[jillybean]

Dealer: East Vul: NS Scoring: IMP

♠ T8652 ♥ A3 ♦ K82 ♣ A96

West North East South

 -     -     Pass  ? 

Question2: will be added later

[bb79]

I don't open. what discourages me is 11 count with bad suit, no shortness, and we're vul.

[awm]

Obviously depends on system, but playing some form of SAYC or 2/1 I would pass.

Opening is supposed to show 12 hcp in these systems. I have 11 hcp.

Of course there is more to hand evaluation than counting high cards, if I'm going to open a hand with 11 or fewer hcp in first/second chair playing SAYC or 2/1 then I need to have some substantial reason that the hand is better than its point count would indicate. Generally this means I should have useful distribution and/or a strong suit. On this hand, I am very balanced and have a poor suit.

[P_Marlowe]

Pass, wtp.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[ASkolnick]

It's close. Aces and Kings are undervalued in traditional point count.

We tend to use the rule of 22 (HCP+2 Longest+ Quick tricks). You have (5+3)+(11)+(2.5) so it is 21.5.

Probably pass second seat, but wouldn't yell at partner if opened.

[rogerclee]

People can say that they want about AK-evaluation.

This hand type:
5 of a major
332 other
A A K exactly
Exactly one honor in my major

This happens to be one of the weird handtypes I've been keeping track of mentally for about a year. I open this hand automatically and have gotten bad results from it. This happens all the time:

You end up in 4M and go down because partner gameforced on a borderline hand.
Partner competes to 3M, and you go down, when you would've set their contract because your hand is so valuable on defense.
You play 2M after partner bids a forcing NT, going down a ton, sometimes doubled.

This one happens to be easy, since all my honors are outside; pass.

[655321]

1♠ for me.

[pclayton]

I pass. I like AAK, but this is a 5332 and there's no texture.

[the hog]

pclayton, on Mar 8 2008, 06:33 AM, said:

I pass. I like AAK, but this is a 5332 and there's no texture.

Agree with Phil. No pips, no hons in the long suit - clear pass and should be unanimous.

Edit: Just saw one dissenter. Ah well, there's always one.

[jillybean]

Part2

For those who found 1♠ unpalatable, I have changed the hand slightly.

Dealer: East Vul: NS Scoring: IMP

♠ KT852 ♥ A3 ♦ 862 ♣ A96

West North East South

-- -- Pass 1♠
Pass 2♥ Pass ?

[brianshark]

I would have passed because I have nothing in ♠s but I'd probably open the new version of the hand.

As for part 2, is this not an automatic systemic 2♠ rebid playing normal methods?

[rogerclee]

2♠ seems very clear, playing either 2/1 or SAYC.

[skjaeran]

I'd have opened the original hand with my regular and a few others, passed with most pick-ups.

I strongly prefer to rebid 2♠. I've tried a style where rebidding showed 6, but I don't like that much (I like the rebid showing 6, of course, it's what this does to other rebids I find unplayable).

[jillybean]

For me the hand isnt good enough for a 2nt rebid, I would normaly bid 2♠. I was wondering here with the ♠'s being so crummy if a simple ♥ raise was possible. However, 2♠ is probably our only chance of staying out of game.

[P_Marlowe]

jillybean2, on Mar 8 2008, 02:09 AM, said:

For me the hand isnt good enough for a 2nt rebid, I would normaly bid 2♠. I was wondering here with the ♠'s being so crummy if a simple ♥ raise was possible. However, 2♠ is probably our only chance of staying out of game.

Hi,

bidding 2S or 2NT is a systemic thing,
usually you dont have the choice, either
it is 2NT or 2S.

I would bid 2S, because for me 2NT would
show 15-17, but dont mind 2 NT,if it would
show 12-14 and a bal. hand, ... comes close
to what I hold.

Regarding staying out of game:
If you want to stay out of game now, or
if you fear that partner gets overly exited,
why did you open in the first place?

With kind regards
Marlowe

[Roupoil]

Pass with the initial hand. For the second question, 2♠ without second choice. I don't know what you mean with a 'simple heart raise' but my weakest heart raise on this auction is 4♥ and, well, I won't do it here ! In fact, 2♠ is my only non GF bid (quite standard in SEF).

[the hog]

Open the 2nd hand and rebid 2S

[han]

jillybean2, on Mar 8 2008, 02:09 AM, said:

I was wondering here with the ♠'s being so crummy if a simple ♥ raise was possible.

That shows 3 hearts.