got a strong way to raise Hearts on the previous round (2NT?) then I think you should double here. If partner runs to 5C, I think that exposes the psyche, so it is OK to pass.

BTW it is much better to psyche 1S on that hand. If partner can't raise you have stolen their suit, if he can then you will make a few more tricks than you would have in hearts!

Eric

Agree 100% 1s is far a better bid, you can even find a "magical" 4s save against a game or slam playing in a 4-3 or 5-3 fit.
Good call Eric.

[luke warm]

Quote

You got what you deserved for not opening 1h :-)
When you have a 1h opening and you pass you are not allowed to blame pd for choosing the wrong opening bid.

my sentiments exactly

[the hog]

The above 2 posts are a little unfair as this has to be one of the silliest psyches I have seen in a long time. I must agree though, why not open 1H?

[Free]

1. I'd open 1H with your hand...

2. I do agree that 1H is the worst opening/psych with that stiff! This hand is an exact example of 1NT psyche (makes it harder for ops to find the right contract), or perhaps a 1S. In this case I rather bid 1S to steal their suit. The problem with opening 1H is that whenever partner has only 5 Hearts he'll raise to 4H and you'll be playing in a 5-1 fit at 4 level. The occasions where partner raises to 4S after a 1S opening are a lot less frequent, and you'd still be playing in a 5-3 fit, so it's safer. If you open your stiff, sure it backfires at you more often than not...

3. Bidding 1H-1NT-4H with such a great hand isn't my preference. I'd choose for Dbl and maybe raise later. That would also reveil the psych, so you won't go too high.

4. The thought of a psych should always come up when partner bids in 3rd hand NV vs V. It's standard knowledge imo that most psychs happen in these conditions (Misho the King also does it in reversed vulnerability ). Nevertheless you should use your first bid as normal, and when you smell trouble you should trust your sense. Say the bidding goes:
p - p - 1H -1NT
Dbl - p* - p - RDbl * = F1
p - p - 2C
You know it's a psych with an escape suit!

[Gerben47]

Agree with 4H, disagree with 5H.

Agree with psyching, disagree with choosing 1H. Put me down for a spade here.

[Poky]

Pass - not my style, but understandable if you play so

1H - not my style, but understandable looking at vulnerability, much better to open 3C (nice pressure bid) or 1S (nice tactical bid)

4H - very bad bid, too good hand with too many defense, making a wrong picture of entire hand. Too much unilateral, looking at vulnerability. The right bid with this hand is a clear 2NT (intending to raise to 4H if nothing special happens), taking place and describing our hand accurately - we have two aces. The Dbl would be bad cause gives opponents room to introduce their suits at low levels.

5H - a pure catastrophe, if this hand earlier choose to bid a tactical 4H, now he has a clear Dbl bid, whatever it means (save suggesting - when partner has a psych/light opener or penalty - when partner has something), so partner can still choose the best action...

Blame:
N: 85% - persistent unilateral blindfold bidding, without a bit of table presence or discipline...
S: 15% - opening a doubtful 1H...

[lenze]

I know style has changed, but, having played this game for over 35 years, and having had the great privilege to play with some of the best players ever, I must state that anyone who opens this hand 1H in first seat does NOT know what the game is about.

[inquiry]

Quote

I know style has changed, but, having played this game for over 35 years, and having had the great privilege to play with some of the best players ever, I must state that anyone who opens this hand 1H in first seat does NOT know what the game is about.

I think the beating the last few posters are giving you is unjustified. Passing with your hand is certainly a reasonable option, and 4H is not that bad a bid, even playing with a partner who habitually pyches, must less one who has never done so. If 4H is hammered, 5C is a good spot for you at this vul, and a cheap save.

Having said that, in the last 35 years bidding strategy has changed somewhat. With the hand in question (see below), many many people merrily and happily open 1H
S – A
H – KT954
D – T975
C – A74

They do so because they either play some forcing club system where openine one of a different suit is capped at 15 or 16 hcp. Or they do so because of the RULE of 20, where they add their HCP to the number of cards in their two long suits. Here, with 11 hcp and 9 red cards, 20 is easily reached. There are some "additions" and "subtractions" people use to the rule of tweny. With this hand, the T9 in both red suits would be worth about a point and a half, and the lack of a diamond honor would be about minus a half. So I would count this as 21 for rule of 20 considerations, and open 1H myself, but I open aggressively, especially not vul against vul, to try and make it harder on the opponents if it is their hand, and to help partner help me make furher pressure bids in that situation.

Ben

[lenze]

Quote

Quote

I know style has changed, but, having played this game for over 35 years, and having had the great privilege to play with some of the best players ever, I must state that anyone who opens this hand 1H in first seat does NOT know what the game is about.

I think the beating the last few posters are giving you is unjustified. Passing with your hand is certainly a reasonable option, and 4H is not that bad a bid, even playing with a partner who habitually pyches, must less one who has never done so. If 4H is hammered, 5C is a good spot for you at this vul, and a cheap save.

Having said that, in the last 35 years bidding strategy has changed somewhat. With the hand in question (see below), many many people merrily and happily open 1H
S – A
H – KT954
D – T975
C – A74

They do so because they either play some forcing club system where openine one of a different suit is capped at 15 or 16 hcp. Or they do so because of the RULE of 20, where they add their HCP to the number of cards in their two long suits. Here, with 11 hcp and 9 red cards, 20 is easily reached. There are some "additions" and "subtractions" people use to the rule of tweny. With this hand, the T9 in both red suits would be worth about a point and a half, and the lack of a diamond honor would be about minus a half. So I would count this as 21 for rule of 20 considerations, and open 1H myself, but I open aggressively, especially not vul against vul, to try and make it harder on the opponents if it is their hand, and to help partner help me make furher pressure bids in that situation.

Ben

Hi Ben: Thanks for your support!!

I do know that MANY players today are strict adherants to the "Rule of 20". In my opinion, the "Rule of 20" is nothing more than a crutch for those incapabile of exercising GOOD judgement. Whether their choice is right or wrong, they are at least consistant with their peers.

[luis]

Quote

I know style has changed, but, having played this game for over 35 years, and having had the great privilege to play with some of the best players ever, I must state that anyone who opens this hand 1H in first seat does NOT know what the game is about.

Well I'd open 1h in first seat and I'm very happy of not knowing what the game is about.
Very constructive comment from you Lenze maybe you can use your 35 years experience to analize why this disaster happened to you. (Hint: 5h bid, not opening 1h, no flexibility for this game?)

[luis]

Quote

Quote

I know style has changed, but, having played this game for over 35 years, and having had the great privilege to play with some of the best players ever, I must state that anyone who opens this hand 1H in first seat does NOT know what the game is about.

I think the beating the last few posters are giving you is unjustified. Passing with your hand is certainly a reasonable option, and 4H is not that bad a bid, even playing with a partner who habitually pyches, must less one who has never done so. If 4H is hammered, 5C is a good spot for you at this vul, and a cheap save.

Having said that, in the last 35 years bidding strategy has changed somewhat. With the hand in question (see below), many many people merrily and happily open 1H
S – A
H – KT954
D – T975
C – A74

They do so because they either play some forcing club system where openine one of a different suit is capped at 15 or 16 hcp. Or they do so because of the RULE of 20, where they add their HCP to the number of cards in their two long suits. Here, with 11 hcp and 9 red cards, 20 is easily reached. There are some "additions" and "subtractions" people use to the rule of tweny. With this hand, the T9 in both red suits would be worth about a point and a half, and the lack of a diamond honor would be about minus a half. So I would count this as 21 for rule of 20 considerations, and open 1H myself, but I open aggressively, especially not vul against vul, to try and make it harder on the opponents if it is their hand, and to help partner help me make furher pressure bids in that situation.
Ben

I open 5h not because I play a strong club and not because of the rule of 20. I agree with Lenze that opening or not opening is a matter of judgement not of silly rules.

The hand has:
11 HCP = enough to open worst hands in modern partnerships.
5431 distribution which usually plays very well
5 controls when the average for a 1x opening is 3
Excellent intermediates (T9 of hearts, T9 of diamonds)
Purity (No wasted spots in the 3 card suit)
7 losers, the normal average for a 1x opening.

Maybe there're enough reasons to open 1h besides rule of #xx

[lenze]

Hi Luis: Thanks for your replies:

I do agree that this hand COULD be opened 1H. I would not (and didn't) but would NEVER criticize a partner who chose to open it. The real disaster occured because I "COULD NOT IMAGINE THIS PARTNER WAS PSYCHING" As Ben pointed out, I probably should have caught it. But what if north had held

S - 543
H - QJ8764
D - A4
C - KQ

Now 5H is the winning call

[inquiry]

Quote

S - 543
H - QJ8764
D - A4
C - KQ

Now 5H is the winning call

On a Diamond lead (not that unlikely), don't you lose the Diamond King, The club ACE, and the heart ACE? Of course, they could be laydown for 4S, losing just 1S, 1C and 1D if the cards are situated perfectly for them in your hypothetical position, maybe east is 6-5 in diamonds and spades....

[lenze]

Ben: Note the Club Ace is in the south hand