[kenrexford]

Strangely, I also remember from the deep recesses of my mind toying with (and possibly playing) an approach where you opened 1♣ and reversed to 2♦ with both minors and a low-range reverse hand (either minor longer) but opened 1♦ and jumped to 3♣ with the wood and both minors, either longer.

Another, just reminded by Zelandahk. I also played years ago with several partners that you would open 1♣ with any balanced hand and either 11-14 or 18-19 (or 15+ if playing the K-S variety), but 1♦ if balanced showed 8-10 with 3+ diamonds. This "Kamikazee 1♦" opening was actually quite humorous and effective. Partner had to play strong jump shifts, of course, and some auctions got hairy. But, the "favorite auction" was where partner opened 1♦ (normal with unbalanced diamond OR 8-10 balanced with 3+ diamonds), pass, 1M (3 HCP possible, up to about 16), and the auction was non-forcing, with a combined range of anywhere from about 11 HCP to about 37 HCP combined. We took off some pressure with one or two intermediate two-bids, of course.

This also resulted in my favorite story ever. I cannot remember the exact details, but the gist was that partner passed second-seat red on white and third seat opened 1♠. I had ♠AKQJ8 ♥Ax ♦KQx ♣xxx and passed. Dealer (who also passed) responded 1NT, and my partner bid 2♣. As my partner was extremely timid, I knew that they had to have the maximum possible hand, which contextually meant an 8-count in the form of two Aces but not balanced (we did not consider 5-4-2-2 balanced) and not unbalanced (no stiff), probably with 10's and 9's under the long suits. Opener doubled (explained as takeout), so I passed again, to find out what LHO would do, and thereby which four-card suit partner had. When LHO bid hearts, this was passed back to me, and I blasted 4♠, which partner trusted. RHO had not psyched, but the two entries to dummy gave me the ability to hook RHO out of his 109xxx for five spade tricks, one heart, partner's club Ace, partner's diamond Ace, and my two good diamonds, for 10 tricks!

[pooltuna]

 mtvesuvius, on 2010-November-10, 17:56, said:

That's because most Americans are stupid.

So the Standard American is stupid IIUC. Hmmm... you must be a great, great grandson of P.T. Barnum

[Gerben42]

Here's another. With 4♦ and balanced, open 1♣ unless the suit is QTxx or better.

[peachy]

 han, on 2010-November-11, 09:19, said:

1C with 3-3 or 4-4, this is standard.

This is not Not standard in US.

[han]

Open your mind peach. There's a whole world of different flavors out there. You can try Italian pasta or English scones. You can even go to Australia and eat whatever it is that they eat there. Just don't get grumpy like the Hog, or lose your sense of humor.

[dboxley]

 mtvesuvius, on 2010-November-10, 17:56, said:

That's because most Americans are stupid.

I resemble that remark!

[FrancesHinden]

Last weekend I saw all of the following (which all included opening 1C with 4-5+ in the minors):

Open 1D with 4 diamonds, otherwise 1C
Open 1C with all weak NTs, including with 5 diamonds, open 1D with 4 diamonds and 18-19 balanced
Open 1C with all balanced hands without a 5-card non-club suit
Open 1D with 4 diamonds, otherwise 1C, but open 1C with 18-19 4-4 minors
Open 1D with 4 diamonds 12-14 balanced, otherwise 1C (but open 1D with 5 of them)

there may have been some more minor variants, I may have lost track

[han]

 dboxley, on 2010-November-16, 20:20, said:

I resemble that remark!

I don't understand how you can resemble a remark. Did you mean to say that you resemble most Americans?

[pooltuna]

 han, on 2010-November-18, 10:16, said:

I don't understand how you can resemble a remark. Did you mean to say that you resemble most Americans?

This is a playful reply used instead of the more often expected "I resent that remark"

[dustinst22]

 Siegmund, on 2010-November-10, 20:42, said:

One popular (but minority) variation is sort of the opposite of 'better minor': "if you intend to rebid 1NT, open the suit you don't want led against your notrump contract." It's not quite an agreement to always open your worse minor - you still open the longer if they are unequal - but it's a different way of breaking ties with equal length.

Since you will be disclosing this information to your opponents, what advantage does this gain? Now you have announced your weaker suit to the opposition.

[campboy]

 dustinst22, on 2010-November-18, 12:59, said:

Since you will be disclosing this information to your opponents, what advantage does this gain? Now you have announced your weaker suit to the opposition.

It gains because they don't know whether you have equal length -- and if you don't you have opened your better minor.

[andy_h]

We eat kangaroos.

[peachy]

 han, on 2010-November-16, 10:01, said:

Open your mind peach. There's a whole world of different flavors out there. You can try Italian pasta or English scones. You can even go to Australia and eat whatever it is that they eat there. Just don't get grumpy like the Hog, or lose your sense of humor.

Of course there are different flavors here as well as elsewhere. You stated what standard is. I didn't agree it is standard, that's all, trust me you will notice when/if I am grumpy

PS. For those who play SAYC, the writeup says 4-4 = normally 1D, 3-3 = normally 1C.

[11romeo]

better minor is the way to show partner strength and compostion of the hand
i prefer 1!C even with 2 cards !C to show a 4 cards major
1!D even is showing also a 4 cards major, but i must have 4 cards !D at least to open 1!D
1 !C could be a strong hand (16+) with a singletone in a major or the other minor that unable to open nt
upon agreement with partner, 1!C is always unpassable
1!D is passable with points less than the agreed repondable hand
opening a minor doesnt mean responder must only reply the major like if i open 1!C, responder 1!D means limited hand, propable 1 major suit 4 cards, but not promising game on the usual opener hand (11-14)

[kenberg]

My current f2f partner opens 1C when he is 4-4. I open 1D with the same hand. I realize that partners are suppose to play an agreed upon system but neither of us is prepared to give way on this. I can call Rosenberg/Zia to my defense if arrested. In "Bridge, Zia and me", MR discusses their minor suit openings which, especially on the Zia side, seem very individualistic.

Several years ago I played at a rubber bridge club where the bidding system was stipulated. You were required to open (if you opened in a suit and did not have five of anything) with the lowest ranking four card suit. This included majors. It made for a weird game.

[campboy]

The law which covers both partners being required to play the same methods is 40B2a, which says "such a regulation must not restrict style and judgement, only method". I think this is a style difference so ok.

[skjaeran]

The normal thing to do in Norway (where most peaople don't play 5cM) is to open 1♣ with 3-3 and 4-4 and else open the longest.

Some open 1♣ on all balanced hand outside their 1NT range, making 1♦ unbalanced and 5+/4441 (a few open 1♣ even on 4441).

In one partnership I open all 11-14 balanced hands 1♣, and all 18-19 balanced hands 1♦ (1M with 5cM), making both minor suit openings 2+.