BBO Discussion Forums: Don't open 4-4-4-1 hands with 12 or 13 points - BBO Discussion Forums

Shares in popcorn have just jumped.

The title of this topic comes from tip No 7 in Paul Mendelson's excellent book " 100 tips for Better Bridge" He says :-

"The problem with hands like these is that as they contain three features,they really need three bids to convey their content.
In systems like Acol,when you can't freely bid two different 4 card suits,a considerable amount of fibbing is then involved.
The result of all this is you frequently end up in 4-3 trump fits(having to ruff in your own hand) and hopeless misfit NT contracts
short on points.
The solution is a simple one DON'T OPEN THE BIDDING WITH THIS DISTRIBUTION WITH ONLY 12 OR 13 POINTS


Let's say you open 1♥and partner responds 1♠(there is no problem if he bids anything else) In Acol you're stuck
If you play strong NT with 5 card majors and open a minor suit and get a 1♠ reply all you can do now is re-bid 1NT
This is a sure way of going down,possibly doubled,whenever partner is weak.
Just pass. If partner bids,you will be back in action. If he bids 1♠ on a minimum opener,you will now stay out
of a dodgy Game you couldn't have avoided had you opened,if he bids anything else you can get excited.
If an opponent opens 1♠,you have an ideal 2nd round double. If they bid anything else then you know that your pass was justified.
In the long run you will find yourself staying out of all these horrid contracts you wish you hadn't been faced with
With 14+ points, if partner bids your singleton you can re-bid NTs without risking so much.
The down side? A few missed part scores. Missing Game is impossible. If partner can't bid,what contract can you possibly miss?"

One of the many uses of the opening 2♦ bid is to show a 4-4-4-1 hand and 12 to 16 points. This is called Mini-Roman. Lots of variations. Google it and read up.

Always open a 12 count 3-suiter. It is an extremely powerful shape.....

This hand is played at 2012 spingold. Weinstein passed as north, Helness opened 1♠ and Helgemo raised to 2♠. Now Weinstein decided to double for takeout
At the other table Multon opened 1♦, Meckwell bid 3NT and was doubled for 1 down.

which bid are you thinking of which says that? ok, if you're playing an unbalanced diamond you're obviously in a superior , but still dubious, position, because you can play a 2D or ideally 1NT rebid as showing hearts, so at least you'll not miss your 44 heart fit.

The title of this topic comes from tip No 7 in Paul Mendelson's excellent book " 100 tips for Better Bridge" He says :-

"The problem with hands like these is that as they contain three features,they really need three bids to convey their content.
In systems like Acol,when you can't freely bid two different 4 card suits,a considerable amount of fibbing is then involved.
The result of all this is you frequently end up in 4-3 trump fits(having to ruff in your own hand) and hopeless misfit NT contracts
short on points.
The solution is a simple one DON'T OPEN THE BIDDING WITH THIS DISTRIBUTION WITH ONLY 12 OR 13 POINTS


Let's say you open 1♥and partner responds 1♠(there is no problem if he bids anything else) In Acol you're stuck
If you play strong NT with 5 card majors and open a minor suit and get a 1♠ reply all you can do now is re-bid 1NT
This is a sure way of going down,possibly doubled,whenever partner is weak.
Just pass. If partner bids,you will be back in action. If he bids 1♠ on a minimum opener,you will now stay out
of a dodgy Game you couldn't have avoided had you opened,if he bids anything else you can get excited.
If an opponent opens 1♠,you have an ideal 2nd round double. If they bid anything else then you know that your pass was justified.
In the long run you will find yourself staying out of all these horrid contracts you wish you hadn't been faced with
With 14+ points, if partner bids your singleton you can re-bid NTs without risking so much.
The down side? A few missed part scores. Missing Game is impossible. If partner can't bid,what contract can you possibly miss?"

If you pass with 12 points you may pass out the hand for a bottom or the opponents may open 1NT and steal the hand.
What is worse about passing is that you're short in spades, the highest ranking suit and the opponents are very likely to have a fit there.
What are you going to do on the next round when the opponents bid and raise their weak 2S to 4S?
Don't open 1♥ with this shape open 1♦ in Acol of 5CM.
If partner responds 1♠ you have at least 18 points and 1NT would be a viable option, if they want to double bring it on!
If you play 12-14 NT then you can rebid 2♣ and give partner a choice of suits.
if the opponents compete in spades at least partner knows I have some points and we may find a penalty.

passing this hand within agreements is just fine
I note the common very common complaint...the opp may steal the hand....yet you present zero evidence

Some trivial observations:

Assume a deal is competitive:

In one room North opens the bidding.
In the other North passes and East opens the bidding.

Which side do you believe is on average better positioned to beat absolute par (my definition of stealing).
North in the first room or in the latter?
It does not really matter to which side the absolute par contract belongs.

I think this can easily be shown in the way Richard Pavlicek has done such statistical analysis and published on his website, though I won't undertake it.
This is one reason why requirements for opening the bidding have gone down over the last decades.
The true Roth Stone approach to opening the bidding is all but extinct at top level play.
Opening the bidding has certainly tactical advantages, passing a 4441 12 count is problematic - not just fine.

Rainer Herrmann

thanks for that. i'll change my opening range to 0+