[PhilG007]

What are the guidelines about opening hands that total exactly 12 points?

Take these hands:- 1) ♠Axxx ♥Axx ♦Axx ♣xxx
2) ♠Kxxx ♥Kxxx ♦KQx ♣Jx
3) ♠ QJx ♥QJ10 ♦Axxx ♣Q10x
4)♠A10x♥K109x ♦QJxx♣Qx
5)♠ KQx♥KQx ♦Jxxx♣J10x

Which of these hands would you open a) as dealer b) in 3rd/4th seat c) non-vul d) vul

[Cyberyeti]

I'd open all of them a weak notrump in 1st, 2nd or 4th, I might think about some of them vul in 3rd.

[spotlight7]

 PhilG007, on 2018-March-30, 14:26, said:

What are the guidelines about opening hands that total exactly 12 points?

Take these hands:- 1) ♠Axxx ♥Axx ♦Axx ♣xxx
2) ♠Kxxx ♥Kxxx ♦KQx ♣Jx
3) ♠ QJx ♥QJ10 ♦Axxx ♣Q10x
4)♠A10x♥K109x ♦QJxx♣Qx
5)♠ KQx♥KQx ♦Jxxx♣J10x

Which of these hands would you open a) as dealer b) in 3rd/4th seat c) non-vul d) vul

Bad 12HCP hands often are worth 11.


I open 1 and 4 playing 2/1. Playing Precision style I open all of them.


For close decisions, I like A=4.3 K=3.1 Q=1.7 and J=.9

If the math is a problem, an Ace balances one Queen. A King balances one Jack

Spotcards(10s and 9s) also can help decide whether to open.

[johnu]

Please do not open 12 HCP point hands against me. When you are playing against me, please have at least a good 14 HCP. Thank you in advance.

[Vampyr]

 Cyberyeti, on 2018-March-30, 14:53, said:

I'd open all of them a weak notrump in 1st, 2nd or 4th, I might think about some of them vul in 3rd.

I open a weak NT on all of them in all positions at matchpoints.. Playing IMPs, I open a strong NT in third, but would open most of them one of a suit. Would still open 1NT on all in 1, 2 and 4.

[Vampyr]

 johnu, on 2018-March-30, 15:36, said:

Please do not open 12 HCP point hands against me. When you are playing against me, please have at least a good 14 HCP. Thank you in advance.

I agree. I want to hear from those pesky opponents as little as possible.

[NickRW]

It depends on the system/style you have agreed with partner. In some (many) cases all of them are easy openers. Even playing a very conservative style, I'd still open 1 and 4.

[spotlight7]

 johnu, on 2018-March-30, 15:36, said:

Please do not open 12 HCP point hands against me. When you are playing against me, please have at least a good 14 HCP. Thank you in advance.

Playing Fantunes style I would have 14+ to open at the one level(unless 5-4+ Ms).

The good news is that I will also be opening @10-13 at the 2 level against you.

[Phil]

 johnu, on 2018-March-30, 15:36, said:

Please do not open 12 HCP point hands against me. When you are playing against me, please have at least a good 14 HCP. Thank you in advance.

Me too.

[FelicityR]

Playing SAYC or Acol is safer than 2/1 (I assume) as you can stop more easily if partner has a marginal similarly-pointed hand opposite, but it's a bidder's game - so I'm told - so if you don't open then you must be still playing Goren. That said, I might draw the line - faintly - at Kxx Kxx Kxx Kxxx or KJx KJx KJx xxxx

[steve2005]

Is it 12 open. Oh is it a horrible 12, then open it anyways and apologize if things go bad. Any system.

[neilkaz]

American 2/1 player here and I open them all.

EDIT: Take away all the 10's, making them small x's and I don't mind passing the last 3.

[paulg]

 PhilG007, on 2018-March-30, 14:26, said:

What are the guidelines about opening hands that total exactly 12 points?

Take these hands:- 1) ♠Axxx ♥Axx ♦Axx ♣xxx
2) ♠Kxxx ♥Kxxx ♦KQx ♣Jx
3) ♠ QJx ♥QJ10 ♦Axxx ♣Q10x
4)♠A10x♥K109x ♦QJxx♣Qx
5)♠ KQx♥KQx ♦Jxxx♣J10x

Which of these hands would you open a) as dealer b) in 3rd/4th seat c) non-vul d) vul

You just need to ask yourself, "What would Harry do"?

[rmnka447]

As dealer, I'm opening 1,2 & 5, never opening 3, 4 regardless of which natural based bidding system I'm playing. (Don't play ACOL)

In 3rd seat, I would add opening 4 and still not open 3.

In 4th seat, I'd revert to the same as 1st seat.

BTW, playing strong NTs, I'd probably open 5 with 1 ♣ and rebid 1 NT over any 1 level suit response by partner.

[nige1]

 PhilG007, on 2018-March-30, 14:26, said:

What are the guidelines about opening hands that total exactly 12 points?Which of these hands would you open a) as dealer b) in 3rd/4th seat c) non-vul d) vul

I open them and rank them

• ♠ K x x x ♥ K x x x ♦ K Q x ♣ J x
• ♠ A x x x ♥ A x x ♦ A x x ♣ x x x
• ♠ A T x ♥ K T 9 x ♦ Q J x x ♣ Q x
• ♠ Q J x ♥ Q J T ♦ A x x x ♣ Q T x
• ♠ K Q x ♥ K Q x ♦ J x x x ♣ J T x

[PhantomSac]

 rmnka447, on 2018-March-31, 11:52, said:

As dealer, I'm opening 1,2 & 5, never opening 3, 4 regardless of which natural based bidding system I'm playing. (Don't play ACOL)

In 3rd seat, I would add opening 4 and still not open 3.

In 4th seat, I'd revert to the same as 1st seat.

BTW, playing strong NTs, I'd probably open 5 with 1 ♣ and rebid 1 NT over any 1 level suit response by partner.

Weird since 4 is much better than 5

[billyjef]

Strongest to
Weakest KnR Zar Kleinman Spot
1 1=12.5 1=26 1=12.3 1=12.9
2 2=11.1 2&4=25 4=12 2= 11.9
3 4=11.05 2&4=25 2=11.3 4=11.7
4 3=9.95 5=22 3=11 5=11.4
5 5=9.5 3=21 5=10.6 3=11.2

All 4 evaluators agree hand 1 is the strongest
3 of 4 evaluators agree hand 2 is the 2nd strongest
3 of 4 evaluators agree hand 4 is the 3rd strongest
KnR and Kleinman agree hand 3 is the 4th strongest; Zar and Spot say hand 5 is 4th strongest
KnR and Kleinman agree hand 5 is the weakest where Zar and Spot imply hand 3 is the weakest

[fromageGB]

 Cyberyeti, on 2018-March-30, 14:53, said:

I'd open all of them a weak notrump in 1st, 2nd or 4th, I might think about some of them vul in 3rd.

Really? OK, vulnerable in third, now you have thought, would you really pass any?

[rmnka447]

 PhantomSac, on 2018-March-31, 15:00, said:

Weird since 4 is much better than 5

5 is at the cusp of being an opener for me. It's a 12 count and 2 QT. I suppose if I used Bergen's adjustments for Q/Js versus A/10s, I reevaluate down it to an 11 count and pass. In answering, I did ponder the longest about this hand and what to do with it.

4 is a solid 12 count, but with only 1 QT. True, you might be able to develop 4 tricks from it given enough time by the opponents. But if partner was sitting so as to be first to speak and had an opener, I'd see this hand as only an invitational hand opposite that opener. So this looks to me like a hand where passing and bidding vigorously should partner open might work out better.

[Cthulhu D]

 PhilG007, on 2018-March-30, 14:26, said:

What are the guidelines about opening hands that total exactly 12 points?

Take these hands:- 1) ♠Axxx ♥Axx ♦Axx ♣xxx
2) ♠Kxxx ♥Kxxx ♦KQx ♣Jx
3) ♠ QJx ♥QJ10 ♦Axxx ♣Q10x
4)♠A10x♥K109x ♦QJxx♣Qx
5)♠ KQx♥KQx ♦Jxxx♣J10x

Which of these hands would you open a) as dealer b) in 3rd/4th seat c) non-vul d) vul

The stats that exist suggest that opening light without spades is a good plan. So I'm probably going to open all of them as 12 is hardly light. Then it's just a matter of dealing with the consequences systemically. I play a 14-16 NT with a short club, so these are all obvious 1C openers. Partner is primed to expect a balanced 11 count so these are all fine. You might be better off playing better minor s partner is more likely to find your useful honors with a lead. But either way open

Analysis of opening 1X vs Pass: http://www.rpbridge.net/9x41.htm