[jillybean]

There's no question that this game is very different Online and at the various levels it is played in clubs and tournaments. I'm not playing any higher level tournament bridge at the moment and I am always conscious of falling into bad habits. This hand gave me an endorphin rush but I question my discipline and sanity.

Part 1

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[P_Marlowe]

The setting matters, do you know at least the player you are facing?

I would pass and try to gather information, hoping to be able to make an informaed decision later.
I have trust in my decision making, sometimes the trust is not justified.
But obv. I am risking that the train leaves the station, and I am not able to catch up.

[awm]

There’s a case for either pass or 1♠; it’s a question of both style and system and I wouldn’t argue against either. It’s a good hand to be playing something like Wilcosz of course. I’ve seen people open something that’s weak with 4/4 or better majors on these hands too, but in my experience this leads to quite a few missed games.

[jillybean]

The setting does matter. It's one thing to open this on BBO when I can quit the table after my random partner reacts with a WTH!!!?????
Let's assume you are an established partnership, playing in the Open, do you have an agreement to open this?


Part 2

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2C natural, gf

[mike777]

 jillybean, on 2025-June-21, 13:44, said:

The setting does matter. It's one thing to open this on BBO when I can quit the table after my random partner reacts with a WTH!!!?????
Let's assume you are an established partnership, playing in the Open, do you have an agreement to open this?


Part 2

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2C natural, gf

Agreement to not open one spade
Opening an 8 Hcp needs 3 first round controls
Think 2 Aces in long suits and a void.

[P_Marlowe]

jillybean, on 2025-June-21, 13:44, said:

The setting does matter. It's one thing to open this on BBO when I can quit the table after my random partner reacts with a WTH!!!?????
Let's assume you are an established partnership, playing in the Open, do you have an agreement to open this?


Part 2

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2C natural, gf

#1 we have a bid to show 6/5 in the majors
#2 if I open this, I will now bid 2H, followed by 3H, at least, this is / was my plan.
I would usually not do this, but I can understand 1S.

[bluenikki]

 jillybean, on 2025-June-21, 11:10, said:

There's no question that this game is very different Online and at the various levels it is played in clubs and tournaments. I'm not playing any higher level tournament bridge at the moment and I am always conscious of falling into bad habits. This hand gave me an endorphin rush but I question my discipline and sanity.

Part 1

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My quick reaction was to open 2♠ and hope for the best. (Assuming 2♠ - 2NT - 4♥ shows this hand.)

[WasWinM]

My agreement is to pass without an opening hand and this is not an opening hand.

[jillybean]

 mike777, on 2025-June-21, 14:03, said:

Agreement to not open one spade
Opening an 8 Hcp needs 3 first round controls
Think 2 Aces in long suits and a void.

Great to have the agreement.

 bluenikki, on 2025-June-21, 15:05, said:

My quick reaction was to open 2♠ and hope for the best. (Assuming 2♠ - 2NT - 4♥ shows this hand.)

I like this however I would be worried about finding partner with heart length and insufficient hcp to bid.

 WasWinM, on 2025-June-21, 15:09, said:

My agreement is to pass without an opening hand and this is not an opening hand.

This is not a traditional opening hand when you are counting hcp but it's a powerful hand on distribution.

[apollo1201]

I would have passed hoping to come in later. Majors win the auction, don they?😁😁

Maybe with QJTxx H would I open, though.

After 1S you are now forced to bid and repeat H and hope partner is not driving us too far away.

[Cyberyeti]

jillybean, on 2025-June-21, 13:44, said:

The setting does matter. It's one thing to open this on BBO when I can quit the table after my random partner reacts with a WTH!!!?????
Let's assume you are an established partnership, playing in the Open, do you have an agreement to open this?


Part 2

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2C natural, gf

Part 2 I'm much more comfortable with, we have the agreement X=4♥, 2♥=5♥ but would not have opened 1, 6502 with ALL the points in the suits would have opened 1

Would probably have multid (5+ cards) and decided which suit I held later

[TMorris]

I wouldn't open this. It should be easy to come in later if it is felt appropriate to do so. If you open it and end up defending you will have told the opponents a great deal to help them declare.

[paulg]

I open this because it is a six-loser hand and I will have to bid too much to catch up later when the opponents probably know more about the hand. I may well get too high but it will not be the first time.

[pescetom]

I don't think it is quite strong enough to justify 1S, but I don't think much of my chances of backing into the auction and showing both majors, either: so I would start with 2S, assuming partner knows I have no compunction about a side suit in hearts.

[jillybean]

It's an interesting hand for those who play Multi, does anyone have a method to show both majors?

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[jillybean]

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Another odd BBO auction

[Cyberyeti]

jillybean, on 2025-June-22, 07:48, said:

It's an interesting hand for those who play Multi, does anyone have a method to show both majors?

5-4 shown thru Ekren

Not exactly, but:
2♦-2♥ I bid 2♠
2♦-2♠ I bid 4♥
2♦-2N I show absolute max with spades, and bid 4♥ over 3N

[WasWinM]

 jillybean, on 2025-June-21, 17:56, said:

Great to have the agreement.



I like this however I would be worried about finding partner with heart length and insufficient hcp to bid.



This is not a traditional opening hand when you are counting hcp but it's a powerful hand on distribution.

It’s only powerful with fitting hands opposite.

[pescetom]

No Multi tricks, but if partner can Ogust my 2S I do have a reply to show a (or in this case, the) side major.

[awm]

I have had some success opening 2♦ multi with 5-5 hands, with the idea being to show spades after 2♥ (pass/correct) or hearts after 2♠ (pass/correct). But this hand has too much playing strength for that in my opinion.

Similarly if I was playing 2♥ weak with both majors, I’d think this hand would be too strong (especially if 4/4 was a possibility).