[JLOL]

AQx ATxxxx Kx Kx r/w imps.

Do you open 1N?

If you open 1H what are you rebidding over 1S by pard? What about 1N by pard?

[OleBerg]

I would never open 1NT.

Using my pet-method, I bid 2♦ (transfer to hearts) on 1♠. (Planning to follow up with the cheapest spade bid, showing three spades, and more than a minimum.) I have the option of bidding 3♥, showing 6-3, but the suit is not well-suited for that.

Barred from that, it is an ugly 2♥ on 1♠, and an ugly 3♥ on 1nt.

[jdonn]

I think you have to open 1♥, it's just such a disaster to open 1NT if you miss a heart fit. Over 1♠ or 1NT I will rebid 2♣, which I hate (I swear I do) but I hate everything else more. As long as partner doesn't pass I expect to do well. I know this is the type of bid you really really hate though.

[gwnn]

2NT looks like a good rebid to me over both. As long as partner has 5 spades and isn't completely broke and ...

[marcD]

Tempting to open 1NT as rebids are going to be a severe problem over 1♠ and 1NT. However there are too many flaws (the hand is a bit too strong for 1NT, could be down a couple or more in 1NT with hearts playing much better)

playing standard i guess I would rebid 2♣ in both cases and then describe my hand as balanced 16-17 over 1NT (still an underbid but at least hearts are not buried) and non minimum hand with 3S over 1♠

I play 2♣ forcing (Gazilli like) so over 1♠ I can use 2NT to show a medium hand with 6H and 3S . Not ideal but still a step in the right direction.

Good and UI prone problem. I have noticed that people who play standard are often unable to produce 2♣ in a normal tempo and that their partners bend backwards to keep the bidding open (less of an issue with screens but still)

[rogerclee]

I don't open 1N, but if I thought it was best to open 1♥ and rebid 2♣, then maybe I should've!

[nickf]

I wouldnt crime 1NT, in fact this is exactly the sort of hand that Michael Courtney, one of the world's great rubber bridge players, frequently opens 1NT on.

nickf
sydney

[deffe]

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

[zasanya]

Recently an erudite player suggested to me an alternative way of playing Forcing NT.After 1M-1NT-2♣=12-14 and 2♦=15-17.Seems very suitable for this hand especially because his system allowed opening 1NT with 5 card M.

[gnasher]

I'd never open 1NT with a six-card major.

In any case, I think this hand is too strong for a 15-17 1NT opening. Not playing anything fancy, I'd bid 1♥-1♠;2NT or 1♥-1NT;2♠. The reverse gives us a reasonable chance of reaching the 6-2 heart fit when it's right, and notrumps may not play that well from partner's side.

With the same shape but a bit weaker, eg AJx A10xxxx Kx Kx, I'd bid 1♥-1♠;2♠, with the idea that partner's more likely to make an aggressive move if he's been supported. Facing a 1NT response, I'd rebid 2♥, nervously.

In some partnerships I have a way to show a 2.5♥ bid after 1♥-1NT. If that were available I'd use that on either of these hands.

[benlessard]

I play that
1H----1X
2H show a minimum hand.

1H----1X
3H show a good hand & great suit.

I wont rebid a 2 card minor its probably not dangerous but i dont like it.

So either

1H----1X
2NT

or a direct 1Nt make sense. Since we frequently open 1Nt with 5cM and play a kind of puppet stayman i slightly prefer to open 1Nt otherwise i would 1H--rebid 2Nt.

PS i dont like Gazilli

[kenrexford]

I have a great love for the no trump opening with a six-card major, when right. This one is kind of borderline, because it might be too strong for a 1NT opening (especially if the 1NT range is 14+ to 17-). But, the advertised heart suit is not that strong. So, 1NT is very reasonable. Make the hearts A1098xx, and I'm a little more inclined to 1♥...2NT (except when 1♥...2NT is "power 2NT" and artificial, in which case this would be a clear 1NT opening).

[whereagles]

JLOL, on Apr 9 2009, 07:19 AM, said:

(edited for clarity)

AQx ATxxxx Kx Kx r/w imps.

1. Do you open 1N?
2. If you open 1H what are you rebidding over 1S by pard?
3. What about 1N by pard?

1. No.
2. Over 1♠ I bid 3♥.
3. Same thing.

As you can see, I'm not too bothered with suit quality. "Shape & strength always before high card location" is my motto. Of course, this isn't to be followed 100% of the time, but this hand doesn't feel like it's worth steering away from it. Perhaps 6 to the queen would.

I'm sure some people around strongly disagree with my views, but I don't give a ****

[Apollo81]

I would open 1♥ and rebid 2NT.

[Poky]

I like 1NT because it rightsides contracts and hides my source of tricks.

If I choose to open 1H, after 1any I will rebid a Gazzilli sequence 2C->2D->2NT - as 15-16 balanced.

[ArtK78]

I open 1♥.

Over a 1♠ response, I raise to 2♠. Quite frankly, I am surprised that more posters don't do the same, but I guess they are reluctant to make a single raise on "only" three card support when holding such a good hand.

The direct raise to 2♠ is sufficiently encouraging that I expect to get to most games, and I don't expect to be in the wrong strain very often.

EDIT: I left out what I would do if partner bid 1NT, which I presume is forcing. I would bid a calm, if somewhat heavy, 2♥. I don't like the 2♥ rebid, but it is the best choice of a bad lot.

[H_KARLUK]

1♥
2♠
2♥

[rbforster]

A boring 1♥...2♥ for me in either case.

jdonn, on Apr 9 2009, 03:00 AM, said:

I think you have to open 1♥, it's just such a disaster to open 1NT if you miss a heart fit. Over 1♠ or 1NT I will rebid 2♣, which I hate (I swear I do) but I hate everything else more. As long as partner doesn't pass I expect to do well. I know this is the type of bid you really really hate though.

I know 2/1 players should alert 1♥-1N-2♣ as 2+, but somehow I thought it was more often 4522 than 3622. Perhaps more of the experts are playing some version of Gazilli than realize it (1M-?-2♣ rebid = clubs or various strong).

As for losing the heart fit, perhaps Ken can devise a system similar to Texas so the opening NT bidder can show his 6c majors and 7c minors later in the NT auction...

[JLOL]

Rob F, on Apr 9 2009, 10:12 AM, said:

A boring 1♥...2♥ for me in either case.

I think raising 1S to 2S is much better because of what gnasher said (partner is more likely to move over this than over 2H). There are a lot of hands with 51 in the majors that partner is passing 2H and bidding over 2S for instance. There are very few 42 hands where the reverse happens.

Anyways, I like 2S and 2H.

[Echognome]

Certainly a good hand to be playing intermediate 2's with a mini multi (as then it's an easy 2♥ rebid). However, that was NOT the question. Playing a standard 2/1, I would open 1♥ and bid 2♥ over a 1NT response. I would rebid 2NT over a 1♠ response as the fitting spade values make the hand worth it and now I get to also protect my tenaces.

I'm not so worried about the 2NT bid over 1♠. I don't really like the 2♥ bid over 1NT, but I would rather hear partner bid again before going higher.