[Apollo81]

All Vul, IMPs, 1st seat

♠Kx
♥Jxxx
♦Kxxx
♣Axx

???

[Apollo81]

It would be nice if an admin would please remove "open in standard only" and change "all of above" to "always open"

I should be more careful making these polls.

[mtvesuvius]

I always open this. But of course I open anything that has 13 cards and looks pretty.

[jdonn]

I think opening a hand like this vul is very bad in any sort of standard system. I guess I would open in precision when partner expects it (although I'm not very confident it's a good idea even if he does expect it), and I would open an 11 to 14 notrump since that's my system, but not an 11+ to 14 notrump.

[Phil]

I pass. The hand has no texture to it and the ♠Kx is especially bad.

[awm]

It's a style question obviously, but I'd pass this hand in any sort of standard system.

In the other methods suggested it depends on exactly what my agreements are. I rate this as a bad eleven; if my agreement is to open all elevens and upgrade a few nice tens then of course I'd open; but more typically my agreement is to open "some elevens" and pass this hand.

[Free]

I learned the hard way that opening balanced 11HCP hand in natural is awful. In precision, or when playing 11-14, it's a systemic opening, so there's no problem there.

[whereagles]

I'd open in precision. I wouldn't be playing 11-14 NT, so abstain there

[JLOL]

hell no except in precision.

[Apollo81]

I decided that this hand had insufficient values even for a Precision 1♦ opener (playing 14-16 NT). My decision was irrelevant on the actual deal. LHO opened Flannery and they played 2♥ making.

[whereagles]

How can you lose to someone playing the F-convention!!??

[Apollo81]

Who said I lost? Also my opinion on Flannery is that it isn't poor when it comes up, it just wastes a valuable bid.

[mtvesuvius]

Apollo81, on Apr 6 2009, 03:16 PM, said:

I decided that this hand had insufficient values even for a Precision 1♦ opener (playing 14-16 NT). My decision was irrelevant on the actual deal. LHO opened Flannery and they played 2♥ making.

You played people who played the F word!! Report them for zero tolerence!

[whereagles]

your avatar looks much better now!!

[kenrexford]

I would open this in standard, if I can "violate" or by agreement open 1♣. I say that, however, for the flip-side of Josh's logic. Because I open 14+ 1NT frequently, on a 14+ to 17- range, my 1NT rebid shows 11 to 14-. This is 11. So, no problem.

The reason for the 1♣ opening is that 1♦ as a waiting call solves a world of hurt, as does a 1NT response with a higher range. A 1♦ opening kind of forces us too high too often.

[whereagles]

ken, I'll report you for staying on-topic.

[kenrexford]

whereagles, on Apr 6 2009, 03:25 PM, said:

ken, I'll report you for staying on-topic.

Yeah, but I thought I was at least weird somewhat.