[jillybean]

These 20 points hands are causing us probelms problems today.
(#28)

The system; (opening bids) 5 card Majors, 1♣ 3+
2♣ 23+
2♦ Multi 20-22 balanced or weak 6 card Major
2NT 5-5 minors
1nt 12-14

---

[LBengtsson]

I am always opening this 1♠ even though the bid might not get us the best result.

[akwoo]

LTC is a little harsh on this hand, but this is a 6 loser hand!

1S without question.

[jillybean]

---

[apollo1201]

This issue is system dependent and you need to agree on what to do with those hands.

Systems with 2 strong openings (2C and 2D for GF « 24+ » vs almost GF « 22-23 bal or strong 2 »), plus the natural 2NT (20-21) are less used nowadays because they lack aggressity (you can’t play multi or 2-suited 2M’s for instance).

The solutions I know are:

- to play strong 2 majors (2S like this hand) and add strong 2 minors in the multi but again you don’t open aggressively enough for modern taste

- to open 1S and agree with partner that with hands that make game over a strong 2 but too weak to respond otherwise, they should respond nevertheless (and you need to manufacture a 3m rebid on this one followed by 3S if you have space to do so)

- to have a 2-way 2C opening, either GF or strong in M (8 -8.5 tricks), with 2D establishing a GF, and 2M being if you have a strong 2, I want to stop there (plus other refinements in the follow-ups or the consequences)

There might be other methods but you have to pick something otherwise you risk being the only pair in 1S+3 or 4S-1 with this kind of hands depending on what lie you choose with the openings your system allows and what partner has.

Those methods have some drawbacks on the precision of slam sequences but allow more preemptive openings at the 2 level. One can’t have it all.

[P_Marlowe]

1S, followed by 3C

As far as I see, that is the system bid, unless a 2S is strong,
but given that you play 2NT as weak 55 in the minors, my take is
2H / 2S are 2-suiters.
The single kind has a value, unclear how much.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[smerriman]

1♠, then 3♣.

[mw64ahw]

1♠ 11-21ish then according to system. I'd steer clear of 2♣ as the singleton K♥ weakens the opening
a) 3♠ as I originally learnt
b) later 2♣-2X-3/4♠ or 3NT over 2♥
c] my preference now 2NT to show 6(331) or 6x(4x) with 3♣ asking.
Alternatively, bid 4♠ and hope
3♣ is also be worthwhile if partner is cautious over the length.

[paulg]

smerriman, on 2023-February-03, 01:17, said:

1♠, then 3♣.

Completely normal for most of my bridge life. Now Gazzilli has been invented to solve some of the problems and create others.
The strong club crowd just smile, which probably means that they've never faced 1♣-(1♠)-2♥

[Cyberyeti]

1♠ no second choice playing what you play

[bluenikki]

P_Marlowe, on 2023-February-03, 01:15, said:

1S, followed by 3C

As far as I see, that is the system bid, unless a 2S is strong,
but given that you play 2NT as weak 55 in the minors, my take is
2H / 2S are 2-suiters.
The single kind has a value, unclear how much.

With kind regards
Marlowe

Opener's fake, but not conventional, jumpshift is the worst bid in bridge.

Simple expedient: Switch the meanings of 1M - 1NT - 3M and 1M - 1NT - 3♣ . The jump rebid is forcing, promising secondary clubs. The jumpshift is forcing for one round only, promising a one-suiter.

[mikeh]

Jeff’s magic elixir comes to the rescue

1S 1N 3C is artificial. It has three potential meanings

Spades and clubs, gf

Spades and precisely four hearts, gf

Monster one suited just under opening 2C

One benefit is that 1S 1N 3H is 5-5 or better, reducing the need for the fake preference to spades when responder is 2=3 majors, unable to bid 3N

After the 3C bid, responder usually bids 3D to ask…now opener bids

3H shows 4 hearts

3S monster one suiter

3N confirms clubs but is willing to play 3N

4C monster two suiter

Jeff is Jeff Rubens who wrote an article about this in the Bridge World a long time ago

[DavidKok]

If you're going to introduce artificiality on 1♠-1NT I'm not sure I would start with the elixir

[jillybean]

With no magic elixir,

---

No spade game but we missed our ♥ game. Perhaps West had some clubs in with his spades?