[eagles123]

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MP

if 1s how much stronger for 2c?

many thanks

Eagles

[gszes]

1S for me but if you make the heart Q the club or spade Q with same distribution I become
a 2c opener.

[rmnka447]

I'm taking the other tack.

2 ♣ for me because you have a very solid 4 loser hand. Slam could be there on as little as Qxx Kxx xxx QJxx. Game looks pretty good opposite as little as Qxx xxx xxx xxxx or xxxx xxx xxx Qxx.

[NickRW]

This is one those questions that eternally come up on these forums.

If you were playing Acol or Benji Acol (as your country suggests you might have been), then this is a WTP strong Acol 2. When you don't do that (and I don't entirely blame you), then you get these hands that are really too strong for 1♠ and pushing your luck very slightly for an opening 2♣. Personally, if I were in your shoes, I'd push my luck since p will pass hands that are way too weak to respond to 1♠ and yet produce good play for game.

Nick

[ArtK78]

1♠. Make the hearts Kx instead of Qx and I would open 2♣.

[Zelandakh]

As Nick writes, if you have an opening for an Acol 2 you should use that. If not, either you include Acol 2s in your 2♣ opening or not. If you do then you presumably have a response structure that copes with it - see for example Chris Ryall's Paradox method (Ben also uses a variation of this iirc). For the majority it is going to be a 1♠ opening. Playing 2♣ this way I would want an extra 0.5 PT to open 2♣. The smallest upgrade to achieve that is probably changing the ♥Q to a small one and upgrading the ♠T to the jack but there are many possibilities of this type (♥K instead of Q; adding an extra black card; changing a club to a spade; etc). That makes it close enough that it would be foolish to criticise someone for either opening in such a structure (without more detailed agreements).

[WesleyC]

The main point to take from this discussion is that it really doesn't matter whether you open a hand like this 1S or 2C. There isn't a right or wrong answer, you should simply agree a sensible style with your partner and then stick with that.

[Cyberyeti]

I would open 1♠ but it's close, blacks the other way round, 1♣ and it's not close. Keeping that shape, make the Q♥ the Q or J10♣ and I'd open 2♣.

[lowerline]

eagles123, on 2015-February-04, 17:39, said:

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MP

if 1s how much stronger for 2c?

many thanks

Eagles

I think it was Bergen who came up with the 4+4 rule: when you have at least 4 quick tricks and no more than 4 losers, open 2♣.

[neilkaz]

I have 20 HCP, but a weakness with a dub Q and 8 tricks likely. While I do love all the controls I feel that I need a bit more HCP or 9 tricks to open 2C playing most US systems. Make the Q♥ the K and I'll go for 2C.

[fromageGB]

1♠
♥K rather than the 8. Must have a good chance of 9 tricks in my own hand.

[nige1]

eagles123, on 2015-February-04, 17:39, said:

MP
if 1s how much stronger for 2c?

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lowerline, on 2015-February-05, 08:05, said:

I think it was Bergen who came up with the 4+4 rule: when you have at least 4 quick tricks and no more than 4 losers, open 2♣.

IMO 2♣ = 10, 1♠ = 8. Partner is less likely to reply to 1♠ than to other 1 openers. Also, opponents are less likely to overcall. 4♠ has play opposite a flat Yarborough:
♠ x x x ♥ x x x ♦ x x x x ♣ x x x
So 2♣ is not an overbid and the rule of thumb, quoted by lowerline, seems germane.

[helene_t]

If p has three spades and/or ♥K he will usually find a bid. Give him a doubleton spades and a couple of Jacks and we need a lot of luck. If he has ♣Q then 4♠ makes more often than not, but mostly if I play 1♠ I will make 8 or 9 tricks. Sometimes only 7.

Any improvement on this hand will turn it into a 2♣ opening for me, though, if we can stop in 3♠. If 2♣ is GF then I need one more playing trick, for example ♠Q or ♣Q.

[mycroft]

I'd probably open it 2♣, and treat it as a one-suiter spades that needs help. If we need an upgrade, A8 Q in the reds would do it - that Q is a blank in either red suit without partner's assistance anyway.

[lexlogan]

eagles123, on 2015-February-04, 17:39, said:

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MP
if 1s how much stronger for 2c?
many thanks
Eagles

When I open 2C, I expect to be in game opposite an Ace, a King, or two Queens. If I need more than that, I assume partner would respond to 1S and then I could force to game. So this is a 1♠ bid for me. Move the Queen to either black suit and I'd open 2♣.

[Cyberyeti]

lexlogan, on 2015-February-12, 13:25, said:

When I open 2C, I expect to be in game opposite an Ace, a King, or two Queens. If I need more than that, I assume partner would respond to 1S and then I could force to game. So this is a 1♠ bid for me. Move the Queen to either black suit and I'd open 2♣.

The problem is you don't need that much, you just need the right shape, a 3442 yarborough may well be sufficient xx, J10xx, KQJx, xxx may well not be.

It is a difficult hand.