[HeartA]

Thanks for all the responses. I opened 2NT at the table, which surprised my pd. I have been an advocator of opening NT with 5-card major. I even "invented" it 20 years ago before I got any related books/articles. While my pd is totally against it. We talked about this issue (merely 1NT) a few times but no agreement was reached. This was the first time he saw me to open 2NT with 5-card major, and he asked me in a very surprised tone "was this (opening 2NT with 5-card major) your invention, too?". I told him that most experts would open 2NT with my hand and I don't need to invent it anymore.

The reason to post this hand is to open his eyes about 2NT (and 1NT) opening with 5-card major.

[luke warm]

i don't think anyone posting has any objections at all to opening 2nt w/ a 5 cd M... for me it all revolved around what the bid shows re: strength

[Winstonm]

Quote

If you have 20-21 balanced with a 5 card major it is not style whether or not you open 2N. You simply have to since theres no other sequence that can show 20-21 balanced. This is not the same as a 15-17 with a 5 card major.

I'm certainly not going to argue with you, Justin, as you have been exposed to bridge at the top levels for quite a while now.

To clarify my position, though, it is a matter of style whether one usually takes the slight underbid in close situations, regardless of system constraints. Although the hand is question certainly qualifies for 2N, as with most NT hands it lacks in trick-taking potential (the trick taking potential of the decent spade suit is what makes this hand worth 2N, as we all know.)

So when I say this choice is a matter of style, I agree completely that if you open 1S you can no longer "catch up" in some auctions. The "style" comes in as to whether you open a relatively safe 1S (safe in the sense of not going set, not in missing game) and later treat this hand as 18/19 balanced, or whether you take the more aggressive action and open 2NT, which will work out best in the long run for game bidding but can also lead to more spectacular minuses.

As "conservative" does not seem to be in the bridge lexicon these days, I admit that at the table I would open 2N and hope for the best.

WinstonM

[Echognome]

It can be a matter of style. Playing a strong club (or pass or diamond) system you can choose whether to show your hand as having a 5 card major or showing it as a balanced hand in a certain range (and then checking for a 5 card major). At least if the auction is game forcing, (that is partner has shown a positive response), then you have a style question. I think in standard you might be struggling to catch up.

[Walddk]

Echognome, on Jun 1 2005, 11:48 AM, said:

I think in standard you might be struggling to catch up.

Which problem? In standard you open 2NT and responder inquires if he wishes, asking for 4 or 5-card major(s). Puppet is a fine convention and not difficult at all.

Roland

[Echognome]

... in standard you might be struggling to catch up if you DON'T OPEN 2NT. Sorry if that was misunderstood.

[beatrix45]

Well, I seem to be a minority in this discussion. I just think that the 2NT opener with 20-21 HCP is of no better than average utility. The big clubbers have the edge on these hands, so straying outside the prearranged boundaries when using standard bidding does not appeal to me.

[han]

Is there a difference between "I refuse to upgrade or downgrade my hand" and "I refuse to evaluate my hand beyond HCP's". It seems to me that there is not, and I am very surprised to read it here.