[eagles123]

Hi guys,

similar to the previous one but want to do a new poll,

matchpoints 3rd seat all vuln

(playing 12-14 NT)

A2
A7
J7543
AT84

obviously the diamonds and clubs are now 5/4 rather than 4/5 so there's always the club rebid but with Ax in both majors is 1N better?
Cheers

Eagles

[Zelandakh]

I prefer a 1♦ opening on this one.

[helene_t]

Aces are good for putting in the dummy and I don't have a rebid problem.

Something else: I don't like playing weak NT in 3rd seat vulnerable. I am not sure if I will accept an invite (depends how good defenders opps are) but if I decide that I won't accept an invite then I try to find an excuse for not opening 1NT in 3rd seat vulnerable.

[wyman]

helene_t, on 2013-September-09, 08:51, said:

Aces are good for putting in the dummy and I don't have a rebid problem.

Both of these are, imo, extremely good points.

Aces are better suited to suitplay, and slower quacky honor cards are better suited to notrump play.

And you can describe this hand well on the second round (you can show 9 cards!) by bidding 1D-2C. You can always bid NT later to show stoppers in the majors if partner makes a try. When in doubt -- especially when partner hasn't made any descriptive bids or hasn't limited himself -- making the most descriptive bid possible to help pard judge is usually a good idea.

[sectorzz9]

Another reason that you might want to open 1NT is to protect vulnerable holdings from the opening lead/conceal them later in the play. By vulnerable holdings I mean unsupported honours or broken suits like KJxx or QTx. This hand has none of these which suggests that NT may play better from partner's side.

A similar holding is Qx(x) in one hand and Ax(x) in the other. In this case it can be very helpful to have the lead come round to the Q as people often lead from Kxxx or similar.

[Cyberyeti]

helene_t, on 2013-September-09, 08:51, said:

Aces are good for putting in the dummy and I don't have a rebid problem.

In general this is true, but Ax is a funny holding, opposite Qxx, you want it in dummy, opposite J10x you want it in hand so it's not so clear.

I have no really strong view about which to open on this hand unlike the other one the OP posted, and you have a tactical gamble on whether 1N shuts out LHO's major or dials 1100.