[Echognome]

Scoring: IMP

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Which is your preferred opening?

[Phil]

Good example of the 14-15 1N with a 6 card minor (which IMO have become a little too common).

[rogerclee]

1NT, I think anything else is terrible.

[Fluffy]

1NT the contract I want to play

[MarkDean]

1♦ for me - why is it that about half of the time Clee says a bid is terrible, I am making that bid?

[whereagles]

I prefer 1D + 3D.

[ArtK78]

This is IMPs. I open 1♦.

After you open 1♦ you should be able to get to 3NT if it is right; however, getting to 5♦ or 6♦ when they are right after you open 1NT will be next to impossible.

[helene_t]

I have no problems rebiding 3♦ if I open 1♦. At white/white I would have opened 1NT to get a head start in the fight of the partscore. As it is I open 1♦.

[Phil]

I don't think 1♦ is terrible, but IMO:

1. The Jx's want to declare not be dummy. Axx wants to be dummy. 2:1 for declaring.
2. I have 7 tricks in my hand for NT
3. 6m322 frequently plays better in NT
4. If I open 1♦, 2♦ is an underbid and 3♦ is an overbid.

[Echognome]

I personally think this is a 1♦ opening and 3♦ rebid.

For me, 3♦ is not an overbid even accounting for the dubious values of the Jx's. AKQxxx with an outside A is a really nice combination.

Playing MP or opposite a passed partner, I might be more inclined to open 1NT.

I don't have any issue opening 1NT with a 6-card minor, I just don't think this is the hand for it.

[JLOL]

1N.

I think 1D then 3D is a huge overbid.

[mtvesuvius]

1NT, it's perfect.

[Echognome]

Not that it's anything to go by, but K&R puts the hand at 17. I feel off the deep-end, but trying to work out why 3♦ is a huge overbid. Doesn't our hand have loads of offensive strength?

[mikeh]

mps 1N: often the best partscore and a good preempt, and most often leads to the highest scoring game contract, even if it may also be an inferior contract.

Imps, 1♦ then 3♦. Not that is is perfect.. but:

1. We will reach diamond games and slams usually unbiddable after a 1n start
2. We may reach a decent or better 3N after this start when he has a pass over a 15-17 1N: Qxx Qxxx xx KJxx.. this hand should pass 1N and bid 3n after a 1♦ 3♦ start


There are other factors to consider, but these are the two most important that spring to mind..

[whereagles]

JLOL, on Apr 13 2009, 08:05 PM, said:

1N.

I think 1D then 3D is a huge overbid.

That's funny. I think it's perfect

[Phil]

mikeh, on Apr 13 2009, 03:10 PM, said:

1. We will reach diamond games and slams usually unbiddable after a 1n start

Quite likely we can get to 6♦ easier if we make the initial overbid of 3♦. We also may be going down in 6♦ if pard expects us to have a better hand.

What hand type will partner have where you are getting to a sound 5♦ where: 1. partner won't opt for 3N, 2. the opponents aren't bidding your open suit, and 3. you'll sensibly get there.

Quote

2. We may reach a decent or better 3N after this start when he has a pass over a 15-17 1N: Qxx Qxxx xx KJxx.. this hand should pass 1N and bid 3n after a 1♦ 3♦ start

I think 3N over 3♦ is also an overbid with this soft 8 and no diamond filler.

I think getting to 3N is much easier after opening 1N, since there are plenty of 8-9's that are (rightly IMO) passing 3♦ but are at least inviting over 1N.

Here's one I had this weekend:

Scoring: IMP

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I have no idea what the East hand does if the bidding starts 1♦ - 1♥ - 3♦. Unfortunately the other table also opened 1N, so the board was a push.

[mikeh]

[quote name='Phil' date='Apr 13 2009, 03:29 PM'] [/QUOTE]
Quite likely we can get to 6[di] easier if we make the initial overbid of 3[di].

[quote]2. We may reach a decent or better 3N after this start when he has a pass over a 15-17 1N: Qxx Qxxx xx KJxx.. this hand should pass 1N and bid 3n after a 1[di] 3[di] start[/quote]

I think 3N over 3[di] is also an overbid with this soft 8 and no diamond filler. [/quote]
Hmmm... 3[di] with 15 hcp, 5 controls, good card suit is an overbid... and yet when your partners bid 1[di] 3[di], presumably with stronger hands, you think that parter will pass many 8-9 counts?

[JLOL]

Maybe I am on another planet but if I opened 1D I would rebid 2D (which is why I don't open 1D).

Also I don't see how bidding 3N with 8 and a doubleton diamond over a 3D rebid is an overbid.

[kenrexford]

1NT seems right for a number of reasons, many of which have been articulated.

I'm also not so sure that 6♦ when right is that hard to bid.

[Echognome]

Phil, on Apr 13 2009, 12:29 PM, said:

Here's one I had this weekend:

Dealer: West Vul: Both Scoring: IMP

♠ A9 ♥ J9 ♦ AQTxxx ♣ KQx ♠ Jx ♥ AKxx ♦ Jxxx ♣ xxx

I have no idea what the East hand does if the bidding starts 1♦ - 1♥ - 3♦. Unfortunately the other table also opened 1N, so the board was a push.

I think your example hand is a lot different than the one I gave. I'd be much more inclined to open 1NT with the hand you give as it has a lot more meat in the short suits.

Original hand: 6 points in short suits, including J J A. 9 points in long suit, which is nearly solid.

Your example: 10 points in short suits including A J KQ with two intermediates in those suits. 6 points in long suit, which is decent but not solid.