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Balanced…in two suits!

Many new players bauk at opening a 12-14 1NT because they do not have holds in all four suits. We know that it is impossible to guarantee such a balanced spread of your honour cards with such a few number of high cards.

Such a problem even exists when our value of high cards is 15-17 or even 16-18. You just cannot wait for the perfect hand. You will often have no easy rebid if you do open your four-card suit or short club or diamond.

What about when the problem exists when you have 21 hcp? Still balanced (“semi-balanced” is the term. We have a 5-card suit and two doubletons) but you have not just one but two suits about which you would be a little nervous if partner just raised your 2NT opening to the no-trump game.  Despite your all-round strength, you would need help from a partner who may have just a smattering of honour cards, to stop opponents running off quick tricks, too many maybe to allow you to make your game.

All Red!

Dealer North. All Vul.

 

There is just a little support from our Panel for the standard point count opening and that comes from a new member to our Panel, Andy Braithwaite. Welcome, Andy.

Andy Braithwaite “2NT: not ideal but better than 1♥ passed out or 2♣ overstating our assets (playing puppet stayman we can always find the 5- card heart suit).”

Indeed, you can easily find such a heart fit, Andy. That would cause part of the problem on the actual hand. We want to welcome Andy and look forward to his contributions. So, not a word of dissent…but!

I am not too sure about the simple 1♥ opening. Let’s hear from its supporters:

Nigel Kearney “1♥: The idea that you need 6 HCP to respond is a myth and needs to be forgotten. Nearly all 5 HCP hands and many 3-4 HCP hands should not pass a one level opening. If partner is very old fashioned, then I might open 2♣ but normally when partner passes 1♥, he will not have a black suit trick plus a way of dealing with the fourth round of diamonds.”

The bid’s other supporters are not quite as confident of its success as Nigel:

Pam Livingston “1♥: I like to have room in these auctions.  If partner can't respond to 1♥ then we probably are not making game.  If we can and it is passed out, I will shrug my shoulders.  Next board!”

Stephen Blackstock “1♥: Not really a problem, 2NT with two suits wide open or (heaven forbid) 2♣ with inadequate values don’t make a lot of sense.

Yes, it is possible we could miss a playable game if it goes all pass. Partner could hold say ♠QJ and ♣J, or ♣K and ♠J10xx, but will still need diamond length for four tricks in that suit. These are very specific holdings amongst the many he could hold. It isn’t winning bridge to choose on the basis of a perfecto opposite. In any event, 2NT might not get a raise from a queen and two jacks, plus it is unlikely 1♥ will be passed by the opponents when I hold short spades.

 

I would be happier to agree with these comments if getting a bid from your partner or the opponents was the only problem. On some deals, you may have created another issue…but that’s for a little later.

Longing for a system bid not available to many…and for a bid that would solve all the problems with our opening bid is:

Kris Wooles “1♥: but 2♥ if playing strong 2’s. Don’t like 2NT with this shape and concentration of points in 2 suits.”

and an avowed strong club opener fan:

Bruce Anderson “1♥: If this bid is passed out but we can still make 4♥, so be it. I am not opening 2NT with two suits wide open. This kind of hand is why I favour big a big club system (particularly a big club relay) when playing teams.”

Refer Andy Braithwaite’s answer, Bruce. Reaching 4♥ should not be a problem when opening 2NT.

However, there is another option and the one I favour. Stephen Blackstock is strongly anti and two of its supporters do not describe it as ideal

 

but the hand is just so close to being a 2♣ opener that it does not seem to be too bad a distortion:

Peter Newell “2♣: I don’t need much from partner to make game, and I prefer 2♣ to the alternatives.  Although 2♣ is light on values, playing strength wise it is ok, and we can most likely have a sensible auction, as over a likely 2♦ response, we can bid 2♥ and follow up with 3♦ over 2♠ or 2NT from partner.  

The alternatives?

 2NT – too badly flawed for me, with 2 suits open. I think 4♥ is more likely than 3NT, unless partner has spades

1♥    – too strong, too much risk of being passed out….one king in partner’s hand is enough to give 4♥ a chance.”

 

Michael Cornell “2♣: a slight overbid but (a) too good for 2NT and (b) black suits are unsuitable. If as expected partner responds 2♦, I can bid 2♥ followed by 3♦ to get my hand across perfectly.”

And even ignoring its flaws:

Michael Ware “2♣: I don't normally like answering on hands I already know, as whether you feel it or not, your knowledge taints your answer. This hand though is a great question!

I would open 2♣ strong and intend to show 5 hearts and 4 diamonds Game Forcing. I would normally open this shape and strength 2NT but there is just too little in the black suits and too much in the reds to treat this way. I don't mind 1♥ followed by 3♦ but prefer 2♣.”

On the actual deal, there would be no problem in getting a 1♠ response from your partner to a 1♥ opening. Partner would then raise your jump to 3♦ one level but I really challenge as to which partner would raise to slam, the one with four losing black cards or the one with good black cards but unsure that their partner was that strong in the red suits?

 

Also, a 2NT opening will get 3♣, Stayman or major suit enquiry from South. The 3♥ response may show a five-card suit but any suit bid now by South may  be a cue and agree hearts.

That in itself would not spell disaster though it is doubtful the partnership would reach slam. However, disaster would strike if South signed off in 3NT and East gave their own suit a try at trick 1.

Contrast those doubts with the following:

North            South

2♣                   2♦

2♥                   3♦

4♦                   4♠ cue bid

5♦                   6♦ singleton club, and opposite a game force hand, which denies a club control

Pass

Had South’s minor been clubs not diamonds, there were still 3NT (if South had a spade hold) or 4♥ as playable options: also,no worries about getting a response to 1♥ or of losing the first five tricks in 3NT.

Only four suits from which to choose

It should be quite easy, really, shouldn’t it?

 

You are playing 5-card majors and a weak 1NT opening. You have not bid but you have 7 honour cards (yes, we call the ten an honour, when it suits!). What is your choice?

Richard Solomon

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