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Opening with 4-5 in the Minors
These hands address the problem that occurs when we have opening values with 4 Diamonds and 5 Clubs. With a good hand (say 17+) we can open 1♣ and reverse into 2♦ if Partner responds one of a major. But with weaker hands Opener may find himself without a suitable rebid if he opens 1♣.
1st July, 2009 E-W Vul
The West hand does pass the Rule of 20, but it hardly looks like an opening bid, does it? There is an alarming absence of Tens, and there are also those dubious doubleton Jacks, both of which would be more useful if accompanied by other honors. And, if that is not enough to discourage West from opening, West also has that awkward 4-5 minor hand which can create rebid problems with weak hands. His options would be: - Open 1♣ and rebid 2♣: Surely not, with such a rotten suit. - Open 1♦ and rebid 2♣: Some like this style, but it is mis-descriptive, better to avoid this except with certain 1-3-4-5 hands. - Open 1♣ and rebid 1NT: The only excuse for opening the hand would be the 5-4 shape, and to rebid 1NT with such poor values (rather than showing both suits) would be inconsistent. So, with a marginal opener (at best), and no satisfactory plan for a rebid, surely West would be best advised to pass.
3rd June, 2009 N-S Vul
Holding the South hand, what’s your general plan? Clearly you will be opening one of a minor, and if Partner responds 1♠ you will raise to 2♠. So far, so good, but the odds are that you will have to find a rebid after a 1♥ response. Here are the options: - Open 1♦ and rebid 2♣: We are not crazy about this solution to the rebid problem, too often it gets the partnership to the wrong minor suit. - Open 1♣ and rebid 1NT: The down-side here is that Partner will not expect a singleton Heart and may well go back to 2♥ on a (good) 5-card suit. Even so a reasonable plan. - Open 1♣ and rebid 2♣: 6 Clubs are not promised but that’s what we usually have for this sequence. Even so, that’s our preferred plan, at least the suit is good and it does not have the aforementioned defects.
3rd September, 2008 E-W Vul
North has an opening bid, of course, but what is the bid which best prepares her for the likely 1♠ response from South? - Open 1♣, and rebid 2♣? No, that rotten suit is not worth rebidding. - Open 1♣, and rebid 2♦? A little bit light for a reverse, don’t you think? - Open 1♣, and rebid 1NT? No, too strong for that. - Open 1♦, and rebid 2♣? That’s not perfect, either, as it distorts the relative lengths of the minor suits. Nonetheless, it seems to be the least of evils.
25th October, 2006 Board 1 None Vul
If the hand were about a King stronger there would be no problem here, we’d simply open our longest suit, planning to reverse to 2♦ next time around. But, with less than reverse values, as here, we have these three choices (we are assuming that Partner will respond 1♠): - Open 1♣ and rebid 2♣: Our least favorite, this sequence should really show 6 Clubs, or at least 5 good ones. - Open 1♣ and rebid 1NT: A most reasonable plan, though we might wish that our Hearts were a tad stronger. The only real problem with this plan is that Responder cannot so freely rebid 2♠ for fear of us having a singleton. - Open 1♦ and rebid 2♣: Also reasonable, though the minor suit length distortion can lead to problems. For example, if Responder is, say, 4-3-3-3, with around 8 or 9 points, she will be obliged to bid 2♦, landing in the 4-3 Diamond fit instead of the 5-3 Club fit (or 1NT). Even worse, Responder may be 5-3-2-3 and would still rebid 2♦ (the so-called “false preference”) … playing in a 4-2 fit this time! It’s a thorny problem, we like to rebid 1NT ourselves, though if the Hearts were any weaker we’d open 1♦.
22nd November, 2006 Board 26 Both Vul
We really, really hate to open 1♦ on those 4-5 minor suit hands, and we have various defense mechanisms against having to make that bid. Most of the time, we’ll open 1♣, planning to rebid as follows: - with 3-1-4-5, we’ll usually rebid 1NT if Partner responds 1♥ - and, with 3-1-4-5, we’ll raise Partner if he responds 1♠ - and, with 2-2-4-5 and a worthless holding in the unbid major, but a chunky Club suit, we’ll rebid 2♣ - etc, etc.
However, on this hand we would reluctantly open 1♦. If we open 1♣ and Partner responds 1♥ we’ll have no good option. Our choices will be: - 2♣ on a crummy 5-card suit - 1NT with a worthless doubleton in the unbid major
Mark us down as reluctant 1♦ bidders here.
13th December, 2006 Board 3 E-W Vul
We’ve had a few of these 4-5 minor-suited hands lately. Sometimes it is necessary to open these hands 1♦ (planning to rebid 2♣), but our own preference is not to do this if we have a reasonable alternative. Here are some possible strategies: - Open 1NT … right point count, but a bit “out there” with that singleton Heart (tempting, though!) - Open 1♣, planning to reverse to 2♦ if Partner bids 1♥ … no, this hand is not nearly strong enough - Open 1♣, planning to rebid 1NT if Partner bids 1♥ … no, this hand is too good - Open 1♣ and rebid 2♣ if Partner bids 1♥ … yes, this would be our choice, the suit reasonably good, though we wish it were better for this sequence. A close second choice would, indeed, be to open 1♦ and rebid 2♣.
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