When not to open
Posted: 21 Nov 2021, 10:28
Playing with the robots today, I picked up this hand as dealer, white vs. red.
♠ K54
♥ KQ75
♦ A64
♣ 852
Would you open?
I hate passing with 12 high-card points. But I did, because in close situations I count losers* and this has 8 of them. My philosophy is that 7 is marginal and 6 is a definite opening.
LHO opened 1♦, passed back around to me. I balanced with 1NT and played there.
Partner's hand was:
♠ A86
♥ AJ104
♦ 985
♣ KJ6
I scraped by with an overtrick in 1NT where the other table played 4♥ down 2 tricks after my hand opened 1♣. I see no way to stay out of game if you open.
One handy advantage of passing in a close situation is that it limits your hand, allowing you to take action later without partner getting too excited.
__________
* A "loser" is a missing Ace, or King in a 2-card or longer suit, or Queen in a 3-card or longer suit.
♠ K54
♥ KQ75
♦ A64
♣ 852
Would you open?
I hate passing with 12 high-card points. But I did, because in close situations I count losers* and this has 8 of them. My philosophy is that 7 is marginal and 6 is a definite opening.
LHO opened 1♦, passed back around to me. I balanced with 1NT and played there.
Partner's hand was:
♠ A86
♥ AJ104
♦ 985
♣ KJ6
I scraped by with an overtrick in 1NT where the other table played 4♥ down 2 tricks after my hand opened 1♣. I see no way to stay out of game if you open.
One handy advantage of passing in a close situation is that it limits your hand, allowing you to take action later without partner getting too excited.
__________
* A "loser" is a missing Ace, or King in a 2-card or longer suit, or Queen in a 3-card or longer suit.