[neilkaz]

When I am 5-6 (6 cards in the lower ranking suit) I try to plan the auction and consider suit quality to be important, especially if I cannot reverse.

ie ..holding x,AKJxx,A,T8xxxx I certainly don't have the playing strength needed for a reverse and if I open 1♣ the ♥ suit may be buried (especially if playing something close to Walsh-type responses).

If I open 1♥ and rebid 2♣ PD will often take a preference back to ♥ with 2 card support and I don't mind that with such a good suit. If I open 1♥ and catch a raise I certainly am happy and if I open 1♥ and the opps buy the hand, I would certainly prefer a ♥ lead to a ♣.

And for an example the other way.

x,Jxxxx,A,AQJxxx ... here I open 1♣ and am willing to miss the times we miss a 5-3 ♥ fit and certainly have no issues rebidding 2♣ and am happy to not be suffering in a 5-2 ♥ fit or pulling a 2♥ preference to 3♣ and hoping it is better and that PD doesn't take me for a somewhat better hand.

Yeah..these were rather extreme examples..and when the suits are closer in quality make a decision and live with it.

[the hog]

hanp, on Jun 29 2010, 05:32 PM, said:

Does the Hog open 1S with 5-6 in the majors?

With a weak hand, yes.