How to bid with this hand?

[H Silva]

Yesterday, during a duplicate tourney, I had the following hand:

!S A J 10 8 5
!H K 10 9 7 6 4
!D 10
!C J

I was the dealer and opened this hand with 1 !S. My partner had 18 honor points and we ended up in a 5 !H contract, 1 down, whilst 4 !S or 5 !H would be made...

We play SAYC and I am not sure if I did right openning 1 !S and I would like to know your opinion: - should I open 1 !H? 2 !H? Pass?
Thank you,

H Silva

[Adam Lea]

Post by H Silva
!S A J 10 8 5
!H K 10 9 7 6 4
!D 10
!C J
I was the dealer and opened this hand with 1 !S. My partner had 18 honor points and we ended up in a 5 !H contract, 1 down, whilst 4 !S or 5 !H would be made...
We play SAYC and I am not sure if I did right openning 1 !S and I would like to know your opinion: - should I open 1 !H? 2 !H? Pass?
Thank you,
H Silva

It looks like one of those hands where what the right thing to do could
be any one of several options based on what the overall layout is. I can
appreciate the 1S opening, and I would open 1S if I was going to open
this hand. How did you get to 5H? Were you pushed by aggressive
opponents holding both minors or did partner try for a slam? If partner
went slamming and that just happened to put you one level too high, then
that is a risk you take when you open light. Your description of what
happened is contradictory, "we ended up in a 5 !H contract" is not
consistent with "4 !S or 5 !H would be made". Do you mean you were in
5S, not 5H?

Another option with this hand is to pass first then come in next time
with a two suited overcall if you have this tool. This has the advantage
of getting the hand off your chest in one bid (partner will know you are
single digit HCP from your failure to open), but has the disadvantage
that if LHO opens and RHO jump raises, you are shut out of the auction.
You take your choice, and hope the cards lie well for you. It sounds
like you were rather unlucky, as if partner has 18 HCP and a double fit
in the majors with you, he must have a lot of wasted values in the
minors for 5S or a slam to be down, or it is something like two finesses
wrong or a 5-0 trump break.

BTW, most people on this group are much better players than me, so don't
take the above as being particularly authoritive, I'm merely giving my
thoughts on the information provided.

[Co Wiersma]

Post by Adam Lea

Post by H Silva
!S A J 10 8 5
!H K 10 9 7 6 4
!D 10
!C J
I was the dealer and opened this hand with 1 !S. My partner had 18
honor points and we ended up in a 5 !H contract, 1 down, whilst 4 !S
or 5 !H would be made...
We play SAYC and I am not sure if I did right openning 1 !S and I
would like to know your opinion: - should I open 1 !H? 2 !H? Pass?
Thank you,
H Silva

It looks like one of those hands where what the right thing to do could
be any one of several options based on what the overall layout is. I can
appreciate the 1S opening, and I would open 1S if I was going to open
this hand. How did you get to 5H? Were you pushed by aggressive
opponents holding both minors or did partner try for a slam? If partner
went slamming and that just happened to put you one level too high, then
that is a risk you take when you open light. Your description of what
happened is contradictory, "we ended up in a 5 !H contract" is not
consistent with "4 !S or 5 !H would be made". Do you mean you were in
5S, not 5H?
Another option with this hand is to pass first then come in next time
with a two suited overcall if you have this tool. This has the advantage
of getting the hand off your chest in one bid (partner will know you are
single digit HCP from your failure to open), but has the disadvantage
that if LHO opens and RHO jump raises, you are shut out of the auction.
You take your choice, and hope the cards lie well for you. It sounds
like you were rather unlucky, as if partner has 18 HCP and a double fit
in the majors with you, he must have a lot of wasted values in the
minors for 5S or a slam to be down, or it is something like two finesses
wrong or a 5-0 trump break.
BTW, most people on this group are much better players than me, so don't
take the above as being particularly authoritive, I'm merely giving my
thoughts on the information provided.

I think you worded it well
Though I am likely not a better player then you :)

Co Wiersma

[Tom]

Post by H Silva
!S A J 10 8 5
!H K 10 9 7 6 4
!D 10
!C J
I was the dealer and opened this hand with 1 !S. My partner had 18
honor points and we ended up in a 5 !H contract, 1 down, whilst 4 !S
or 5 !H would be made...
We play SAYC and I am not sure if I did right openning 1 !S and I
would like to know your opinion: - should I open 1 !H? 2 !H? Pass?
Thank you,
H Silva

I would not open this hand because partner will not be able to make the
right decision, i.e., I can never convince my partner I am 5-6 if I open
1S or that I have few HCP if I open and reverse. Michaels the next round
will give pard a clue and or keep me from bidding (opps open 1S).

[p***@infi.net]

Post by H Silva
!S A J 10 8 5
!H K 10 9 7 6 4
!D 10
!C J
I was the dealer and opened this hand with 1 !S. My partner had 18 honor points and we ended up in a 5 !H contract, 1 down, whilst 4 !S or 5 !H would be made...
We play SAYC and I am not sure if I did right openning 1 !S and I would like to know your opinion: - should I open 1 !H? 2 !H? Pass?
Thank you,
H Silva

I would not have opened the hand. I open any 12 hip hand containing an Ace. When considering hands of less than 12 hip, I like to follow the two-quick-trick rule, and with less than 10 hcp I want two Aces before I even think about it. I also would not open 2H with such a weak primary suit and strong side major, so I would pass, expecting to have a chance to back into the auction later.

[jogs]

Post by H Silva
!S A J 10 8 5
!H K 10 9 7 6 4
!D 10
!C J
I was the dealer and opened this hand with 1 !S. My partner had 18 honor points and we ended up in a 5 !H contract, 1 down, whilst 4 !S or 5 !H would be made...
We play SAYC and I am not sure if I did right openning 1 !S and I would like to know your opinion: - should I open 1 !H? 2 !H? Pass?
Thank you,
H Silva

Once in a club game with no one vul I did open
Kxxxx Kxxxxx x x
1S.
It went
1S-X-3S-X
all pass

Opponents were not pleased.

Pard held

QJxx x xxxx xxxx

I only lost the four aces.

[Adam Lea]

Post by jogs

Post by H Silva
!S A J 10 8 5
!H K 10 9 7 6 4
!D 10
!C J
I was the dealer and opened this hand with 1 !S. My partner had 18 honor points and we ended up in a 5 !H contract, 1 down, whilst 4 !S or 5 !H would be made...
We play SAYC and I am not sure if I did right openning 1 !S and I would like to know your opinion: - should I open 1 !H? 2 !H? Pass?
Thank you,
H Silva

Once in a club game with no one vul I did open
Kxxxx Kxxxxx x x
1S.
It went
1S-X-3S-X
all pass
Opponents were not pleased.
Pard held
QJxx x xxxx xxxx
I only lost the four aces.

I'm not surprised. Getting duffed up like that is one of the infuriating
things about bridge, once it happens you just know nobody else in the
room will have had the same result.

[Player]

Post by H Silva
!S A J 10 8 5
!H K 10 9 7 6 4
!D 10
!C J
I was the dealer and opened this hand with 1 !S. My partner had 18 honor points and we ended up in a 5 !H contract, 1 down, whilst 4 !S or 5 !H would be made...
We play SAYC and I am not sure if I did right openning 1 !S and I would like to know your opinion: - should I open 1 !H? 2 !H? Pass?
Thank you,
H Silva

If you are going to open, 1S is obvious. Whether you open is another question and depends on partnership style.

[Lorne Anderson]

Post by H Silva
!S A J 10 8 5
!H K 10 9 7 6 4
!D 10
!C J
I was the dealer and opened this hand with 1 !S. My partner had 18 honor points and we ended up in a 5 !H contract, 1 down, whilst 4 !S or 5 !H would be made...
We play SAYC and I am not sure if I did right openning 1 !S and I would like to know your opinion: - should I open 1 !H? 2 !H? Pass?
Thank you,
H Silva

There is no consensus view on what to open with 5 cards in the higher
suit and 6 in the lower one. The majority of good players open the high
suit when weak but the lower suit when able to reverse but a significant
minority always open the long suit unless the short suit is much better
quality and some continue to open the high suit even when strong.

Conclusion for me is that you should do what you feel more comfortable with.

As to this hand I think you have a better chance to get it across if you
pass and then make a 2-suited call later.

[[e-mail]]

Post by Lorne Anderson

Post by H Silva
!S A J 10 8 5
!H K 10 9 7 6 4
!D 10
!C J
I was the dealer and opened this hand with 1 !S. My partner had 18 honor points and we ended up in a 5 !H contract, 1 down, whilst 4 !S or 5 !H would be made...
We play SAYC and I am not sure if I did right openning 1 !S and I would like to know your opinion: - should I open 1 !H? 2 !H? Pass?
Thank you,
H Silva

There is no consensus view on what to open with 5 cards in the higher
suit and 6 in the lower one. The majority of good players open the high
suit when weak but the lower suit when able to reverse but a significant
minority always open the long suit unless the short suit is much better
quality and some continue to open the high suit even when strong.
Conclusion for me is that you should do what you feel more comfortable with.
As to this hand I think you have a better chance to get it across if you
pass and then make a 2-suited call later.

But will it be more valuable to your partner than to the opponents to know you have limited high cards?

Carl

[Adam Lea]

Post by ***@verizon.net

Post by Lorne Anderson

Post by H Silva
!S A J 10 8 5
!H K 10 9 7 6 4
!D 10
!C J
I was the dealer and opened this hand with 1 !S. My partner had 18 honor points and we ended up in a 5 !H contract, 1 down, whilst 4 !S or 5 !H would be made...
We play SAYC and I am not sure if I did right openning 1 !S and I would like to know your opinion: - should I open 1 !H? 2 !H? Pass?
Thank you,
H Silva

There is no consensus view on what to open with 5 cards in the higher
suit and 6 in the lower one. The majority of good players open the high
suit when weak but the lower suit when able to reverse but a significant
minority always open the long suit unless the short suit is much better
quality and some continue to open the high suit even when strong.
Conclusion for me is that you should do what you feel more comfortable with.
As to this hand I think you have a better chance to get it across if you
pass and then make a 2-suited call later.

But will it be more valuable to your partner than to the opponents to know you have limited high cards?
Carl

Is it possible to even know that at the time the decision to open or
pass needs to be made?

[Lorne Anderson]

Post by ***@verizon.net

Post by Lorne Anderson

Post by H Silva
!S A J 10 8 5
!H K 10 9 7 6 4
!D 10
!C J
I was the dealer and opened this hand with 1 !S. My partner had 18 honor points and we ended up in a 5 !H contract, 1 down, whilst 4 !S or 5 !H would be made...
We play SAYC and I am not sure if I did right openning 1 !S and I would like to know your opinion: - should I open 1 !H? 2 !H? Pass?
Thank you,
H Silva

There is no consensus view on what to open with 5 cards in the higher
suit and 6 in the lower one. The majority of good players open the high
suit when weak but the lower suit when able to reverse but a significant
minority always open the long suit unless the short suit is much better
quality and some continue to open the high suit even when strong.
Conclusion for me is that you should do what you feel more comfortable with.
As to this hand I think you have a better chance to get it across if you
pass and then make a 2-suited call later.

But will it be more valuable to your partner than to the opponents to know you have limited high cards?
Carl

We can make game opposite a weak hand with a fit or possibly sacrifice
against a game by the oppo - it is much more useful for partner to know
you hand type that the oppo. They know how strong they are anyway and
partner needs to know that you do not have the usual quick tricks for a
1 level opener so he does not double 5C/D with one trick in hand.

[[e-mail]]

Post by Lorne Anderson

Post by ***@verizon.net

Post by Lorne Anderson

Post by H Silva
!S A J 10 8 5
!H K 10 9 7 6 4
!D 10
!C J
I was the dealer and opened this hand with 1 !S. My partner had 18 honor points and we ended up in a 5 !H contract, 1 down, whilst 4 !S or 5 !H would be made...
We play SAYC and I am not sure if I did right openning 1 !S and I would like to know your opinion: - should I open 1 !H? 2 !H? Pass?
Thank you,
H Silva

There is no consensus view on what to open with 5 cards in the higher
suit and 6 in the lower one. The majority of good players open the high
suit when weak but the lower suit when able to reverse but a significant
minority always open the long suit unless the short suit is much better
quality and some continue to open the high suit even when strong.
Conclusion for me is that you should do what you feel more comfortable with.
As to this hand I think you have a better chance to get it across if you
pass and then make a 2-suited call later.

But will it be more valuable to your partner than to the opponents to know you have limited high cards?
Carl

We can make game opposite a weak hand with a fit or possibly sacrifice
against a game by the oppo - it is much more useful for partner to know

"They know how strong they are anyway"

Almost certainly not.

Carl

and

Post by Lorne Anderson
partner needs to know that you do not have the usual quick tricks for a
1 level opener so he does not double 5C/D with one trick in hand.

[smn]

Post by H Silva
!S A J 10 8 5
!H K 10 9 7 6 4
!D 10
!C J
I was the dealer and opened this hand with 1 !S. My partner had 18 honor points and we ended up in a 5 !H contract, 1 down, whilst 4 !S or 5 !H would be made...
We play SAYC and I am not sure if I did right openning 1 !S and I would like to know your opinion: - should I open 1 !H? 2 !H? Pass?
Thank you,
H Silva

You ended in 5h -1 when 5h would be made ????? . Anyway ,they say-6-5 come alive! But vulnerability matters -what was it.

[Will in New Haven]

Post by H Silva
!S A J 10 8 5
!H K 10 9 7 6 4
!D 10
!C J
I was the dealer and opened this hand with 1 !S. My partner had 18 honor points and we ended up in a 5 !H contract, 1 down, whilst 4 !S or 5 !H would be made...
We play SAYC and I am not sure if I did right openning 1 !S and I would like to know your opinion: - should I open 1 !H? 2 !H? Pass?
Thank you,

I like the hand and want to open it but I don't think I should and I open very light. If playing a Club system, where other bids are limited, it would be more tempting. Of course, for this hand, one would want to be playing a Club system _and_ Canape, so that bidding Spades and then Hearts would be accurate.

So, I pass and hope to bid Micheals but LHO opens a minor and RHO responds in a Major on four small and it becomes very difficult to describe my hand and the 1H or 1S bid does _not_ mean we don't have a good contract in that suit. Or partner opens and it is somewhat less difficult.

[Douglas Newlands]

Post by H Silva
!S A J 10 8 5
!H K 10 9 7 6 4
!D 10
!C J
I was the dealer and opened this hand with 1 !S. My partner had 18 honor points and we ended up in a 5 !H contract, 1 down, whilst 4 !S or 5 !H would be made...
We play SAYC and I am not sure if I did right openning 1 !S and I would like to know your opinion: - should I open 1 !H? 2 !H? Pass?
Thank you,
H Silva

It's pairs so why not ditch the strong 2C opener and make it
less than an opening bid and at least 5-4 majors.
Partner can bid 2D to find which is longer and ask a second question
with 2N if desired.
It solves a problem with an important class of hand at little cost in pairs.
It means you can open without lying to partner.
Combined with 2D=1 major and 2M=5M+4m it will let you open a lot
of hands before the oppo.
Another solution would be RCO 2s but I guess you are in ACBL-land....

doug

[Adam Lea]

Post by Douglas Newlands

Post by H Silva
!S A J 10 8 5
!H K 10 9 7 6 4
!D 10
!C J
I was the dealer and opened this hand with 1 !S. My partner had 18
honor points and we ended up in a 5 !H contract, 1 down, whilst 4 !S
or 5 !H would be made...
We play SAYC and I am not sure if I did right openning 1 !S and I
would like to know your opinion: - should I open 1 !H? 2 !H? Pass?
Thank you,
H Silva

It's pairs so why not ditch the strong 2C opener and make it
less than an opening bid and at least 5-4 majors.
Partner can bid 2D to find which is longer and ask a second question
with 2N if desired.
It solves a problem with an important class of hand at little cost in pairs.
It means you can open without lying to partner.
Combined with 2D=1 major and 2M=5M+4m it will let you open a lot
of hands before the oppo.
Another solution would be RCO 2s but I guess you are in ACBL-land....
doug

With one of my partners, I could open a Tartan 2S with this hand (5-5 in
spades and another, 7-11HCP).