[wyman]

Cyberyeti, on 2012-July-18, 11:15, said:

Well any time they don't just cash 5 spades first, and if they lead a club and you finesse the diamond when an honour drops, just how many are you going down if it loses ? Maybe I should have made the hand 5323 rather than 5224.

That's fine, and I see your point, but there are a lot of hands that 4th chair can hold.

AKQx / KQx / Kxxx / xx

If partner holds

xxx / Axx / AQxxx / xx

she's going to bid 3N (confidently) and they can cash 5 (or more!) clubs off the top. Does this mean you shouldn't open 1N?

[Cyberyeti]

wyman, on 2012-July-18, 12:02, said:

That's fine, and I see your point, but there are a lot of hands that 4th chair can hold.

AKQx / KQx / Kxxx / xx

If partner holds

xxx / Axx / AQxxx / xx

she's going to bid 3N (confidently) and they can cash 5 (or more!) clubs off the top. Does this mean you shouldn't open 1N?

No you have a book 1N. Here I don't feel I have a book 3♦ second vulnerable, I'd open it in first seat without thinking about it but second seat partner will expect a better suit with less outside. If I had ♦QJx opposite, no way would I expect no chance of the diamonds running, and possibly 2 outside tricks in defence. If I have xxx, xx, QJxx, AKxx I'm certainly not expecting 4M by the opps to go off very often, and could sac, in fact it's doomed if we find the club ruff or have a second heart trick and if it's making we're likely dialling 500 so very small gain.