4-4-4-1 hands -the big debate
Here is Marty Bergen in 'Points Schmoints! on the hand below:
♠KQ54
♥A873
♦6
♣K1064
In a class of 28 experienced players Marty was amazed as player after player passed this hand. Only one person opened 1 club. This single hand caused Marty to invent the 'Rule of 20' which is count the hcp and the number of cards in the two longest suits. If the total comes to 20 open the bidding.
Paul Mendelson would never open the hand above. In "100 Tips to Improve Your Bridge" he argues that if you open 1 club you will inevitably get the 1 diamond reply from partner. You will obviously be able to bid 1 heart but there is a great danger that partner will place you with 5 clubs. You are not strong enough to bid one no trump. Mendelson recommends that you pass such hands with 12 or 13 points and open only with 14 points so that you can, if need be, stretch to a bid of 1 no-trump. He reasons that such hands are unlikely to be passed out.
What is your view on this debate?
♠KQ54
♥A873
♦6
♣K1064
In a class of 28 experienced players Marty was amazed as player after player passed this hand. Only one person opened 1 club. This single hand caused Marty to invent the 'Rule of 20' which is count the hcp and the number of cards in the two longest suits. If the total comes to 20 open the bidding.
Paul Mendelson would never open the hand above. In "100 Tips to Improve Your Bridge" he argues that if you open 1 club you will inevitably get the 1 diamond reply from partner. You will obviously be able to bid 1 heart but there is a great danger that partner will place you with 5 clubs. You are not strong enough to bid one no trump. Mendelson recommends that you pass such hands with 12 or 13 points and open only with 14 points so that you can, if need be, stretch to a bid of 1 no-trump. He reasons that such hands are unlikely to be passed out.
What is your view on this debate?
posted by Joe Ridyard at 6:56 pm
2 Comments:
No problem to open 1 club with that hand and see what happens. If the response is 1d and 2nd seat stays quiet, I agree that it's a tough call but 1H is worth trying too. I don't see what the debate is - thats an opening hand :-)
I have just returned to bridge after a 30 year haitus. About 50% of the folks here in AZ where I play, many with BIG Master Point totals, play a Mini-Roman opening of 2 diamonds showing 13-15 HCP and 4-4-4-1 or 5-4-4-0 shape. From my new perspective it comes up rarely, but works very well.
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