[Bbradley62]

Thanks.

[kriegel]

It's close. Versus weaker opposition, I'll always open this. Versus opponents who will actually compete and/or double... I think I'm going to pass. If my honors were in my long suits (void KJxxx AKxxx xxx), I'd me much more comfortable opening it.

[TWO4BRIDGE]

The hand fails miserably for both Rule-of-15 ( hcp + # of ♠ ) AND Rule-of-18 ( hcp + # of ♥ + ♠ ) .

[Phil]

The Rule of "Huh"?

If you pass, try to explain to partner how we missed 6♦ across from xxxxx x QJxxx Ax.

I don't recommend Pearson Points to anyone, but at least reserve them when you don't have an opening bid in the 1st place.

[inquiry]

Pearson points is nonsense. Open when you have an opening hand. Here you have an opening hand, so open it.

[mtvesuvius]

Umm, I have an opening bid. Guess what that means?! I have an opening bid!

There is no such thing as a rule in bidding. There may be guidelines, but if they are abused, they are useless, pointless and bad.

[blackshoe]

inquiry, on 2011-January-24, 23:43, said:

Pearson points is nonsense. Open when you have an opening hand. Here you have an opening hand, so open it.

All mechanical methods of hand evaluation are nonsense. Unless your judgment is not refined enough so that you no longer need them - at which point you're an expert. What percentage of bridge players do you think are experts on that criterion?

[dellache]

I've an opening bid, so I open.
1♥.
Wtp.

[OgrO]

If u pass with a wonderful opening I want to play against u

[Free]

TWO4BRIDGE, on 2011-January-24, 19:46, said:

Rule-of-18 ( hcp + # of ♥ + ♠ ) .

Rule of 18 doesn't specify suits, it's your 2 longest suits. You have 5♥ + 5♦ + 11HCP = 21 so this rule doesn't fail or you're talking about some other rule.

[dcohio]

First, I'd open this in 1st seat, so I'm opening it in 4th also.

Secondly, think about the spade situation for a second...

There are 13 spades between 3 people. It is likely that HCP are distributed pretty evenly. Does anyone have 6 spades? No! With 6 spades and 6-10 points, someone would have bid 2♠. Even more interestingly is that RHO probably doesn't have 5 spades, as he may have opened 3rd seat with a 5 card major and 9 or 10 pts.

So, if opponents compete in spades, it is likely that we have about half the deck in points, and partner probably has 4 or 5 of them, chances are we may set them.

So partner has 4 or 5 spades, that leaves 8 or 9 cards that could fit with your hand. Granted he could be 4/5 in the blacks, but that's a chance I'm willing to take here. Either we have a misfit and we find that out quickly, or the opponents compete right into the length of partner.

However, if partner has a fitting hand (or even a double fitting hand) you may miss an easy game.

[TWO4BRIDGE]

Free, on 2011-January-25, 07:00, said:

Rule of 18 doesn't specify suits, it's your 2 longest suits. You have 5♥ + 5♦ + 11HCP = 21 so this rule doesn't fail or you're talking about some other rule.

You are talking about Rule-of-20 ...

15 and 18 are for 4th seat Openings only.

[whereagles]

Seems like a normal 1♥ opener. Could backfire, but hey it can also backfire on OPPS, if they bid to 3/4♠ only to find out pard has 5 of them

[gwnn]

rule of 1: open 1 when you have a 1 bid

[Fluffy]

I am more inclined to pass than most people here, however I give more importance for 4th seat decisions to factors like who the opponents are than my actual hand.

[Bbradley62]

Thanks for the feedback. Of the 16 tables, 9 Norths faced my situation, and I was the only one who chose to pass. I would certainly have opened this hand in first seat, but I didn't like it in fourth. Of the 8 who opened in fourth seat, 2 opened 1♦.

I wish I could imbed a second poll question. At the other 7 tables, East opened in first seat holding: QJ9875, Q3, Q7, A96. (6 opened 1♠ and 1 opened 2♠.) I think this is a clear 1♠, but obviously some others didn't.

This was MBC, so I take everything with a grain of salt and thought it was better to get feedback here.

[mtvesuvius]

Exactly, trying to draw conclusions from MBC results is like trying to figure out how far the Earth is from the sun... By walking the distance.

[HeartA]

I would open 1♠.

[Free]

TWO4BRIDGE, on 2011-January-25, 07:49, said:

You are talking about Rule-of-20 ...

15 and 18 are for 4th seat Openings only.

LOL

http://www.bridgeguy...orangebook.html
http://en.allexperts...0/6/rule-18.htm
...
-> Google

[TWO4BRIDGE]

Free, on 2011-January-27, 07:13, said:

LOL

http://www.bridgeguy...orangebook.html
http://en.allexperts...0/6/rule-18.htm
...
-> Google

lol all you want, but Rule-of-15 is for 4th seat open only.... and surely you know that.

"Your Rule-of-"20" ( by Marty Bergen ... which according to your references is far better than "19 or 18" counts ) is for 1st and 2nd seat openings.

"My" Rule-of-18 ( which I picked up from a message board years ago ) is an adjunct to the Rule-of-15 by getting the Ht suit into the fray, and is also for 4th seat openings only .... the game is all about the MAJORS.

The point being with weak hands you don't want to let the opponents get to a better part score in SPADES, especially.