[Codo]

BabsG, on 2012-February-19, 13:11, said:

Thanks for the input everyone and no apologies needed Justin.

As it turned out my hand:

♠ KQ9743
♥ 8
♦ AK964
♣ 2

1♥-P-1♠-P-4♥-P-P-P

To open 1♥ is no crime. But passing 4 ♥ is- or what does this bidding sequence show to you?

[whereagles]

Seems like the north-american 2C opener should be reserved for a hand that can solve the US deficit single-handedly.

[BabsG]

Codo, on 2012-February-20, 03:42, said:

To open 1♥ is no crime. But passing 4 ♥ is- or what does this bidding sequence show to you?

Inexperience

[ArtK78]

Codo, on 2012-February-20, 03:42, said:

To open 1♥ is no crime. But passing 4 ♥ is- or what does this bidding sequence show to you?

Huh?

It is far from clear that responder's hand is useful to opener for SLAM purposes.

This is certainly a 4♥ rebid after opening 1♥:

xx
AQJTxxxx
---
KQJ

Or, for that matter,

xx
KQJTxxxxx
---
AJ

5♥ is a poor contract on the first one on any lead (except, perhaps, a heart), and a heart lead followed by a club shift will certainly beat 5♥ on the second (could be a very difficult defense, but still...). Certainly opening 1♥ and rebidding 4♥ on either of these hands is not silly.

That is not to say that passing the 4♥ rebid is clear on the responder's hand. Far from it. But it could be right on a number of hands consistent with the bidding.

[Cthulhu D]

There is a funny discussion (in light of this thread) http://home.comcast....dge/bb/b_2c.htm where opening 2C On:

S: Void H: AKQJ98754 D: 6 C: 832 (I've swapped the red suits for this example) was ruled an illegal psyche. Playing Naymats I can see that you'd open this 4C, but without Naymats how can you communicate a hand this amazing? It's got the playing strength of the hand above with 9 quick tricks.

[the hog]

Codo, on 2012-February-20, 03:42, said:

To open 1♥ is no crime. But passing 4 ♥ is- or what does this bidding sequence show to you?

Passing 4H is a crime? Not for me its not!

[han]

I wonder what all these Las Vegas stars would rebid after 1H - 1S.

[BabsG]

Cthulhu D, on 2012-February-21, 21:53, said:

There is a funny discussion (in light of this thread) http://home.comcast....dge/bb/b_2c.htm where opening 2C On:

S: Void H: AKQJ98754 D: 6 C: 832 (I've swapped the red suits for this example) was ruled an illegal psyche. Playing Naymats I can see that you'd open this 4C, but without Naymats how can you communicate a hand this amazing? It's got the playing strength of the hand above with 9 quick tricks.

Great article! Thanks. Will consider adopting Namyats which seems to solve the problem (not that it crops up that often).
For the hog -

[Cthulhu D]

BabsG, on 2012-February-23, 15:04, said:

Great article! Thanks. Will consider adopting Namyats which seems to solve the problem (not that it crops up that often).
For the hog -

I reckon you're better off not doing that, NAMYATS comes up so infrequently that it is a ticket to memory strain and this: http://www.blakjak.d...uk/brx_brn0.htm happening to you. Just open it 2C and repeatedly bid hearts when it gets back to you, it's not a problem.

[dbsboy]

2♣ for me. I cannot show a hand with such playing strength after opening 1♥.

[mich-b]

BabsG, on 2012-February-19, 13:11, said:

Thanks for the input everyone and no apologies needed Justin.

As it turned out my hand:

♠ KQ9743
♥ 8
♦ AK964
♣ 2

1♥-P-1♠-P-4♥-P-P-P

I think you should have bid again over 4♥.
4♥ rebid should show a very good ♥ suit , and a hand close to opening 2♣.
A typical hand might be 7 solid hearts + a black Ace + another nice card OR 8 solid + a black Ace.

[aguahombre]

One thing is for sure. The debate between the camp which looks for reasons to open 2C and the camp which looks for reasons not to open 2C on wild distributional hands will never be resolved ---no matter what the level of players involved.

The best we can do is choose a style, then choose continuations which will compensate for the flaws.

[HighLow21]

JLOGIC, on 2012-February-17, 17:38, said:

It is absolutely absurd to not open this hand with 2C. You have 9 and a half tricks, including some honor tricks. One suiters are not hard to bid, what "decision" am I going to be preempted into? Gee, I'll compete to 5H, how is that not a possibility if I open 1H?

I play namyats, and I would never open namyats with 9 and a half tricks including a side Ax and Kx. I mean, come on, that's what 2C is for, Namyats shows less than a 2C opener.

Absurd but not ludicrous?

I can see valid points for either 1♥ or 2♣ but I think it is absurd to say that not opening 2♣ is absurd.

Do you really want partner doubling 4♠ for penalty after you opened 2♣? He would be quite unhappy to double 4♠ with a trickless hand and watch as they stroke it home making or with an overtrick. Or maybe even two if luck is really running dry.

I open 1♥ because:
1. I have no idea what to do over 4♠ by them if I open 2♣ and I do not trust a double of 4♠ by partner.
2. My defense is not great at all. All this good stuff might add up to 2 defensive tricks.
3. My suit is not the boss suit.
4. I do not have enough quick tricks.
5. I only have 16 HCP; thus if partner cannot bid over 1♥, their side will have a making game somewhere quite often.