8 Responses to “i’m in love with this hand”

1. kid Says:
   August 20th, 2007 at 12:50 pm

   the novice opens 1S. now i will click there and see what i learn.

2. Bob Katz Says:
   August 20th, 2007 at 6:41 pm

   I think it is a 2C opener because:
   (1) You have a good 22 hcp and may miss a game
   (2) You will never be able to sufficiently describe this hand to get to slam if appropriate
   (3) You can rebid 2N and find your 5-3 spade fit with puppet stayman
   I don’t think your methods over 1S are relevant because a pass by your partner with a random 4 hcp that include 3 spades will likely produce a poor result.
   I don’t the issue is one of “agreement” but rather of describing your cards which consider of a pretty good somewhat balanced 22 hcp.

3. stacy Says:
   August 20th, 2007 at 7:35 pm

   I think our methods over 1S are relevant, Bob, since our range (with fit) is 3+ … any time she has a king and three spades we’re in the bidding over 1M

4. Ulf Says:
   August 21st, 2007 at 7:55 am

   If you’re going to play Gazzili, which I highly recommend, then it should be “reversed” to improve partscore bidding. Play a 2M-rebid as 11-15 with 4+C and 2C as minumim w/6+M or strong (15/16+).

   This allows you to bid 2M over 2C with more or less any weak hand, including a stiff, and the usual 2D with a positive hand.

   If the H-C two-suiter is contained in 2C, you risk playing in 2M when C’s is better or you’ll have to add some complexity to your continuations.

   Many experts, utilising this convention, has made this switch and I’m very surprised that the top italians hasn’t.

5. Bob Katz Says:
   August 21st, 2007 at 8:18 am

   Stacy,
   While your methods will get to you game on some very minimal hands as you describe, I still think there are many others where you will miss game and do not see the downside of telling partner quckly that you have a balanced 22, all be it with a stiff Ace of hearts.

6. Peg Says:
   August 21st, 2007 at 6:03 pm

   I try to apply two rules to hands where I am on the edge of opening 2C. First - are there some hands where it is highly unlikely partner will respond, but game will still be reasonable? If the answer is “yes” - then I open 2C. It seems that even with the gazzili doohicky thing, partner may well pass some hands where game would make.

   Secondly, what about slam? It seems that it might be tough to get partner to cooperate with: J10xx, xxx, Qxx, Kxx - but slam sure is decent. (On a good day, we’ll make 7!)

   Although there surely are potential problems with opening this hand 2C, I think that the upside outweighs the down.

   As for showing a balanced 22; not me!

7. Bob Katz Says:
   August 21st, 2007 at 9:15 pm

   To Peg,
   If you are going open 2C then I think you must rebid 2N. You have all the suits stopped and a mediocre spade suit (at least by 2C standards). This is just the sort of hand that puppet stayman was invented for.

8. Peg Says:
   August 22nd, 2007 at 2:57 pm

   Bob - you pays your $$$ and you takes your chances. I’d prefer to rebid 2S with this. Can it go wrong? Oh; for sure.

   But, I think I’ll have a much better chance of getting to slam when partner has: K10x, xxx, Qxxxx, xx than you will have!

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