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♣.

 

 

25th October, 2006           Board 1      Dealer North       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      Dealer East       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      Dealer South       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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