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Longest First?

The basic concept of opening bids is to open your longest suit first. Two recent deals challenged that theory..or at least one of them did. Your choice as opening the bidding then with:

 

Only 10 hcp but with both majors and great shape worthy of a 1-level opening. It even complies with the Rule of 20 for opening bids. So, which major?

The bidding would seem to develop potentially more easily if you open 1, the shorter suit. Who knows what West will produce in a minor suit as their first bid..and even more important to keep the bidding at a lowish level if it is your partner who has the minors… a misfit!

So, something strange happened after the 1 opening. Not from West who emerged with a weak jump, 3, but partner made a negative double. Have they really 4 hearts? East bids 4.. and you?

Surely 5 and hope your partner spots the heart suit agreement and the fact you are very very short in clubs. They might be concerned about their trump suit but otherwise they would have all you needed for a small slam:

 

If only! 4 from South just did not accelerate the auction. You may notice that East could have opened the bidding. They did not. What would have happened had you opened your longest?

West              North             East                South

                                                Pass                1

3                   4                  5                5

Pass                ?

Well, North might raise and they might not! Even to get that far, N/S would rely on the opponents bidding to 5. If East passed 4, South would need to take a move (5) and then surely North should re-evaluate.

Of course, the opponents could spoil your score by sacrifising in 7 which is 4 down or - 800. 

Nevertheless, opening the shorter major could work out better.

Then we had:

 

The same arguments apply. Opening the shorter suit seemed to work out much better.

West              North              East                South

                        Pass                Pass               1

2                   2                   3                4

All Pass

Quick and not even any mention of our long red secret-weapon. Compare that to this auction:

West              North             East                South

                        Pass                Pass                1

2                   Pass                3                   ?

How high do you want to go with a jack above average even though you have good shape? Fortune this time would favour the brave but you would not always be so lucky:

 

Yes, you might bid 3 and assuming your partner recognises that you have five spades, you will reach by far the better game. 5 does make too thanks to the fortunate lie of the trump suit.

So, North might not have passed 2? They have hardly a classic negative double while nothing else appeals.

I much prefer opening my longest but these two boards show that it is not always right to do so.

And next?

 

1 promises 4+ clubs and 2 is what it seems, 6-9. What now?

Richard Solomon

 

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