Ruminating on Openings
Board 21 from Thursday 8/03/2018.
Dealer N NS Vul
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Q64
A43
A87
9632- Would you open the East hand a weak 2S?
- Would you open it ONE spade?
- If East opened 2S, what would you do as West?
There were a number of different contracts, from 2S to 3C to 4H. I guess that the most frequent opening bid would have been 2S, not a great idea because of the four card heart suit on the side, but no doubt tempting for many. This is where you need an understanding that a bid of 3C from West is FORCING, as should any bid be other than a raise in the opened suit. West might be prepared to have a go at 3NT if East bids 3D or maybe pass 3S, so maybe 3C is justified if you don't play 3C 'to play' but I have seen a lot of bidding where the partner of the weak two opener wants to, and tries to, run to another suit. You really need to sort that out.
Here, the 3C bid works perfectly because East now bids 3H and West has enough to give 4H a shot. That duly makes.
I would not decry a 1S opening, though it is not quite up to the “20” rule for light opening bids. I have said before that I find 19, or even 18, acceptable to open the bidding. For the benefit of the uninitiated, add your point count to the sum of the number of cards in your longest two suits and if it adds to 20 you have a genuine opening bid. The East hand comes to 19, so close enough for me.
After a 1S opening the inevitable game in hearts should be reached, so something to be said for light openings. After a weak 2S, who knows?
What happened on this board in YOUR club?
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