A Hobby Horse
by Ron Klinger
Round 2 - Japan v Norway
You are playing a strong 1NT and pick up:
| |
♠ A J 9 5 2
♥ 8 7 2
♦ A K 2
♣ A 7 |
Three passes to you. What do you open?
It is a controversial point whether to open 1♠ or 1NT with this kind of hand. One of my hobby horses is that it will work out the same or better most of the time if you open 1NT. So it proved on Board 15 in Round 2:
| Dealer S: N-S Vul. |
| | ♠ Q
♥ K 10 9 4 3
♦ J 10 8 7
♣ Q 9 5 |
♠ K 4 3
♥ A 6 5
♦ 9 6 5 4
♣ J 10 8 |  |
♠ A J 9 5 2
♥ 8 7 2
♦ A K 2
♣ A 7 | | | ♠ 10 8 7 6
♥ Q J
♦ Q 3
♣ K 6 4 3 2 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Lindqvist | Shiga | E. Eide | Yokoi
|
| | | | Pass
|
| Pass | Pass | 1NT | All pass
|
South led a club, jack, queen, ace. A couple of slips in defence gave declarer ten tricks for +180, but eight tricks are always comfortable. At the other table:
| West | North | East | South
|
| Tanaka | Livguard | Ikemoto | P. Eide
|
| | | | Pass
|
| Pass | Pass | 1♠ | Pass
|
| 2♠ | Pass | 3♥ | Pass
|
| 3♠ | All pass |
|
That's the trouble with a 1♠ opening. Whether partner bids 1NT or 2♠, you can find yourself too high if partner rejects a game invitation. One down meant -50 and -6 Imps.
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