[Hanoi5]

Favorable, MPs, dealer passes and you hold:

♠AJT9xx
♥Q
♦Tx
♣KJ87

What and why?

[Cyberyeti]

Easy 1♠, would do this without Q♥ too.

Our 2♠ is a 6CS but can be very weak in this position so this is waaaay too good, I have almost certainly more points than RHO, partner hasn't passed, why should I preempt him.

[Free]

1♠ because I have opening values and 5+♠.

[Fluffy]

1♠ because I'm worth it

[lexlogan]

Hanoi5, on 2013-February-11, 21:23, said:

Favorable, MPs, dealer passes and you hold:

♠AJT9xx
♥Q
♦Tx
♣KJ87

What and why?

2♠ for me. I have 9 working high card points and a fine six-card major. With two quick tricks I'd be inclined to open 1♠, but I see no reason to strain to open a 1.5 QT, flawed 11 hcp hand when there is a perfectly good alternative. Richard Pavliceck's data shows that "light" 1♠ openings are a clear loser. I do not vary the high card requirements for a one or two bid by vulnerability; I do pay more attention to suit quality when vulnerable.

[ArtK78]

At this vulnerability and position my regular partner and I open light so this would be a 1♠ opening.

Playing a standard system, I would open 2♠. In second seat, a 2♠ opening should be sound, and this one is sound. I am not counting the ♥Q as part of my values, so it is an effective 9 count. This would not be a 1-bid playing standard methods.

[Zelandakh]

It looks like a clear 1♠ opening to me.

[hrothgar]

Interesting hand

I am torn between pass and 1♠

I am normally a sound open playing 2/1. I've seen too many people power into miserable 3N game after opening on drek.
Here, the sixth Spade makes a big difference. (Its a lot more likely that we can scurry into 4♠)

I would probably open 1♠, but I'd have no problem with a pass

[billw55]

Pass is the one choice I really don't like. I don't believe there is such a thing as an in-between hand (too good for 2♠, not good enough for 1♠). When I have stuff to bid, I like to bid.

For my own style, I choose 1♠, but consider it close.

[neilkaz]

1♠ and I seriously have to ask WTP? I have enough to open 1♠ thanx to a good 6 card suit and a reasonable 4 card side suit. Yes my stiff Q is a defect, but certainly it is more useful than a stiff spot would be. My Tx is possible more useful than two low spots. If we end up in 3NT, perhaps those red cards are useful.

I have too much for 2♠ in this position at favorable. 2♠ can cause me to miss a game. Now if the stiff Q was a spot, OK then I open 2♠.

[aguahombre]

Fluffy, on 2013-February-12, 07:17, said:

1♠ because I'm worth it

Do you mean the hand is worth it? I agree.

Or are you opening a new subject for debate?

[ahydra]

Obvious 1♠ if you ask me. I think I would open 2♠ if the HQ was a small one though.

ahydra

[CSGibson]

1♠. Everything else sucks hard. This is too good to preempt in my opinion, and there's no rush to do so since you have spades & are in 2nd position.

Edit: OK, I was a little aggressive here. I would never do anything but open 1♠, and think preempting to be a losing style, but sucks hard was too much, since I would open 2♠ if the Q of hearts became an x.

[mycroft]

With my Precision partner, it's a clear 1♠ call.
With my EHAA partner, it's a clear 2♠ call - not even close to maximum.
With my K/S partner, I'm opening 1♠, but I can see two. Unfavourable, I would prefer 2, probably.
With my Tuesday 2/1 partner, this will be a disappointment to partner when I open 2♠; I'll just hope that ♠JT9 == ♠Q. 1♠ is right out.

So it really depends on the rest of my system, and what partner expects for a second seat, favourable weak 2.

[wyman]

1S, not close for me.

[ggwhiz]

1♠. My partner would be shocked at anything else.

One opponent is not well heeled and the other may not be either. We could be on for games like 3nt or 4♠ opposite a stiff and I would hate to bury a big club fit opposite short spades and a good hand.

[ArtK78]

I sure hope that all of these 1♠ bidders have a really good hand when they invite game. LOL.

[gszes]

1s but it is razors edge close change the spade T to x and I will open 2s

[wyman]

ArtK78, on 2013-February-12, 14:13, said:

I sure hope that all of these 1♠ bidders have a really good hand when they invite game. LOL.

Not only am I not ashamed of opening this 1S, I'm damn close to bidding game if partner makes a simple raise. I'm at least making a try. I don't expect to be in a no-play game very often.

I've heard stories of Meck saying that if you open a 6-bagger and partner raises, you should bid game. Of course, he plays the spots off the cards, and I suck, so I'm down 1 more often than he, but in the post-mortem, I usually see a way I could have made it. Opps don't always make the right lead, and sometimes they try to be a little heroic in the play, making a phantom unblock, leading honors, etc. And sometimes partner just has the nuts...

Maybe this is a huge leak in my game, and maybe some folks better than I am will comment. But I value a 6th trump tremendously when partner raises.

[ArtK78]

wyman, on 2013-February-12, 14:54, said:

Not only am I not ashamed of opening this 1S, I'm damn close to bidding game if partner makes a simple raise. I'm at least making a try. I don't expect to be in a no-play game very often.

I've heard stories of Meck saying that if you open a 6-bagger and partner raises, you should bid game. Of course, he plays the spots off the cards, and I suck, so I'm down 1 more often than he, but in the post-mortem, I usually see a way I could have made it. Opps don't always make the right lead, and sometimes they try to be a little heroic in the play, making a phantom unblock, leading honors, etc. And sometimes partner just has the nuts...

Maybe this is a huge leak in my game, and maybe some folks better than I am will comment. But I value a 6th trump tremendously when partner raises.

There is something to what you say, but I think you are going too far. The example hand is a 7-loser hand, which, if I grant that it is an opening bid (and I do not), I would classify the hand as minimum opening bid (at least for MLTC, it is as good as a minimum opening hand). If I hold a 7 loser hand as my opening bid, and my partner makes a simple raise, I would not consider even inviting game. For me, it takes a 6 loser hand to invite game, as a typical simple raise contains 2 - 2 1/2 cover cards (sorry for all of the losing trick count analysis - I know that it drives some people nuts to hear about losing trick count analysis, as they give it little or no credence. Their loss).

It brings to mind a saying that one of my regular partners is fond of employing after he goes down in a contract where he was hopelessly outgunned: "Too many high card points were offside!"