[AyunuS]

I was just playing a game where I bid 1♦, LHO passes, my partner bids 1♠, RHO doubles, and then it says I need 18-19 HCP just to bid 1NT? How could I possibly need so many? Here was the hand I noticed this on; we're not even vulnerable. http://tinyurl.com/73htqme

[gwnn]

This is completely playable. With 12-14 you can pass, with 3-card support you can xx, with 4-card support you raise. I think some very good players also play this.

[AyunuS]

But what if you have 17 HCP, don't have support, and then then everyone passes and you let the opponents get a level 1 bid when your team had 20+ HCP and could have easily made 1NT?

[gwnn]

with 15-17 you open 1NT. With 17 unbalanced you can make your normal rebid. No rocket science involved.

A note in passing: support redoubles are probably not the best agreement here but so many people use it that it's a good idea to stick to them.

[Stephen Tu]

Playable perhaps, but not really standard? I certainly wouldn't expect it sitting down with expert no discussion. I find the auction 1c-(p)-1h-(1s)-1nt showing extras as GIB likes more problematic. If it has to go (1s)-p-p-? it's easier for responder to decide to bid 2c or 1nt if he knows whether partner has a spade stop or not, easier on invitational hands also.